Stealing Fire from the Creator: The Wisdom of Chameleon and Tortoise in Beninese Folklore
In the beginning of time, when Mawu, the great Creator, shaped the heavens and the earth, there was no fire among mortals. The world
Three Beninese Folktales That Teach Wisdom and Caution
Long ago, in the heart of West Africa, the people of Benin told stories that explained the world and the ways of its creatures.
Three Beninese Folktales That Teach Lessons on Life, Loss, and Companionship
In the heart of Benin, stories passed from one generation to another reveal how the world and its creatures came to be as we
Two Beninese Folktales That Teach Lessons on Life and Wisdom
In the earliest days of the world, life was simple, raw, and untouched by the knowledge that now shapes humanity. Men and women survived
The Ways of Mawu Are Just: The Messenger’s Deeds
In the days when the world was still young, the great Mawu, Creator of all, sent her messenger to walk the earth. Each day,
Aido-Hwedo, the Cosmic Serpent
Long before the earth was filled with people, plants, and animals, there was only Mawu, the great Creator, and her mighty companion, the serpent
Mawu’s Divine Justice
In the ancient days when the gods walked closely with mortals and divine wisdom governed the affairs of earth, the great goddess Mawu maintained
The First Humans: Dahomey Creation Story
In the mists of time, when the world was young and the stories of beginnings were first spoken around evening fires, the people of
Why Monkeys Can’t Walk Upright
In the beginning of time, when the world was still soft and malleable like wet clay in a potter’s hands, the great goddess Mawu
How Legba Tricked the Creator
In the dawn of creation, when the world was young and the boundary between heaven and earth was as thin as a whisper, the
