Tommy Bonnet
Member
Sorry I don't know how to make that work, but this is what it said.
"
Throughout Africa, travel writer Brendan Harding discovers that the humble and harmless chameleon has taken first prize for being the continent’s most reviled and feared creature.
According to Kenya’s Kamba people when Ngai Mulungu(the all-powerful God) created the world it was his intention that man should live forever. Mulungu sent the chameleon to deliver his news to man; but, in true chameleon fashion, the reptile, as is his nature, dallied. To add to man’s woes, the chameleon stammered while delivering his divine news and the message was lost forever.
Throughout Africa the myth takes different paths. Like the Kenyan version - in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania - it is said that God had given the message to the chameleon but was overheard by the lizard, who, being swifter, ran ahead to pass on the news. The lizard misheard God’s words and informed the people that they were destined to die and there would be no eternal life. When the chameleon finally arrived with the real story he was ridiculed by the people who told him that he was stupid and they already knew that they would die and that death would be the end of everything. From that moment onwards the poor chameleon was branded a liar, a cheat and one never to be trusted.
To this day the belief lingers across Africa, either in real life or superstition, that man’s eventual destiny has been caused by the actions of the slow-moving and hesitant chameleon resulting in the animal being greatly feared and hated."
Posted 23rd May 2012 by Brendan Harding
Labels: African Folklore Chameleon Kenya Myths Ngai
