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Central African Folktales - Page 12

Traditional folktales from Central African Folktales, passed down through generations.

Monkey laughing from a tree while Leopard growls angrily below in a Gabonese forest

Why Monkey Mocked Leopard

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales·Mpongwe Folktales

Deep in the forests of Gabon, where the tall trees swayed and the rivers whispered through the undergrowth, Leopard ruled as the most feared hunter. His sharp claws and swift leaps brought down antelope and bush pig alike. The animals spoke his name in whispers, for no creature wished to cross his path. Yet among them was Monkey, quick and

Parchment-style African folktale scene of Sun and Moon escaping floodwaters caused by Water’s visiting family.

African Folktales·Cameroonian Folktales

Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky

Long, long ago, when the world was still young and the boundaries between earth and sky were not yet firmly established, the Sun and Moon lived together in a beautiful house on the earth. Their dwelling was a magnificent structure with walls that gleamed like polished gold in the morning

A boastful frog on a riverbank in Gabon, challenging a sparrow in the air and fish in the river - Gabonese folktale

The Boastful Frog

In the lush forests and rivers of Gabon, where the air echoed

Tortoise hiding in his shell while Leopard looks frustrated - Gabonese folktale

The Tortoise and the Leopard

Deep in the forests of Gabon, where tall trees reached toward the

Dog triumphs as Leopard and Gorilla fall into a pit, Equatorial Guinean folktale on pride destroying friendship.

Dog and Leopard: An Equatorial Guinean Tale of Rivalry and Betrayal

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, in the villages of Equatorial Guinea, Dog and Leopard were close friends. They built a town together, shared one great table, hunted in the same forests, and

Tortoise paddles with Bojabi fruit as animals await by the great tree in Equatorial Guinea folktale.

Tortoise and the Bojabi Tree: An Equatorial Guinea Folktale

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

In the Country of All-the-Beasts, every animal lived together in one vast region, except for Boa Constrictor, who made his home thirty miles away in solitude. In the heart

Tortoise defeats Leopard through wisdom and patience in an Equatorial Guinean folktale of envy, survival, and cunning.

The Power of Wisdom and Patience: Equatorial Guinean Folktale

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, when sickness and death haunted villages, the people of Equatorial Guinea often abandoned their settlements, believing malevolent spirits infested the land. Even the beasts of the forest

Parchment-style drawing of feathered Tortoise claiming feast from birds; African folktale about deception and greed.

Why Tortoise Has a Cracked Shell

African Folktales·Cameroonian Folktales

In ancient times, when the world pulsed with magic and animals spoke the languages of wisdom, there lived a grand tradition that marked the turning of seasons and the

Tortoise, Snail, and Iguana at Evenga tree as birds and monkeys feast in Equatorial Guinea folktale.

Death Begins by One Person: An Equatorial Guinean Folktale on the Consequences of Carelessness

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

In the time when animals lived and spoke like people, three companions shared a village deep in the forests of Equatorial Guinea: Ka the Snail, Ngambi the Iguana, and

The Chameleon and the Wild Rat: An Equatorial Guinean Folktale That Teaches Lessons on Blame, Loyalty, and Responsibility

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, in the forests of Equatorial Guinea, the animals lived close to one another, their villages forming a vast, lively town. It was a place of constant chatter, where