The First /Xam Man Brings Home
a Young Lion
In this story, the first /Xam man steals a young lion cub, and pretends to his wife that it is a dog, who will help him hunt for food. The wife knows he is lying , and warns her children. She points out that his ears are not pointy, and his eyes are yellow. As the lion grows, the man takes it hunting, but it grows bigger, and at last kills him. The wife has to leave her home with her children, because the young lion’s parents will come back and kill them all.
This story is relevant to many contemporary situations, and is about the abuse of power that happens everywhere. People think they can control things that are too powerful, and lie and use them for themselves. In Nieu Bethesda, the lion is like alcohol that we bring into the home, thinking we can control it, but it controls us and destroys our lives.
© Copyright Bethesda Foundation, Bethesda Arts Centre, 2005
Registered Charity 1089122
