In the time when the world was still young, the gods looked down upon the earth and saw that men lived in great struggle. They had no tools, no weapons, and no way to clear the forests that stretched endlessly across the land. Their hands bled when they tried to cut wood, and their bodies weakened when they tried to till the soil with stones.
The great mother goddess, Mawu, was filled with compassion. She turned to her radiant son, Lisa, the Sun God, whose light gave warmth and strength to the world. “Lisa,” she said, “you must go down to the earth. The people cannot survive without help. I will not leave them in darkness and hardship. I give you Gu, the vodun of iron, who is all metal and strength. With him you shall shape the destiny of men.”
Lisa bowed his head, the fire of the sun glowing around him. “Mother,” he replied, “I will do as you command. I will bring Gu to the world, so that mankind may rise from weakness into strength.”
Together, Lisa and Gu prepared to descend. Gu carried with him a mighty sword that gleamed like molten fire. It was not an ordinary blade, for it was the first iron ever forged, a gift from the heavens themselves.
They came down to the earth at Daomè, the place now known as Abomey. The land was covered with thick forest, so dense that the sunlight barely touched the soil. Wild animals roamed freely, and men huddled in fear, unable to claim the land as their own.
Lisa lifted his hand and spoke, his voice like thunder. “Here begins the work of Gu. It is through him that you will find your strength. Watch and learn, for without iron no man can live.”
At his words, Gu stepped forward. His great sword flashed in the sun, and with one powerful stroke he cut through the trees. The ground trembled, and the villagers gasped in awe. Gu swung again, and vast trunks fell to the earth. Day by day he worked, clearing the forest, making open space for men to build homes, fields, and villages.
The people gathered around him, their eyes wide. They whispered to one another: “Who is this spirit of iron? How can one blade cut the trees that even twenty men could not break?”
Lisa called them together and declared, “This is Gu, the spirit of iron. It is iron that cuts wood, fashions tools, and opens the way for mankind. With iron, you shall till the soil and bring forth harvests. With iron, you shall defend yourselves and build your world.”
Then Gu began to teach them. He showed them how to shape iron into plows that turned the earth with ease. He taught them to forge hoes, knives, and axes. With each new tool, the people grew stronger, their lives filled with new possibilities.
Yet Gu also warned them. “Iron is power,” he said, “and power must be used with wisdom. The same iron that cuts wood for your fire can also spill the blood of your brother. Use it to build, to farm, and to protect. Do not let it destroy you.”
For many seasons, Lisa remained with the people, watching as they grew in strength and wisdom. He saw them build villages, clear fields, and harvest crops. He saw them stand tall against the beasts of the forest and carve out a life with iron as their ally.
At last, his task was done. Lisa turned his face upward to the sky and said, “Mother, I have given them your gift. With Gu, they will never be helpless again. Without iron, they cannot live.”
He returned to the heavens, where Mawu welcomed him with joy. From that day on, Lisa was given the Sun as his eternal home and the right to shine over all the earth.
But Gu did not return. He remained upon the earth, his great sword still gleaming. Wherever men forged iron, they remembered that it was Gu who first cut the path for them, Gu who taught them to work the land, and Gu who gave them the strength to endure.
Thus, the people of Daomè spread the tale: “Iron is the strength of men, and Gu is its spirit. Lisa brought him down, and mankind rose to greatness.”
Moral Lesson of Sun God Brings Iron to Man: Lisa and the Gift of Gu
This story teaches us that every gift from the heavens carries both power and responsibility. Iron gave mankind the strength to build, defend, and grow, but it also held the danger of destruction. The lesson is clear: true strength lies not only in what we possess but in how we choose to use it.
Knowledge Check: Sun God Brings Iron to Man: Lisa and the Gift of Gu
Who sent Lisa to the earth in the story of Sun God Brings Iron to Man: Lisa and the Gift of Gu?
Mawu, the great mother goddess, sent Lisa to help mankind.What gift did Lisa bring with him to mankind?
He brought Gu, the vodun of iron, who carried a great sword of metal.Where did Lisa and Gu descend to earth?
They descended at Daomè, now known as Abomey in Benin.What was the first work Gu performed upon arriving on earth?
Gu cut down the great trees with his iron sword, clearing the land for men.Why is iron considered essential in this folktale?
Iron made it possible to cut wood, forge tools, till the land, and defend against danger.What warning did Gu give mankind about the use of iron?
He warned them that iron should be used wisely, since it can both build and destroy.Cultural Origin
This folktale belongs to the Dahomean (Fon) people of Benin, who preserved the tale of Lisa, Mawu, and Gu as part of their deep spiritual tradition.
