Long ago, in the deep forests of Equatorial Guinea, a man named Bokona Bodikito set out on his daily business. The trees grew thick and tall, their canopies blocking much of the afternoon light, and the forest stretched far and wide with no villages or settlements nearby. It was a place where silence was broken only by the cry of birds, the rustling of leaves, or the call of distant animals. Yet, on this particular day, Bokona would witness something extraordinary, something that would change the way he, and those who heard his tale, thought about the hidden mysteries of the natural world.
Bokona was a man of steady temperament, neither quick to fear nor quick to dismiss the strange. After completing his work deep within the forest, he began the long walk back to his village. As the afternoon sun slanted through the trees, he suddenly heard a sound that made him pause: the hum and rise of human voices in conversation.
He froze, listening carefully. The voices were clear and distinct, rising and falling in rhythm, as if several people were talking together. Yet Bokona knew the forest well, and he was certain that no village lay anywhere near this part of the land. Who could possibly be speaking here, so deep in the wilderness?
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Curiosity overcame him, and he moved forward slowly, careful with his steps, so that whoever was speaking would not be startled by his presence. The voices grew louder as he drew closer, filling the air like the chatter of a small gathering.
But when Bokona reached the place, his eyes widened in disbelief. There were no men, no women, no group of travelers resting along the path. Instead, before him stood a herd of hogs, rooting the earth with their snouts. To his astonishment, it was their mouths that moved, and it was their voices he had heard. The hogs were speaking in the language of humankind.
The voices were unmistakable, clear, articulate, and entirely human. The hogs conversed among themselves as though they were men at a village meeting. Bokona’s breath caught in his throat, for never had he encountered such a sight. He had always heard that the forest held mysteries, that spirits lived among the trees, but now, with his own eyes and ears, he was witnessing proof of it.
For a long moment he stood frozen, watching, listening, his heart pounding between awe and fear. These were not the grunts and squeals of ordinary swine, but the very speech of mankind carried on the tongues of beasts.
When the hogs at last quieted and returned to their rooting, Bokona slipped away, his mind swirling with wonder. He knew that what he had seen and heard could not be kept to himself. Upon reaching home, he recounted the event openly, giving his full name, Bokona Bodikito, and standing by his testimony.
This was what made the tale unique. Unlike many other legends that begin with the uncertain phrase “they say,” this story carried the authority of a man’s name and family. Bokona himself claimed the truth of what he witnessed. And so, the tale of the talking hogs was preserved, passed from voice to voice, and remembered as one of the many mysteries that dwell in the forests of Equatorial Guinea.
Moral Lesson
The story of Bokona and the talking hogs reminds us that the world is far more mysterious than it appears. Nature holds secrets beyond human understanding, and what seems ordinary may conceal extraordinary truths. This tale teaches us humility: not everything can be explained, yet every mystery deserves respect.
It also emphasizes the importance of memory and witness. Bokona’s courage in naming himself as the man who heard the hogs preserved the tale for generations. Without his testimony, such a wonder would have been forgotten, swallowed by the silence of the forest.
Knowledge Check
Who is the central figure in this Equatorial Guinean folktale?
Bokona Bodikito, the man who heard hogs speaking.
Where did the unusual event take place?
Deep in the forest of Equatorial Guinea, far from any village.
What remarkable thing did Bokona hear?
He heard a herd of hogs speaking clearly in the language of humankind.
Why is this tale considered unique among folktales?
Because Bokona gave his name and family, making it a direct eyewitness account instead of a vague “they say” legend.
What key lesson does the story highlight?
That the natural world holds mysteries beyond human knowledge, deserving humility and respect.
What is the cultural origin of this folktale?
It is an Equatorial Guinean folktale.
Source: Equatorial Guinean folktale
