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Aimiton Precious

Sepia-toned illustration of two travelers walking a dusty path at sunset, with a divine figure hovering in the clouds above. The background features rolling hills, a gnarled tree, and parchment-style texture. The only text is “OldFolktales.com” in the top right corner.

Mawu’s Divine Justice

by Aimiton Precious

African Folktales·Beninese Folktales·Dahomean (Fon) Folktales·West African Folktales

In the ancient days when the gods walked closely with mortals and divine wisdom governed the affairs of earth, the great goddess Mawu maintained perfect order over all creation through her mysterious ways. Each dawn brought with it a sacred ritual that had continued unchanged for countless years: Mawu would dispatch her divine messenger to travel across the world from

Parchment-style illustration of Kélé standing before lion and hunters at dusk; West African folktale from Mali.

African Folktales·Malian Folktales·West African Folktales

The Lion King of Bamako

Bamako, a vibrant city that pulses with the rhythmic beating of djembe drums and the life giving waters of the Niger River, is a place where ancient legends seamlessly meet modern life. Beneath the golden sun of Mali, this bustling capital hides stories as old as the surrounding hills themselves.

Parchment-style illustration of American girl Mabel meeting forest witch after dropping figurines, from modern fairy tale.

Mabel and the Witch

Once upon a time, in a place not so very far away,

Parchment-style illustration of Princess Aissata on horseback in Sahara; West African folktale from Mali Empire.

The Warrior Princess of Mali

The desert sang its eternal song at night not a melody that

Parchment-style illustration of Singaporean villagers attacking giant snake beneath ancient banyan tree.

The Giant Snake of the Banyan Tree

Asian·Singaporean Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

Long ago, in the northwestern reaches of Singapore, there stood a banyan tree so ancient and enormous that its gnarled roots seemed to grip the very soul of the

Parchment-style illustration of Singaporean Minah swimming through stormy sea toward the rising islands.

The Sisters’ Islands

Asian·Singaporean Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

In a small coastal village on the shores of what would one day become Singapore, there lived a poor widow who had been blessed with two daughters as beautiful

Parchment-style illustration of Radin Mas shielding father from kris attack in traditional Singaporean folktale.

The Golden Princess

Asian·Singaporean Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

In the ancient kingdom of Java, where volcanic mountains touched the clouds and rice terraces cascaded down verdant hillsides like emerald staircases, there lived a prince named Pangeran Adipati

Parchment-style illustration of Malaysian elephant, wild boar, and frog preparing to cross Johor straits.

The Elephant, Pig, and Frog

Asian·Singaporean Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

Long before the towering buildings of modern Singapore rose against the sky, before the busy port hummed with ships from across the world, the waters between Singapore and Johor

Parchment-style illustration of Malaysian tiger and Siamese cat facing each other beside jungle waterfall.

The Malay Tiger and the Siamese Cat

Asian·Malaysian Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

Deep in the emerald heart of the Malayan jungle, where ancient trees stretched their branches toward the heavens and morning mist clung to the undergrowth like gossamer veils, there

Parchment-style illustration of Malaysian mountain princess listing seven demands to Hang Tuah.

The Impossible Princess

Asian·Malaysian Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

High atop Gunung Ledang, a mystical mountain that rises majestically near the bustling port city of Malacca, there lived a princess unlike any other. Puteri Gunung Ledang was no

Parchment-style illustration of Malay king lifting goldfish from river as queen cradles newborn Bidasari nearby.

How a Goldfish Saved a Princess

Asian·Southeast Asian Folktales

In ancient times, when mythical creatures still walked the earth and magic flowed through the rivers and forests of the Malay kingdoms, a king and his heavily pregnant queen

Parchment-style illustration of Mahsuri pierced by keris, white blood flowing, villagers stunned in Malaysian folktale.

The White Blood of Mahsuri

Asian·Malaysian Folktales·Southeast Asian Folktales

More than four hundred years ago, on the verdant island of Langkawi, where emerald waters kissed white sandy shores and rice paddies stretched like golden carpets across the land,

Parchment-style illustration of African elder wife holding razor while co-wife kneels beside sleeping child near cooking pots.

The Murder by Mistake

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Congolese (DRC) Folktales

In a village where polygamy was the custom and co-wives shared the duties of household and family; two women prepared for their husband’s long absence. With practiced hands, they

Parchment-style illustration of African Buite holding fish as magical wife and servants vanish, brother Swarmi watches in valley.

How Pride Destroyed Paradise

African Folktales·Cameroonian Folktales·Central African Folktales

In a certain town where family bonds should have meant everything, two brothers lived lives as different as day and night. The elder was named Swarmi, a man of

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