Life in the Village of Kundi

The Village of Kundi

• Located near the Liberian rain forest, on a hill overlooking the Cavally River
• The village has rice and cassava fields, cattle grazing in the grassland, and smoke from fires in the round clay houses
• Men and boys fish in the river with nets, and women pound grain in wooden mortars

Ogaloussa's Family

• Ogaloussa, a hunter, lives with his wife and many children in the village
• His wife tends to their fields and drives their cattle out to graze
• Ogaloussa's sons also hunt for game

Ogaloussa's Disappearance

• Ogaloussa goes into the forest to hunt one morning, but doesn't return
• His family waits for him, but he doesn't come back after a day, a week, or a month
• They eventually stop talking about his disappearance

The Sons' Search for Ogaloussa

• The sons decide to search for Ogaloussa, following the trail across the river
• They get lost in the forest multiple times, but each time another son finds the way
• They finally come to a clearing and find Ogaloussa's bones and rusted weapons

The Sons' Restoration of Ogaloussa

• One son puts Ogaloussa's bones together, each in its right place
• Another son covers the skeleton with sinews and flesh
• A third son puts blood into Ogaloussa's veins
• A fourth son puts breath into Ogaloussa's body
• A fifth son gives Ogaloussa the power of movement
• A sixth son gives Ogaloussa the power of speech

Ogaloussa's Return

• Ogaloussa sits up, opens his eyes, and asks for his weapons
• His sons return his rusted weapons to him
• They return to the village, where Ogaloussa's wife prepares a bath and food for him
• Ogaloussa remains in the house for four days, then shaves his head and holds a great feast