Long before the earth was filled with people, plants, and animals, there was only Mawu, the great Creator, and her mighty companion, the serpent Aido-Hwedo. He was not just a serpent of the waters but a cosmic being of unimaginable size and strength, whose body became the foundation upon which the world was formed.
Whenever Mawu traveled across the face of the waters to shape creation, she did not go alone. She rested upon the broad back of Aido-Hwedo, who carried her faithfully. His body twisted and glided through the primeval sea, guiding her work and giving form to her vision.
As Aido-Hwedo moved, the very landscape of the world began to emerge. Each turn of his massive body pressed into the earth, carving deep valleys where rivers would later run. When he coiled his body, his spirals rose upward into towering mountains. And in the great hollows he left behind, the seas gathered, filling the basins with water.
Through his endless movement, the world found its shape. Where he went, the outlines of continents, rivers, and oceans followed. Mawu designed, but it was Aido-Hwedo’s strength that impressed the design into the fabric of the earth.
The Earth Becomes Too Heavy
When creation was complete, the world was beautiful but heavy. Its mountains were tall, its seas vast, its valleys deep. The land groaned under its own weight, threatening to collapse in on itself.
Seeing this, Mawu spoke to her companion:
“The earth is too heavy. It cannot bear its own burden. You, Aido-Hwedo, must remain beneath it, coiled tightly, a living pillow to hold it steady.”
Aido-Hwedo obeyed without hesitation. He slid beneath the surface of the world, sinking into the depths of the sea. There he coiled his immense body around the foundations of the earth, his form acting as a head-rest and support for the overburdened land.
The Serpent Beneath the World
From that day forward, the world rested upon the body of Aido-Hwedo. His presence kept it balanced, stable, and whole. Yet the earth still bore traces of his living power. When the serpent stirred in his sleep, the ground above trembled. People say that earthquakes are the restless movements of Aido-Hwedo as he shifts beneath the earth.
The serpent’s body, so closely tied to the Creator’s labor, also left behind traces of his passage. The glittering minerals and metals of the world, iron, copper, gold, and others, were said to be the hardened droppings of Aido-Hwedo. As he bore Mawu through the act of creation, these remnants fell away, settling into the soil and rock to enrich the land.
Thus, even in hidden ways, Aido-Hwedo continued to sustain humankind: keeping the earth steady, providing riches, and reminding people of the serpent’s enduring bond with the Creator.
A Living Lesson
The story of Aido-Hwedo is more than a creation tale; it is a reminder of balance, humility, and hidden strength. Just as the serpent bears the world unseen beneath the sea, many forces in life support existence quietly, without recognition. The folktale teaches that stability and abundance often depend on unseen sacrifices, and that the earth itself is alive with the memory of its beginnings.
Moral of the Story
The tale of Aido-Hwedo shows that every act of creation requires both vision and support. Mawu shaped the world, but without the strength of Aido-Hwedo, the earth could not endure. It is a lesson in partnership, humility, and the quiet power of those who carry great burdens for the good of all.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who was Aido-Hwedo in this folktale?
Aido-Hwedo was the cosmic serpent who carried Mawu during creation and later supported the earth beneath the sea.
Q2: How did valleys and mountains come into existence in the story?
Valleys formed where Aido-Hwedo turned, and mountains rose where he coiled his body.
Q3: Why did Mawu instruct Aido-Hwedo to remain beneath the earth?
Because the earth was too heavy to support itself, and only Aido-Hwedo’s strength could keep it steady.
Q4: What natural phenomenon is explained through Aido-Hwedo’s movements?
Earthquakes are said to occur when the serpent stirs in his sleep beneath the earth.
Q5: What do the minerals and metals of the earth symbolize in this story?
They are believed to be the hardened droppings of Aido-Hwedo from the time he carried Mawu.
Q6: What cultural origin does this folktale belong to?
This is a Fon creation folktale from Dahomey (present-day Benin).
Source: Beninese Folktale
