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Karmo is anxious to become a wise man. He tells his wife to gather up his things, as he wishes to travel to a country of famous doctors. He stays in this far country in study with the doctors for five years. Ready to return home, he makes up his books and writings into a kingja to carry on his back. Meanwhile a son is born to his wife, and grows up. Karmo reaches home, and hastens to pass through the door of the house to greet his wife; but the kingja on his back keeps him from going through the door (the kingja is higher than the head). The child advises him to take off the kingja in order to come in. The father throws away the kingja, and says, “Even in that far country I was unable to gather all the wisdom from the great doctors. The child that I have never seen before can teach me.”

Sub-Saharan Stories