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African legends

Illustration of Burundian Intore warriors in formation before their king, symbolizing bravery, loyalty, and cultural heritage.

The Tale of the Intore Warriors: Burundian Folktale

by Oyebode Ayoola

African Folktales·Burundian Folktales·East African Folktales

In the heart of Burundi’s hills, where green valleys stretch toward the horizon and rivers cut deep paths through fertile lands, a legend was born. It is the tale of the Intore warriors, men whose bravery and loyalty carved their names into the soul of the nation. Revered for their skill and feared for their discipline, they stood as guardians

Two Bemba brothers save a baby from a hyena and protect maidens in a Zambian folktale.

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

Singambala and Kabwell: Heroes of the Hunt | A Tale from Zambia

In a time when hunters roamed the Zambian bush with bows and arrows, two brothers, Singambala and Kabwell, were famed for their skill. Brave and sharp-eyed, they spent their days tracking animals through the tall grass and thick forests, their arrows swift as lightning. One day, as they wandered deep

Parchment-style illustration of Sagbata sending Chameleon to Hevioso; Dahomean folktale.

The Rule of Sky and Earth: Sagbata and Hevioso’s Boundaries

Long ago, Sagbata was not yet called by that name. He came

Parchment-style illustration of Cameroonian hunter receiving deadly secret from lion; folktale of betrayal and punishment.

The Secret Keeper’s Doom

In the dense forests where ancient spirits still roamed and the boundary

Parchment-style illustration of the girl crying to the Sky; folktale of sorrow, escape, and celestial marriage.

The Sun’s Abandoned Wife

African Folktales·Cameroonian Folktales

Long ago, when the boundary between earth and sky was as thin as morning mist, our people understood that the Sun’s burning rays and hidden warmth were both blessing

Kimona-Ngombe and son saved from lioness bride, Kimbundu folktale from Angola.

The Lions and Kimona-Ngombe: An Angolan Folktale

African Folktales·Angolan Folktales·Southern African Folktales

In the land where the lions dwelled, a great famine once swept across the earth. Food grew scarce, and hunger gnawed at every creature. The lions gathered to discuss

Bokeli at the smithy surprises Etungi, proving he lives; Fang folktale scene from Equatorial Guinea with moral lesson.

A Snake’s Skin Looks Like a Snake: Fang Folktale of Bokeli and Jamba

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Bokeli, son of Njambe-of-the-Sea-Coast, was compared to a snake. Just as a snake sheds its skin, leaving behind something that looks almost as frightening as the creature itself, so

Parchment-style Somali folktale illustration of clever girl facing hyena in savannah, courage and wisdom under moonlight.

The Boy Lion of Fafen: A Somali Folktale

African Folktales·East African Folktales·Somali Folktales

In the dry, thorny plains of Fafen, where the acacia trees cast long shadows and the wind carries whispers of danger, there once lived a lion so feared that

Parchment-style illustration of Obang’s dog saving him from a python in Gambela, Ethiopia.

Obang and His Dog: An Anuak Folktale from Ethiopia

African Folktales·East African Folktales·Ethiopian Folktales

Obang had a dog that was unlike any other in the village. It was strong and swift, with eyes sharp enough to follow the trail of game and ears

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