Long ago, when the Creator Mawu prepared to delegate the stewardship of the earth, a choice had to be made. Among the children of heaven, Hevioso was eager to go first. But Mawu, seeing that the earth lay far below the sky, decreed that the eldest, Sagbata, should descend and assume his role. Obedient, Sagbata journeyed downward, leaving the comforts of the heavens, while Hevioso, the younger yet more forceful, lingered near Mawu, plotting in silence.
Once on earth, Sagbata encountered an unexpected crisis. Hevioso, asserting his power from the sky, had stopped the rains. Streams dried, crops withered, and the people despaired. Villagers lamented, saying, “This king is not good for the earth. Since his arrival, we find nothing to eat, nothing to drink, nothing at all.”
The situation grew dire. Observing from the heavens, Mawu dispatched Legba to investigate. Legba descended swiftly, arriving before Sagbata to assess the catastrophe. “Hevioso is withholding the rains,” Sagbata explained. Legba, calm and clever, replied, “That is nothing I cannot manage.” He climbed back to the sky, promising Sagbata a message-bearer, a bird named Wututu, who would relay Mawu’s instructions.
Legba’s plan was subtle. He had previously persuaded Mawu to halt all rainfall in the heavens, claiming that the sky itself faced a peril of drought. Mawu, trusting Legba’s counsel, ordered the waters to be withheld so that the celestial realms would remain hydrated. Now, Legba instructed Wututu to sing upon arrival on earth, signaling Sagbata to kindle a great fire. The smoke, rising to the heavens, would alert Mawu to the situation below.
When Wututu reached the parched land, Sagbata immediately lit the prescribed fire. As the smoke climbed, Wututu sang with clear, resonant notes. From the sky, Legba reported to Mawu: “I could not descend myself, but my assistant, Wututu, faces imminent peril. The earth is ablaze, trees and fields consumed by heat, and even the sky risks destruction if rain does not fall at once.”
Mawu, understanding the urgency, commanded Hevioso to release the rains. Obedient to divine decree, the younger brother caused torrents to fall. Rivers swelled, vegetation revived, and the fires were extinguished. The earth, once threatened with devastation, was saved.
Interestingly, Mawu remained unaware of the quarrel between Sagbata and Hevioso. Even today, knowledge of their private conflict is said to be withheld. Yet the events prompted a lasting decree: all rainfall would henceforth be regulated on earth, ensuring that drought and fire could not again wreak total destruction. To aid this balance, Wututu was sent to dwell upon the land. Whenever the ground becomes too hot, the bird cries out, and the rains descend, preserving harmony between humans and the elements.
Later, Legba facilitated reconciliation between the two brothers. Sagbata returned to his duties, and Hevioso retained his heavenly authority. Through their cooperation, humans were safeguarded from severe drought, and the natural order was maintained, teaching the importance of unity, patience, and divine oversight.
Moral Lesson
True harmony comes from understanding, patience, and cooperation. Even great powers must reconcile for the greater good, ensuring life and balance endure on earth.
Knowledge Check
Who was sent first to govern the earth?
Sagbata, the eldest child of Mawu, descended to assume rulership.
Why did Hevioso stop the rains?
Hevioso withheld rain from the earth, asserting his power and testing human obedience.
What role did Legba play in the story?
Legba acted as messenger and strategist, relaying instructions from Mawu to Sagbata.
Why was the bird Wututu important?
Wututu signaled Sagbata to kindle fire and later helped regulate rainfall on earth.
What lesson does this folktale convey about conflict?
Even powerful siblings must reconcile to maintain balance and prevent destruction.
What is the cultural origin of this folktale?
This story is a traditional Dahomey (Benin) folktale, reflecting human-divine relations.
Source: Beninese Folktale
