The Origin of the First Cattle

The first Chaga man lived on the mountain, but he had no cattle. He prayed to Ruwa for a companion and a source of wealth. One day, a magnificent cow descended from a cave high on Kilimanjaro. It was a gift from Ruwa. The cow gave birth to many calves, and soon the man had a great herd. The cattle were his life: they provided milk, hides, and their dung fertilized his banana groves. However, a fierce Leopard also lived on the mountain and began to prey on the herd. The man built a strong stone enclosure (boma) to protect them at night. The Leopard, unable to climb the walls, was furious. The story explains the sacred origin of cattle, linking them directly to the creator god and the mountain itself. It also explains the origins of the traditional Chaga homestead, with the stone-walled cattle enclosure at its center, designed to protect the people's divine gift and wealth from the dangers of the wild.