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Ivorian Folktales - Page 2

Traditional folktales from Ivorian (Côte d’Ivoire), passed down through generations in West African Folktales.

Tortoise falling from the sky after tricking the birds at a heavenly feast in an Igbo folktale about greed and downfall.

The Tortoise and the Feast in the Sky

by Elizabeth Fabowale

Ivorian Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, before your grandmother’s grandmother was born, the animals of the earth lived in unity and often gathered for celebrations. Among them was Tortoise, a creature known not only for his wit but also for his endless greed. He was clever, sharp, and persuasive, yet he always looked for ways to gain more than others. One season, the birds

Alt Text: Queen Abla Pokou stands with her people by a wide river, pointing toward the far bank as they prepare to cross - Ivorian folktale

African Folktales·Ivorian Folktales·West African Folktales

Abla Pokou and the Birth of the Baoulé People

The story of Queen Abla Pokou is one of the most powerful folktales from Côte d’Ivoire. It is remembered for its deep themes of sacrifice, leadership, and the birth of a nation. It is a tale passed down through the generations among the Baoulé people, carrying both sorrow and pride.

Mantis steals glowing moonlight in the Kalahari Desert, watched by jackal and ostrich under a starry sky.

How the Mantis Stole the Moonlight

Listen, children of the desert wind, listen well to this tale

A mischievous monkey trapped in a hunter’s net while villagers and animals watch with concern - Ivorian folktale

The Trickster Monkey of the Dan People

Among the Dan people of Côte d’Ivoire there is a story often

A young Senufo boy plays a sacred drum in a forest clearing while spirits watch over him - Ivorian folktale

The Drum of the Senufo

African Folktales·Ivorian Folktales·West African Folktales

Among the Senufo people of northern Côte d’Ivoire there is a tale of how music came to hold the power of the ancestors. This story tells of a boy

A Guro hunter holds a sacred mask in a forest clearing while villagers watch with respect - Ivorian folktale

The Sacred Guro Mask

African Folktales·Ivorian Folktales·West African Folktales

Among the Guro people of Côte d’Ivoire there is an old tale that speaks of the power of art as a sacred link between the living and the spirits

A proud hyena trapped in a forest net while a calm tortoise stands nearby with a basket of food - Ivorian folktale

The Hyena and the Tortoise

African Folktales·Ivorian Folktales·West African Folktales

In the villages of the Baoulé people there is an old story told beside the fire at night. It is the tale of the proud hyena and the humble

A young Igbo girl named Adaeze dances gracefully in a glowing spirit world, surrounded by radiant spirits wearing masks of light.

The Girl Who Danced with the Spirits

Ivorian Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Come closer, children, for this story is older than the hills and deeper than the roots of the ancient trees. In the days when people still listened closely to

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