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Ayomide Adekilekun

Illustration of greedy old couple turning into monkeys on a tree, from a Zambian folktale.

How the Monkeys Came to Be: A Zambian Folktale

by Ayomide Adekilekun

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

Long ago, in the heart of the African wilderness, there lay a quiet glade where a humble tribe had built their huts. The people lived in harmony with nature and with one another, sharing food, laughter, and the struggles of daily life. Among them lived a frail old man and his equally gaunt wife. They were always complaining of hunger

Illustration of Monkey and Hare in Gambian folktale, showing their playful contest of pride and trickery.

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

The Monkey and the Hare | A Classic Gambian Folktale of Pride and Trickery

One bright morning in a Gambian village clearing, Monkey boasted loudly before Hare and all who would listen. With a confident grin, he slapped his chest and declared, “From sunrise to sunset, I can go without scratching myself, no matter what!” His words carried the weight of a challenge, a

Kalulu the Hare beats a drum inside a pumpkin in the Elephant’s belly, Zambian Luchazi folktale.

Kalulu and the Elephant: A Zambian Folktale

Kalulu the Hare was known throughout the land for his tireless energy

Kalulu the hare, disguised as a witchdoctor, saves the Lion from a snake in a Luchazi folktale.

Kalulu and the Lion: A Luchazi Folktale from Zambia

Long ago, when the Lion ruled as the mighty king of the

Hyena disguised as healer with mother inside hut, daughters waiting anxiously outside, Senegal folktale.

The Fate of De N’Galack and Patte N’Galack’s Mother| A Gambian Folktale

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

Once, in a quiet Gambian village, there lived a woman with her two daughters, De N’Galack and Patte N’Galack. The woman suffered from a painful sore on her foot,

The Hyena and the Old Woman’s Horn| A Gambian Folktale

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

It was a time of famine, when the land lay bare and food was scarce, and many creatures wandered in hunger. Amid this harsh season lived an old woman,

Gambian folktale illustration of a fox tricking a rabbit while fishing at a muddy riverbank.

The Fox and the Rabbit | A Gambian Tale of Cunning and Betrayal

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

One bright morning along the winding river that threaded through the Gambian plains, the fox approached the rabbit with a smile that did not reach his eyes. The reedbeds

Illustration of the hare tricking an elephant with burning hay in a Gambian folktale.

The Hare’s Quest for Greater Wisdom | A Gambian Folktale

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

One day, the hare, known for his wit and mischief, presented himself before God with a bold request. He bowed low and pleaded, “Lord, grant me greater intelligence, so

Illustration of Hare tricking sparrows into a gourd in a Gambian folktale of wit and restraint.

The Cunning Hare and the Sparrows| A Gambian Folktale of Wit and Restraint

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, when animals still sought wisdom directly from the Creator, Hare, known across the land for his cunning tricks, grew restless. Though already clever, he desired to be

Illustration of wolf rescued by ox, judged by elephant in a Gambian folktale of justice.

The Wolf, the Ox, and the Elephant| A Gambian Folktale of Deception and Justice

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

On a moonlit night, a lone wolf wandered restlessly across the open plains, driven by unrelenting hunger. His stomach growled, and his sharp eyes searched the darkness for the

Illustration of a wolf chased by Abdou Dhiabare as a fly in a Gambian folktale.

The Wolf and Abdou Dhiabare|A Gambian Folktale of Death and Deception

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

In a quiet stretch of wilderness, an ox had died, and its carcass had begun to rot under the heat of the sun. The smell of decay drifted across

Illustration of monkey escaping, hyena trapped, and lion approaching, from a traditional Gambian folktale.

The Monkey and the Hyena | A Gambian Folktale of Wit and Deception

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

One day, the lion was walking through the bush as though it were his personal domain. He moved with pride, pausing often to look to the right and left,

Illustration of a Gambian folktale showing a waxambaané defeating a lion as a jinn flees in fear

The Lion, the Jinn, and the Waxambaané | A Gambian Folktale

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

One day in Yang-Yang, a small village in The Gambia, a mighty lion and a cunning jinn crossed paths on a dusty road. Each was full of pride, unwilling

Mandoye N’Gom confronts a jinn woman under the moonlight in this traditional Gambian folktale illustration.

The Spahi and the Jinn | A Gambian Folktale

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

There once lived a young spahi named Mandoye N’Gom, a soldier of the second class, who made his home in N’Dar Touti with his wife. One night, as he

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