There once lived a poor man named Ohia, and his wife, Awirehu. Their life was a long chain of troubles, each link heavier than the last. No matter what they attempted, misfortune shadowed their every effort. They grew so impoverished that they could barely clothe themselves, let alone find comfort.
Desperation drove Ohia to a plan many of his neighbors had tried before. He approached a wealthy farmer, offering to fell several of his palm trees and collect their sap to make palm wine. His wife, Awirehu, would carry it to market and sell it. The proceeds, Ohia promised, would be divided equally among the farmer, his wife, and himself.
The farmer, generous and practical, agreed. He even supplied Ohia with earthen pots, since the poor man had none. Ohia and Awirehu set to work eagerly, cutting and preparing the trees, arranging the pots to gather the dripping sap. On the first market day, before dawn, Ohia lit a torch and hurried to collect the wine.
But disaster greeted him. At the first tree, the pot lay shattered on the ground, the sap gone. At the second, the same. And the third. At every tree, the same cruel sight, broken pots, stolen wine.
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Awirehu, ready to leave for market, joined him and read his despair from his face. Together they examined the ruin and realized that some thief had robbed them, breaking the pots to hide the crime. She returned home in sorrow, while Ohia, stubborn in suffering, set the pots again.
The next morning, his fears proved true: more broken pots, more vanished wine. With heavy heart, Ohia returned to the farmer to confess. The farmer, kind and forgiving, supplied fresh pots. Yet even the third attempt ended the same way.
Awirehu urged him to give up. “Perhaps misfortune will never leave us,” she sighed. But Ohia’s resolve hardened. If nothing else, he would catch the thief.
That night, he hid among the palm trees. Hours passed in silence, until around two in the morning a shadow crept forward. Ohia strained his eyes and saw not a man, but a bush-deer. The creature carried a great jar upon its head, and with practiced ease it emptied each pot of sap, pouring the wine into its vessel before smashing the pots.
Ohia crept closer, but the deer, startled, bolted, dropping the jar. The chase began. Across miles, from night into noon, they ran until the deer scrambled up a steep hill. Exhausted but determined, Ohia followed, reaching the summit only to find himself surrounded by a vast gathering of animals.
The deer collapsed before King Tiger, panting, and accused Ohia of intrusion. The Tiger demanded the man be punished. But Ohia pleaded for a hearing. He recounted his miserable life, the thefts, his watchful vigil, and the chase that had brought him there.
The animals listened with sympathy. They judged the deer guilty. King Tiger revealed that each day he had entrusted Deer with money to buy palm wine for the assembly. Instead, Deer had pocketed the coins and stolen Ohia’s wine. The verdict was swift: punishment for the deer, pardon and apology for Ohia.
As compensation, King Tiger bestowed a gift: Ohia would understand the speech of all animals. But there was one condition: he must never reveal this gift to any soul, or death would claim him instantly.
Grateful, Ohia returned home. His wine went unmolested, and prosperity blossomed. One day, while bathing near his house, he overheard a hen and her chicks discussing gold buried in his garden. When they left, Ohia dug and found three jars of treasure, enough to make him wealthy for life. He told only Awirehu, and together they guarded their secret.
In time, Ohia became one of the richest men in the region. Yet greed led him to take a second wife. Unlike faithful Awirehu, the new wife was selfish, jealous, and lame. She grew convinced that Ohia and Awirehu mocked her behind her back.
One night, as Ohia lay awake, he overheard two mice plotting a raid on his larder. Amused, he laughed aloud. His jealous wife stormed in, accusing him of mocking her. When he refused to share the “joke,” she grew more suspicious. She reported him to the chief.
Pressed to explain, Ohia refused, bound by his oath. Facing death, he prepared for the end. He held a great feast, divided his wealth, and bade farewell to all. At the assembly, he recounted his life’s story, the gift of King Tiger, and the cause of his fateful laughter. As the last word left his lips, he fell dead.
He was mourned deeply, for all respected him. His jealous wife, whose suspicions had led to his doom, was burned as a witch. Her ashes, it is said, spread jealousy and selfishness across the world.
Moral Lesson
This tale reminds us that jealousy destroys not only its bearer but also those around them. Ohia’s patience and honesty brought him blessings, yet his downfall came through the suspicion and envy of another. From this, we learn that trust, loyalty, and contentment are treasures greater than gold, while jealousy is a poison that spreads ruin wherever it goes.
Knowledge Check
Who were the main characters in the story?
Ohia, his wife Awirehu, the jealous second wife, the deer, and King Tiger.
What was the deer’s crime?
The deer stole Ohia’s palm wine and misused King Tiger’s money.
What gift did King Tiger give Ohia?
The ability to understand the speech of animals, with the condition of secrecy.
How did Ohia become wealthy?
By overhearing a hen reveal the location of three jars of gold buried in his garden.
What caused Ohia’s death?
He revealed the secret of his gift, breaking King Tiger’s condition.
What cultural origin is this folktale from?
Akan folktale from Ghana.
Source: Akan folktale, Ghana
