Sun God Brings Iron to Man: Lisa and the Gift of Gu
In the time when the world was still young, the gods looked down upon the earth and saw that men lived in great struggle.
Sagbata and the Battle for Rain: A Dahomean Fon Folktale
The world was young, and the children of the great mother Mawu awaited their destiny. She was the creator, the one who balanced the
Sogbo Becomes Master of the Universe: Water and Fire Over All
Long ago, when the Creator completed the heavens and the earth, she entrusted her children with the care of the world. Among these children
Kakpo and the Promise to Loko: A Vodun Tale from Tendjñ
In the early days, the tree called Loko was like any other in the forests of Tendjñ. Its branches stretched high, and its leaves
Sogbo Becomes Master of the Universe: A Beninese Folktale of Fire and Water
Long ago, after the Creator had shaped the world, she ceased her work and entrusted the governance of creation to her children, Jigbata and
The Boundaries of Sagbata and Hevioso in Dahomean Folklore
Long ago, when the world was still being shaped and the gods walked close to humankind, there lived a son of Ananunamed Azo. He
To Each Is Given His Dominion A Beninese Folktale of Mawu-Lisa
In the beginning, when the universe was still fresh and the earth had not yet settled into its order, there was Mawu-Lisa, the great
Sewanla and the Talking Tail: A Thunder-God Origin from Beninese Folklore
Long ago, when animals and spirits still walked close with humankind, there lived a bird called Vulture. Though a bird, Vulture was raised by
The Dahomean Creation Story of Mawu-Lisa and Their Children
Long ago, before time was measured by the rhythm of days and nights, the supreme being Mawu-Lisa ruled over the heavens. Mawu-Lisa was not
Two Beninese Tales That Teach Lessons on Humility and Creation
In the heart of West Africa, the people of Dahomey, today’s Benin, have long passed down stories that explain where humanity came from and
