Once upon a time in Kagera Region in Western Tanzania a man married a beautiful maiden. The mother-in-law saw to it that the maiden learned the customs and traditions of the family. After a week, the mother-in-law brought the maiden to a secret place in the house and showed her a big pot that was closed tightly with a big lid. The maiden was forbidden to open it and was told never to go near it. The mother-in-law insisted: “Never, never touch the pot!” “Yes, Mama," she replied.

The maiden was amazed as she watched the pot replenish itself with water as the mother-in-law commanded. The family never had to fetch water from the lake like all the other villagers.  It happened that one day the mother-in-law was away and was late to return home. There was no water for cooking. “Why can’t I fetch water from the pot?" the maiden asked herself. "Let me try to open the pot." She went to the secret place and as soon as she touched the pot it shattered into many pieces. The water began to flow out of the pot and didn’t stop. The maiden called “Mulanjuna! Mulanjun!a” ("Help! Help!"). But nobody came.

Through a mysterious power, the mother-in-law sensed that someone had disobediently touched the pot. She hurried home. At her arrival, she noticed the water flowing out of the pot. She had a hoe that had a magic power. She took it from a skin-purse that she always carried. and running towards the flood she cried: "Oite akalo osige akandi! Oite abalo osige abandi!” (“Kill one and spare the others!”)The maiden had already drowned, and the house and their field were covered with water as well. The mother in law stopped the water where she placed the magic hoe.

The villagers gathered in shock to watch the lake that had no outlet. They named it Ikimba. The Haya proverb Entagambirwa esabala bw’aibumba (A stubborn person sails in a clay boat) was remembered by all who passed by. Lake Ikimba that killed the maiden is still there today as the result of the maiden’s disobedience.