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a proud man walking away while a lion, a snake, and a tree watch him with sadness in a traditional West African village scene – Wolof folktale

The Ungrateful Man

by Elizabeth Fabowale

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

Long ago in the land of the Wolof people of Senegal, there lived a poor hunter who spent most of his days roaming the forest. His bow was worn and his clothes were patched, yet he never lost hope that one day fortune would smile on him. One hot afternoon, when the sun beat down upon the trees and silence

Aclever hare and careless hyena from Senegalese Wolof folktales.”

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

Senegalese Hare and Hyena stories

These are five short Wolof folktales from Senegal with the recurring trickster duo, the hare (clever, patient) and the hyena (lazy, careless). 1. The Hyena and the Hare with the Cooking Pot In one Wolof tale, the hare and the hyena decided to make clay cooking pots. The hare worked

A Senegalese waxambaane in traditional clothing walking under the moonlight with a stick in his hand

Two Senegalese Folktales of Wisdom and Courage

The Lion, the Jinn, and the Waxambaane Long ago, in the savannas

Wolof folktale showing a wolf confronted by the Spirit of Death in Senegal.

Two Wolof Folktales of Wisdom and Justice from Senegal

In Senegal, the Wolof people have a rich tradition of storytelling that

the first mushrooms sprouting on a forest floor after rain, while a tortoise, hare, and small birds gather curiously around them – African folktale

How Mushrooms First Grew

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

Long ago, in a quiet town in Senegal, there lived two brothers whose lives were marked by bad choices. They gambled, wasted their money, and borrowed endlessly from others.

A traditional folktale illustration in warm earthy tones shows a fox gripping a rabbit underwater in a muddy Senegalese river. The rabbit’s body is limp, its eyes closed, and bubbles escape from its mouth. The fox’s eyes gleam with triumph. The swirling water is rendered in sepia hues with faded ink lines and parchment texture. A lone tree and rolling hills appear in the background. The only text is “OldFolktales.com” in the top right corner.

The Cunning Fox and Rabbit

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the heart of Senegal, where the great rivers wind through ancient landscapes and carry the wisdom of generations, there lived a fox whose cunning was matched only by

A traditional folktale illustration in warm earthy tones shows a hare kneeling before a divine robed figure seated on a throne. The hare clasps its paws beneath a glowing white mark on its forehead, symbolizing divine judgment. The background features rolling hills, a gnarled tree, and dry grass rendered in faded ink lines and aged parchment texture. The only text is “OldFolktales.com” in the top right corner.

The Hare’s Quest for Intelligence

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the old days, when animals could speak with God and heaven felt closer to earth, there lived a hare whose wit was known across the wide lands of

A traditional illustration in warm, earthy tones depicts a Wolof folktale scene. A lion pins down a hyena in a grassy clearing while a hare sings nearby. Other animals lie motionless, pretending to be dead. In the background, a massive baobab tree stands ready to imprison the hyena. The sky and terrain are rendered in aged parchment texture with faded ink lines. The only text is “OldFolktales.com” in the top right corner.

The Hyena Who Devoured the Youngs

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the vast savannas of Senegal, where acacia trees cast long shadows across golden grasslands and the rhythm of life followed ancient patterns, there lived a community of animals

A traditional watercolor-style illustration depicts a scene from a Wolof folktale. A clever hare is tied to a wooden stake in a lush bean field, surrounded by climbing vines and tender pods. Two children stand nearby—one offering a bowl of water, the other holding the rope. In the distance, a hyena approaches as the jeweler walks toward the field carrying a glowing iron rod. The background features a rustic hut, a lone tree, and rolling hills under a parchment-toned sky. The only text is “OldFolktales.com” in the top right corner.

Cunning Hare & the Jeweler’s Children

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the bustling markets of ancient Senegal, where the sound of hammering gold and silver rang through the air, there lived a skilled jeweler whose reputation for crafting beautiful

Monkey tricking wolf in a pit while lion watches, Wolof folktale from Senegal.

The Shrewdness of the Monkey and the Naivety of the Wolf – A Wolof Folktale from Senegal

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

The bush was quiet that morning, filled only with the rustling of leaves and the distant cry of birds. Then came the sound of heavy footsteps. The lion was

Senegalese spahi Mandoye N’Gom meeting a jinn woman under moonlight.

The Spahi and the Jinn

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

Mandoye N’Gom, a spahi of the second class, lived in N’Dar Touti, a settlement on the banks of the Senegal River. Like many soldiers, his days were ruled by

Omanhene seated on a wooden stool, surrounded by villagers, as he poses a riddle – Wolof folktales.

The Omanhene Who Loved Riddles

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the old days, when chiefs were the keepers of both wisdom and power, there lived an Omanhene, the head of a great village. This ruler had three sons,

a man weeping beside a tiger lying motionless in the forest, while a tiger cub watches closely – Wolof folktale

Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

Long ago in the dense forests of West Africa, where tall trees whispered to the wind and streams glittered in the sun, a man set out to hunt. He

a spider with a wooden axe hiding a steel axe, an elephant tied to a tree, and a wren flying away in a West African village scene

To Lose an Elephant for the Sake of a Wren | Wolof Folktale

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

Long ago in the land of the Wolof people of Senegal, there stood a tree so vast that it seemed to touch the very sky. Its trunk was thicker

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