African Folktales

Oyebode Ayoola

Parchment-style illustration of Anansi tricking Ant into carrying a heavy box, Ashanti folktale from Ghana.

Why Ants Carry Bundles as Big as Themselves

by Oyebode Ayoola

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Kweku Anansi, the trickster spider of Ashanti tales, was well known for his cunning ways. He and his son, Kweku Tsin, were both skilled farmers who usually enjoyed plentiful harvests. Their farms had always been fruitful, with yams, beans, and maize ripening under their care. But one year misfortune struck. They had sown their seeds as usual, waiting for the

Parchment-style illustration of sly Jackal tricking angry Lion near cave, African folktale about wit over strength.

African Folktales·South African Folktales·Southern African Folktales

The Lion and the Jackal

In the wild and open plains of South Africa, where the sun burned fiercely during the day and the nights were alive with the sounds of animals, there lived two unlikely companions: the Lion and the Jackal. The Lion was mighty, feared by all creatures. His roar echoed across the

Parchment-style illustration of Lion pulling Jackal from eland carcass, African folktale with sly trickery and savannah setting.

The Hunt of Lion and Jackal

Long ago, when the great animals still roamed the plains in friendship

Parchment-style illustration of jackal, dove on a rock, and heron by river, Khoikhoi African folktale scene.

Jackal, Dove, and Heron

Long ago, in the vast landscapes of Southern Africa, a story unfolded

Parchment-style African folktale illustration showing clever Jackal outwitting mighty Lion on a rocky cliff.

The Clever Little Jackal and the Lion

African Folktales·South African Folktales·Southern African Folktales

Long ago, when animals lived, spoke, and hunted much like people, there was a little Jackal who was as sharp-witted as he was quick on his feet. One day,

Parchment-style illustration of a fat woman melting under the sun beside her thin husband, African folktale scene.

Of the Fat Woman Who Melted Away

African Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in a quiet village surrounded by rolling fields and tall palm trees, there lived a husband and wife who could not have been more different in appearance.

Parchment-style illustration of lightning and thunder in the sky, African folktale scene with storm clouds and fire.

The Story of Lightning and Thunder

African Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in the days when the earth was still fresh and the animals and spirits lived closer to humankind, there were two powerful beings who walked among the

Parchment-style illustration of Efiong the cat deceiving and attacking rats, Nigerian folktale showing origins of their enmity.

Why the Cat Kills Rats

African Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in a small village where animals lived and behaved much like people, there was a cat named Efiong. Unlike the sleek, well-fed cats we know today, Efiong

Parchment-style illustration of cows in a market surrounded by angry flies, African folktale explaining their endless nuisance.

Why the Flies Bother the Cows

African Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in the days when animals could still speak and reason like humans, the cows of the land gathered for an important meeting. It was no ordinary gathering,

Parchment-style illustration of Kwaku Ananse with pot stuck on head, Ashanti folktale from Ghana.

How Kwaku Ananse Became Bald

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

In the time before the world grew noisy with machines and cities, when stories were passed from mouth to ear under moonlit skies, there lived the cunning spider-man, Kwaku

Parchment-style illustration of Mouse freeing trapped Lion from hunters’ net, Ghana folktale with moral lesson.

How the Lion Rewarded the Mouse’s Kindness

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in the golden heart of the African savannah, where the sun painted the tall grasses in shimmering hues of bronze and the wind carried the scent of

Parchment-style illustration of weary traveler meeting spirit of the World, African folktale teaching life’s lessons.

The World’s Reward

African Folktales·South African Folktales·Southern African Folktales

Long ago, when the earth was still young and men and animals shared the same spaces, there lived a poor orphan boy. He had no father or mother, no

Parchment-style illustration of sly Jackal tricking angry Lion near cave, African folktale about wit over strength.

The Lion, the Jackal, and the Man

African Folktales·South African Folktales·Southern African Folktales

Long ago, when the earth was young and animals still spoke with the same voice as humankind, there lived a mighty Lion. His mane shimmered golden beneath the sun,

Parchment-style illustration of Bat hiding in branches from angry animals, Nigerian folktale explaining his shame.

Why the Bat is Ashamed to Be Seen in the Daytime

African Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, when animals spoke and shared the earth more openly with humans, the Bat lived comfortably among them. In those days, the Bat was not the shy creature

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