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African mythology

A young Zulu boy stands on a grassy hill with his arms outstretched as swirling winds form the shape of a glowing spirit around him

The Child and the Wind Spirit

by Elizabeth Fabowale

African Folktales·South African Folktales·Southern African Folktales

In a small Zulu village surrounded by rolling green hills, there lived a boy named Lindo whose laughter was as wild as the wind itself. He was known across the land for his boundless curiosity and for chasing anything that moved, butterflies, drifting clouds, and even dust devils that swirled through the dry fields. His grandmother often warned him, “Lindo,

Sacred Drum at the heart of a Burundian village ceremony, with dancers, elders, and drummers in harmony.

African Folktales·Burundian Folktales·East African Folktales

The Story of the Sacred Drum: A Burundian Folktale

Long ago, when the hills of Burundi were still clothed in untouched forests and the rivers flowed like veins of silver through the valleys, the god of music and dance looked down upon the earth and felt that something was missing. The world was alive with voices, yet there was no

Imana chasing Death with dogs as a Burundian woman swallows him, origin tale of mortality.

Imana and the Quest for Death: A Burundian Folktale

Long ago, when the land of Burundi was still being shaped by

Illustration of Sudika-Mbambi and Kabundungulu separating, symbolized by thunder, from Kimbundu folktale of Angola.

Sudika-Mbambi and Kabundungulu: A Kimbundu Folktale of Courage, Betrayal, and the Division of Brothers.

Let us tell of Ngana Kimanaueze kia Tumba a Ndala, beloved among

A sacred mountain surrounded by rainforest as mysterious drum sounds echo from beneath the earth

The Drum Beneath Mount Iboundji

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

In the heart of Gabon, where thick rainforests stretched across valleys and rivers wound their way through ancient landscapes, Mount Iboundji rose above the surrounding land like a silent

A fisherman paddling across a moonlit lake while following mysterious lights toward an ancestral site

The Moon Fisher of Lake Onangué

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Among the vast forests and winding waterways of northeastern Gabon lies Lake Onangué, a beautiful body of water surrounded by dense vegetation and rich wildlife. For generations, communities living

A young woman following glowing fireflies through the Gabon rainforest toward a hidden ancestral grove

The Woman Who Followed the Fireflies

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Among the rolling hills, rivers, and dense forests of southern Gabon, the Punu people preserved their history through stories, songs, ceremonies, and the wisdom of elders. Every generation inherited

A wealthy caravan carrying gold across the desert before disappearing into forbidden territory

The Golden Caravan of Zeila

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

For centuries, the port city of Zeila stood as one of the most important centers of trade along the northern Somali coast. Merchants from distant lands arrived with textiles,

A respected Fang elder preparing ceremonial palm wine during a village peace gathering

The Palm Wine Keeper’s Secret

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Among the forested regions of northern Gabon, where many Fang communities lived along ancient trade paths and river routes, relationships between neighboring villages were often built upon cooperation, shared

A mysterious orchard in the forests of Nyanga providing abundant fruit during a time of drought

The Sacred Orchard of Nyanga

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Generations ago, in the Nyanga region of present-day Gabon, the Vili people lived among fertile valleys, winding rivers, and thick forests rich with wildlife. Farming, fishing, and trade sustained

A Punu woman weaving a magical moonlit cloth that reveals ancestral histories

The Weaver of the Moon Cloth

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Long ago, in the rolling hills and forested regions of what is now southern Gabon, the Punu people lived in villages connected by family ties, traditions, and stories passed

A living vine bridge in the Gabon rainforest whispering ancient stories to a traveler

The Bridge of Whispering Vines

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Long ago, in the vast rainforests of Gabon, where towering trees formed a green canopy above winding rivers and hidden pathways, forest communities lived in close harmony with nature.

Seven sacred canoes traveling along the Ogooué River as one mysterious canoe disappears into the mist

The Seven Canoes of the Ogooué

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Long ago, when the forests of Gabon stretched unbroken across the land and the Ogooué River flowed through territories untouched by modern roads, the Myene people lived in thriving

Ancient hidden drums beneath the sands of Hobyo sounding during conflict in Somalia

The Hidden Drums of Hobyo

East African Folktales·Somali Folktales

On the eastern coast of Somalia, where the Indian Ocean crashes against rocky shores and old trade routes once connected distant kingdoms, lies the ancient coastal region of Hobyo.

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