Timeless African folktales retold for a new generation
How the Tortoise Broke His Shell
Come closer, for this tale is older than the hills, older than the tallest trees in the forest. Long ago, in a lush village beside the great river, there lived a tortoise whose cunning and greed were known far and wide. His shell shone like polished ebony, smooth and strong,
The Lucky Fisherman: A Folktale of Kindness and Reward
Long ago, in a quiet village by the sea, there lived a
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
Long ago, before the world was as we know it today, the
Why the Moon Waxes and Wanes
In the earliest days of creation, when the world was young and the boundary between earth and heaven was not yet firmly established, the moon was not the silent,
The Leopard, Squirrel, and Tortoise.
In the lush green forests of Nigeria, where towering palm trees swayed gently in the warm tropical breeze and the air hummed with the songs of countless birds, there
The Story of Lightning and Thunder
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
The Affair of the Hippopotamus and the Tortoise
Long ago, in the wide green lands where the rivers wound like silver snakes and the tall grass swayed with the whispers of the ancestors, there lived the Hippopotamus.
Why Dead People are Buried
In the early days of the world, people never truly died. Instead, when they grew old, their bodies transformed into snakes, lizards, and other animals. The earth was alive
Why a Hawk Kills Chickens
Once upon a time, in the open plains where the tall grasses swayed with the wind, a hawk and a hen struck up an unusual friendship. The hawk, with
Of the Pretty Stranger Who Killed the King
Mbotu, the celebrated king of Old Town in Calabar, was a man known far and wide for his strength, courage, and brilliance in war. Time and again, he had
The Fish and the Leopard’s Wife
Long ago, in the lush forests of Calabar, the fish did not live in the rivers or streams as it does today. Instead, it roamed the land freely and
Why the Bat is Ashamed to be Seen in the Daytime
Long ago, in a village surrounded by thick forests, there lived an old mother sheep with seven young lambs. One day, a bat approached her. He was planning to
Why the Cat Kills Rats
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
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