Nyechuol was the only girl among her brothers. She was so loved by her family that she was favoured above the rest of the house. A cannibal who was barren heard about her and said, “I will get her,” because she admired her and she wanted her to be her daughter.

The cannibal practiced witchcraft so that she could take her. The following morning, the old woman (the cannibal) came to the home. The parents and siblings were not around. She found Nyechuol playing in the compound of their home. She said “My young daughter, I am someone who needs water, can you give me water?”

The little girl said, “We do not have water.”

“Can you get for me some water from the river?” The old lady asked.

While Nyechuol was going to fetch water, the old lady followed her and told her, “Should I take you or should I eat you?”
Nyechuol answered, “Just take me.”

So she took Nyechuol to her home, then cooked for her dry meat and mixed it with ghee. After Nyechuol had eaten, she hid her on the rooftop and told her that that is where she would be staying.

The next morning, the cannibal went hunting. It was normal that when she came back from hunting, she would sing and Nyechuol would then sing after her.

Months later, Nyechuol grew fat. Every cannibal around was admiring her, and would ask her for her hand in marriage. But the cannibal woman told them that she would not get married to a cannibal, but to her fellow Nuer.

After some years, Nyechuol was a fully grown-up adult and her cannibal mother decided to relocate to Nyechuol’s former village and move there with their cattle.

Over there, Nyechuol participated in traditional dances which were conducted in the evenings until the small hours of the morning. Even her own brothers admired her because they could not recognize her since she had turned into a fully grown-up woman. Her cannibal mother told Nyechuol’s real father to brew some alcohol, and also the rest of the neighbouring villagers, since they would have a gathering.

The following morning, they gathered and the cannibal said, “As you have been seeing me here, I am a barren woman; I know Nyechuol’s real parents.” She pointed at Nyechuol’s father and when he was about to stand, he fainted. The mother
and siblings also all fainted.

The old lady took three fat cows and slaughtered them, and Nyechuol was re-united with her family.

A couple of months later, Nyechuol walked down the aisle and the cannibal woman was greatly rewarded with cows and other gifts. Then later, she brought her cows and gave them to Nyechuol’s brother Jakok. Then Jakok married a wife for the cannibal woman. They stayed in harmony and peacefully with each other.

Storyteller: Nyadoal

Storytelling Session Details

Storyteller: Nyadoal
Language: Nuer
Community: Nuer (originally from Rubkhona, living in the UNMISS PoC at the time of project)
Story Researcher: Nyechuol Ruai
Place: Juba PoC
Date: 2015