The Mwindo Epic: Crash Course World Mythology #29

[@Micahlee_19]

This was such an amazing story! I am so frustrated by the fact that we don't learn any of the African countries' mythology right along with Greek and roman etc. They are absolutely fascinating stories and show so much about those different cultures and humanity as a whole

[@DzinkyDzink]

But dem blacks are Kangz and Hercules and other shiet now, they don't need no African culture!

[@ofoyiinnocent2124]

Where can I send you some myths??

[@unknowjlm]

@@ofoyiinnocent2124 Make videos about them. I'm dead serious!

[@TIENxSHINHAN]

Nick Dzink why are you like this

[@unknowjlm]

@@TIENxSHINHAN Troll/ memes, don't take it seriously man.

[@mattkuhn6634]

Great episode! I love that you guys are covering a wide variety of myths from all the regions of the world. As for the pronunciation, you did very well! Nyanga (which as far as I can tell is the language in whic this epic was first written down) is part of the Bantu language family, which, compared to the Indo-European family, has a large number of complex consonant sounds, particularly in the onset of syllables. These can be very difficult to produce if you don't have them in your language - for instance, the "mw" in Mwindo doesn't have a vowel in there, it's actually an affricate like the "dg" in "judge", so the two consonants are coarticulated. But for a native english speaker, saying it without seeming to say "muwindo" is very difficult. Fun fact - shé-Mwindo literally means "Father of Mwindo," so I guess Mwindo really gets the last laugh here, as his father doesn't even get his own name! This kind of affixation is very common in Bantu languages.

[@violetmoon1587]

Water serpents and banana beer sounds like something I'd like to learn more about

[@bigdurk4115]

Violet Moon yup

[@ChidubemEgwim]

I'm Sparticus Banana beer tastes amazing.

[@tshiololiai6135]

As a Nyanga person, I wanted to give some prononciation to the words 🇨🇩❤️: Tubondo = Two - Bown - Doe Nyanga = Nee - Ah - Nga Iyangura = Ee - Yan - Goo - Rah Nkuba = The « N » and « K » needs to be glued together in the pronunciation Kahindo = Kah - Heen - Doe Muisa = Moo - Ee - Sa Sheburu wngu = Sheh - Boo - Roo Woo - Ngoo

[@carlsagan1377]

To the Mwindo To the Mwall

[@getlostvlogs4953]

lmfao

[@blackchang1981]

Carl Sagan LMAO.

[@FxMoto]

It is in these tiny corners of the internet that one can find true genius.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

2real4me

[@simbaonsteroids8836]

To the sweat drop down my bwalls

[@gnflame]

Wow, a story from my home country! I like how diverse you guys are with your stories, keep it up!

[@unamed2516]

I think this is the first time I heard of a father who wanted to have daughters for profit instead of sons.

[@Jobe-13]

Kiara Thompson Ikr

[@crowofdionysia6200]

The gender equality we never wanted

[@goofybutserious4807]

@@crowofdionysia6200 🤨 _GENDER EQUALITY?_

[@timweiner7990]

I see clear parallels between this tale and the biblical account of Moses. 1) Male children forbidden; hero escapes by floating down a river 2) deity brings calamity and disaster upon the offending ruler on behalf of hero 3) Hero eventually triumphs and establishes laws about relationship between people and the power governing them

[@realmenchangediapers]

"He goes from boastful child to benevolent ruler". I immediately start to think of "The Lion King".

[@rae_diant]

Shout out to overly sarcastic productions

[@fireflyer97]

I first heard this story from Overly Sarcastic Productions.

[@Zarsla]

fireflyer97 Me too.

[@dogwithacoolhat]

Zarsla me three

[@iOneWithRossiya]

Also me

[@karmii_p]

I was just scrolling down think about them. lol owo

[@Ikiratuki]

Mwndo is a boss worthy of leadership. A great role model.

[@downsidebrian]

Wait, are we sure this wasn't written by Akira Toriyama? This kid's over-the-top powers are some Dragonball-level craziness.

[@goofybutserious4807]

😂

[@morganrobinson8042]

I just saw the Overly Sarcastic Production video about this two days ago.

[@dogwithacoolhat]

I know but I like OSP more

[@tmaniable]

The Congo is Southern/Central Africa. This should at least be in the first sentence. Africa is not monolithic and not including the small detail, perpetuates the wrong picture for people who don't care. Sorry for the long rant. It's a small detail, but makes a huge difference

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

Thamani Mazhani like calling Italian food European food, despite it being very misleading.

[@Gitaikou]

Much better than Shakespeare *starts tearing up* Just beautiful. I'm gonna tell my wife's son about this epic story of his homeland when he grows up

[@jinx5005]

Oh my, my precious DRC, very very mysterious place and yet holds so many treasures. This should be an interesting video.

[@lettylunasical4766]

What a great story! I wish more African folklore was in the media and taught to us in schools.

[@usbmassstoragedevice]

It's really refreshing to see you taking so much effort to get pronunciations right! It's a huge step forward from the approach taken in Crash Course World History. Thanks for being awesome! :D

[@willbrine1404]

The world is full of interesting stories. Thanks for introducing me to this one.

[@maxou7970]

I'm from Congo and I never heard this story, it's cool

[@jomolettman9258]

I really love the channel i really appreciate that you cover african mythology it's a rarity on youtube, please keep up the good work

[@karenmcshane6939]

Thank you so much for this series. I've enjoyed every episode so far. As an English teacher fighting against the "Western Canon" I appreciate the breadth of myths that have been covered. It's great to see representation of non-white, non-western stories.

[@yuriuwu3064]

Yes!!! Upload!!! But sad that it's almost ending😖😖😖 DON'T LEAVE US MIKE!!!

[@marcusmusings]

where'd you get that idea?

[@tuckertechnolord6126]

After this vid, there were at least ten more(he said there would be fourty-something videos)

[@wildechap]

Mwindo reminds me of Kirikou, awesome movie go watch it. "KIRIKOU"

[@latefanelum1303]

Yeah, people see it !!!

[@camilaGMW]

Kirikou made really made my childhood happier

[@Nambam-qi2re]

Wilde Chaplin I

[@tedmureithi6483]

Kirikou ni mjanja

[@tshiololiai6135]

Actually Michel Ocelot did took inspiration from Mwindo’s story

[@Luboman411]

I love how these stories reveal so much about their cultures. In this Congolese myth, I learn that people really take their possessions seriously (the "battle of the accessories"), that people don't obsess about having sons, that bananas are central to their way of life, that the gods can be bartered and played with and are not really all that powerful. Then you see the Chinese myths and they're all about working all the time, punctuality, engineering, superhuman dedication, the almost non-existence of gods, the men doing all the work and the women serving peripheral roles. It's very interesting, the contrasts.

[@rochelle2758]

I'd love it if the Crash Course folks would update the Wikipedia page on the Mwindo Epic; it's pretty short and inadequate...

[@jamie9046]

I mean, it’s nice to see a father/ruler wanting daughters instead of sons for once. Maybe it’s just for dowry money but that’s not that much worse then wanting a son just to have an heir so I’ll take it. A nice change of pace compared to literally every other story/history.

[@nhuphuong060688]

Don't know why but I particularly like this episode a lot out of all the episodes I've watched since the beginning of World Mythology. I do appreciate the sarcastic humor here and there so please don't be discouraged of overly pessimistic comments.

[@richieperry6129]

I would love to hear more African stories! Thank you

[@SwitchFeathers]

Moral of the Mwindo Epic: Bards are super overpowered.

[@brainsandbeauty2832]

I love your videos. Thanks for adding to fantastic content online

[@lydiacarlson4846]

Pleas please please do Haitian Vodu mythology like Baron Samadi and the Loa family!

[@adrienpiette6746]

I love these stories.

[@dothedeed]

Kinda refreshing that they killed the seducer of the wife instead of the wife.

[@mubangachipoya]

haha it was from mwindo's experience

[@goofybutserious4807]

_why?_

[@DarkOmegaMK2]

This story is so fantastic and silly, i like it.

[@tristanroberts8016]

Again we see a goddess associated with good things (like Persephone/Kore is with the spring) living with, in this case the daughter of, a god of the underworld.

[@doomstadt2371]

Gee.. I wonder if there's an Overly Sarcastic video about this....I certainly haven't seen 50 of the same mentions about it in the comment section...

[@mrclueuin]

DangerOne 😋

[@gystes_]

There is an Overly sarcastic video about this.

[@1984potionlover]

You wouldn't happen to be, being just a little bit overly sarcastic now, would you?

[@timothymclean]

Well, that was an insufficiently-sarcastic production.

[@sophieasha9069]

Timothy McLean nice pun

[@timothymclean]

(It's always nice to hear obscure stories from non-European cultures, since they're so unfamiliar, but I kinda wish that two of the world mythology channels I'm subscribed to hadn't happened to pick the same obscure African story. I'm glad that they seem to use different versions, though.)

[@andromidas920]

If only a certain red girl was sarcastic enough ay?

[@visibleconfusion782]

OSP crew

[@poojakudva4251]

Never thought I'd find OSP fans here, though. Sweet all the same. 😆

[@CuleChick11]

Can someone explain the ruler of the underworlds obsession with bananas?

[@LimeyLassen]

It's very lonely in the underworld

[@dogwithacoolhat]

just watch that Adventure Time where they realize the bananas they saw were demon poop

[@fromscratchauntybindy9743]

Ummm? Ask Freud?...

[@ChidubemEgwim]

Cule Chick Bananas are very important in that part of the world.

[@tothboy01]

Because bananas are a fruit and plant. A plant's roots are beneath the ground deep inside "the underworld." This is why religions and mythologies from farming cultures usually believe in some kind of underworld. Sometimes a god or hero is a personification of a plant/crop where the planting of seeds represents "impregnating mother earth i.e. an earth goddess", the sprouting of the crop above the soil represents "the birth of the crop god or hero," the crop's death (usually due to the changing seasons) represents "the crop god or hero's death," and planting and sprouting new crops during the next planting season represents "the re-birth (i.e. resurrection) of the crop god or hero." So basically plants/crops turn into gods or heroes who die and are resurrected, like Mwindo in this video. Another example would be the Egyptian god Osiris, who dies and is resurrected, who is the god of the crops of wheat and barley, and who is the ruler of the underworld.

[@Darwaxion]

Looking forward to seeing about the Aeneid, the Iliad and the Odyssey!

[@Blullaby]

I was wondering if you'd discuss some subsaharian African mythology (': that was very interesting (: you're doing a great job ❤

[@rparl]

Killing all the male babies reminds me of the father beyond the wall in GoT.

[@deathrattle3]

I hope we get to learn about Haliya! i'm hungry for Filipino representation

[@catherinecao4810]

Mwindo learned by godly threatening

[@evangately9871]

How about doing an episode about cú chulain

[@andygtmo]

Please make these videos forever, thanks!

[@modupeadio6408]

When he said 'its got everything' I couldn't help but think of Bill Hader's Stefon on SNL

[@zashgekido5616]

Wait a minute... THAT SCEPTER IS CRAZY DIAMOND

[@ronjayrose9706]

Jojo reference in crash course,somebody please pinch me for I must be dreaming

[@drewcochran4197]

I love love love this series it is the best thing on KZbin

[@amandalacombaberrios9901]

His powers are literally over 9,000 dragon ball type bc jesus that baby mwindo is insane

Mike Rugnetta is my favourite CrashCourse host!

[@sirfloppy]

Well that was epic.

[@tomadream]

All that animated figures are so endearing.

[@mathfincoding]

THOSE AREN'T BANANAS. THEY'RE CALLED CHOM CHOMS!

[@benaaronmusic]

Chom Choms!!!

[@ayoutubechannel2048]

You're a Chom Chom

[@leor6597]

Your mom's a chom chom

[@ElijahShakeerEley6243]

@@leor6597 no u

[@yashiAR]

beautifully presented

[@recon441]

Oh my gosh I learned so much! I've never heard of this epic before 😁 thanks for sharing!

[@cassandrabarzillai-allotey1699]

I just discovered the channel and you are doing lovely work. In the spirit of sharing, it's 'brideprice', not a 'dowry'. Thank you!!

[@Bastet674]

can you do an episode of japanese mythology?

[@defrte]

Didnt we have one?

[@Codiliabra]

I'll love more middle eastern myths/stories.

[@MelNuesch]

Hello ! First of all, great show! I love it :). Second, If you're looking for ideas for further episodes, I will suggest to include some South American mythology :O (maybe you have it planned already). For instance, the Umbanda in Brasil (that's influenced by african mythology) can be an option. Best wishes from Uruguay! :)

[@GeminiBodyshop]

my fave so far

[@CRC866]

"never ever take a banana paste from a stranger" LMFAO

[@ChasoGod]

You forgot to say why Mwindos father was upset he had a son. It's cause he couldn't get a dowry for him if Mwindo was to marry, instead he would have to pay a dowry to the father of the woman Mwindo wants to marry. Mwindos father is a greedy man. Also back then in that region the most common form of dowry is livestock, the larger the herds a man owned the more wealthy they are.

[@ssppeellll]

"He defeats a bunch of water creatures by singing to them." That's no big deal. I've defeated lots of people by singing to them. Not because my singing was so GOOD.

[@Dunybrook]

Great retelling. I was a bit confused by the use of the use of the word dowry in the story instead of bride price which would have been more culturally accurate. Marriage prices and customs are fascinating in how they change from place to place. There's also a groom price that is paid in many parts of the world as well. All three customs of bride price, dowry, and groom price are different and can tell us a lot about a culture.

[@MattMorency]

That was a six word story! "Little one, just born. He walked."

[@justbeyondthecornerproduct3540]

10:18 Well these are much better than the 10 Commandments

[@FirstRisingSouI]

Sounds a lot like Dragon Ball (pre-Z). Same style of story

[@momoyama6263]

I know right, and that's why I love this story!

[@rebekahnunes8480]

Some similarities to moses here sending a baby down a river only to be saved by a woman who becomes a maternal figure. Then at the end those sound a little bit like some of the 10 comandments

[@andhikasoehalim3170]

Mwindo would have been a really OP Fate Stay Night character, 2nd to Gilgamesh really

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

+Warmach1ne 32 I imagine him telling Modred how her anger towards their Dad/Mom is injustified in the same fashion how Iskander called out on Saber´s wish.

[@Firegen1]

Wow the trolling has got serious in this episode of Crash Course.. I approve.

[@AwayFromTheWorld]

Amazing video... again.

[@WikipediaLover94]

and may you stay forever young

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Aw yeah, shoutout to Forvo! I love that site!

[@TraceyOwusu]

i love mike. hes so good

[@McJethroPovTee]

I suggest you guys to watch Overly Sarcastic Production's take on the epic of Mwindo. It's good, too.

[@dogwithacoolhat]

I love OSP

[@connerstein2008]

That is a crazy impressive baby

[@rudyjanke5942]

mwindu mace windu

[@Oban2006]

This

[@callianr6980]

Now I can't help but wonder if that was on porpose.

[@horizon241]

I enjoy your storytelling.

[@Herly84]

I loved those small jokes... please keep it up :)

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Deep stuff bro

[@jeannie32bean1]

Good job with this one, Mike. Pronouncing these must have been tough.

[@dandraantwineLive]

I love these and myth videos I literally hate waiting for these videos

[@MiltosPol-qn3zh]

Very good video

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

This series has done wonders for Thoth's public relations department. Everyone knows who he is now.

[@eitanprice8144]

Please do an episode on the Kalevala, I have actually found more sources on The Mwindo Epic than the Kalevala. So please teach us about Finnish mythology.

[@jeffreybernath6627]

Mwindo has killer abs!

[@marunui7900]

The epic of Gilgamesh, the Ramayana, the holy grail, the Mwindo epic...are you planning to talk about the Mahabharata, the Volsunga and Nibelungenlied next? how interesting would it be

[@chelseaoware281]

you need to do Akomfo Anokye from Ghana tbh

[@lavinialadlass9432]

Best, Myth, ever.

[@chaseis1badmonkey]

Tell us more about this banana beer. Actual banana beer, not just a mug full of piss.

[@Oqentin]

In this epic, death means less than in DCs Arrowverse!

[@madestmadhatter]

I'm not sure if it's because I'm on my phone, but when I went to check and make sure I was up to date, I found that neither this nor the grail are in the world mythology playlist, they are in your video list, but not in the playlist.

[@LetsTakeWalk]

Will Dante's Inferno be discussed?

[@Ancor3]

Not really mythology, just a cool story about how Dante envisioned purgatory, hell and heaven.

[@artemis6327]

Afro Samurai yes but Dantes interpretation of heaven purgetory and hell have been generally accepted as the real christian afterlife.

[@varana]

Not by Christians, though... :D

[@DuluthTW]

Great story!

[@petrinabranch4224]

It was cute when he offered you some popcorn

[@srgkzy1294]

IM SO HAPPY

[@rociomonserratt346]

yes the old bury your baby bit

[@Ad_Hominem]

a magic murder scepter. ... ok why not?

[@starcrossedgirl23]

The story reminds me a bit of Kirikou and the Sorceress

[@crazygamz3209]

Yes red and blue