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Samandari and the King’s Pot

In short: In a Burundian legend, Samandari uses a shrinking pot of vegetables to show a king why witnesses matter.

Samandari and the King’s Pot · A cooking pot in the palace FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 243 Samandari and the King’s Pot In a Burundian legend, Samandari uses a shrinking pot of vegetables to show a king why witnesses matter. Origin Burundi · country record Atlas record 1977 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF A cooking pot in the palace Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Burundi · country record

In the account reproduced from Ntahokaja’s 1977 record, Samandari asks the king to mind the fire beneath his pot. When he comes back, there are fewer vegetables and he accuses the king of eating them. Then he explains why he made the accusation. Hearing witnesses can keep disputes from being settled on the whim of the powerful. The legend links the scene to the bashingantahe, who helped settle disputes.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1977 · Burundi · country record
    J.-B. Ntahokaja, p. 31 · reproduced in Afrique, terre d’histoire, pp. 321–322 · Published collection

Country pages

Origin
Black Horse. Samandari and the King’s Pot. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-samandari-kings-pot/