A long time ago, there was a man named Lwazi. Hewas one of the Swazi people. He was an ugly, crippled man. He was shunned by everyone in his village and even his own father, Chief Sibusiso, wanted to abandon him. Lwazi was forbidden to touch any hunter weapons because it was said that it would bring bad luck to the tribe. As he couldn’t hunt, Lwazi was sent to do the women’s work while his brothers would go and kill beasts for the family. Although Lwazi couldn’t hunt, he had a secret: he wanted to defeat the Jaguar.
The Jaguar lived in the swamp in the jungle. He spoke prophecies, but only to the man who defeats him. The jungle was very dangerous and any man who tried to defeat the Jaguar had never come back. Although Lwazi knew the tales of those brave men, Lwazi still wanted to try and prove himself. He knew that he could do it. Something was telling him so.
Lwazi had gotten the spectacular idea while he was weaving. Because he couldn’t hunt, he would weave baskets with the women. His brothers always laughed at him. Lwazi had so many thoughts running in his mind, and he was grinning so wide that everyone stared at him.
Lwazi immediately got to work. He went to his secret cave and started weaving. He was weaving the biggest net-trap anyone could imagine. Lwazi couldn’t fight, but he was intelligent. His plan was to set his trap where the Jaguar would be and the net would spring when the Jaguar woke up.
Lwazi spent the rest of the day working on the trap and when night fell, he started his journey through the jungle. He knew that what he was going to do was dangerous, but he didn’t care. He wanted to prove himself worthy.
Lwazi walked very slowly to the swamp. Carrying the huge trap was not helping. He stopped several times. Lwazi was surprised that nothing came to attack him in the treacherous jungle. It was as if the creatures were told not to attack him.
As Lwazi moved deeper into the jungle, he began questioning himself, wondering if he was attempting something impossible.
At last, he reached the swamp and Lwazi could see the mighty Jaguar on a rock, sleeping. As quiet as possible, Lwazi started working. He hung the net on a tree branch just above the rock. It took time, but by dawn, the trap was ready.
Lwazi hid by a tree and heard the mighty Jaguar wake with a roar. He was terrified. He didn’t want to think of the bad things that could happen. The Jaguar then stretched its legs and finally stood up. Lwazi let go of the vine and the trap landed on the Jaguar. It kicked and tried to get the net off but the vines from the net wouldn’t give.
“Let me see the face behind this!” thundered the Jaguar. Lwazi came out from the trees and said, “It was I.” The Jaguar was astonished, “Get me out of this so you may hear the prophecy,” he snapped.
“Yes, of course!” replied Lwazi and he started to cut the vine.
Lwazi worked slowly and carefully, he didn’t want to harm the Jaguar. When he finished, the Jaguar growled so loud, he was sure the whole of Africa heard it. Then it narrated the prophecy.
“There comes a day when the horned-one returns, and a surrender shall mark an age of death.”
Lwazi thanked the Jaguar and returned to his village. When he got back to retell the story, everyone was astounded. All the villagers congratulated him, including his brothers. Lwazi narrated the prophecy and it was carved on the sacred rock where it remains till this day.
