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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

Parchment-style illustration of tortoise tricking elephant and hippopotamus with a rope, West African folktale.

How the Tortoise Overcame the Elephant and the Hippopotamus

In the vast African wilderness, where rivers wound through thick forests and

A wealthy caravan carrying gold across the savannah before disappearing into a mysterious storm

The Lost Caravan of Gabú

Guinea-Bissauan Folktales·West African Folktales

Long before paved roads crossed the lands of Guinea-Bissau, powerful trade caravans moved slowly across the savannah connecting kingdoms, villages, and distant markets throughout West Africa. These caravans carried

A ceremonial river bride standing in a canoe surrounded by misty waters in Guinea-Bissau

The Sacred River Bride of Tombali

Guinea-Bissauan Folktales·West African Folktales

In the southern regions of Guinea-Bissau, where rivers twisted through forests, wetlands, and rice fields before flowing toward the Atlantic Ocean, the people of Tombali lived closely connected to

A sacred hyena mask exposing corruption during a nighttime village ceremony in Guinea-Bissau

The Hyena Mask of Bissorã

Guinea-Bissauan Folktales·West African Folktales

In the northern regions of Guinea-Bissau, where dusty roads connected farming villages and palm forests stretched toward the horizon, the Manjaco people preserved many ceremonial traditions passed carefully from

A Mandinka royal heir presenting a sacred copper bracelet before elders in the Kingdom of Kaabu

The Copper Bracelet of Kaabu

Guinea-Bissauan Folktales·West African Folktales

Long before modern borders divided the lands of West Africa, the powerful Kingdom of Kaabu stood across regions that now form parts of Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia. Known

Fula travelers uncovering sacred underground wells during a drought in the Guinea-Bissau savannah

The Hidden Wells of Gabu Savannah

Guinea-Bissauan Folktales·West African Folktales

Far inland from the coastal rivers and mangrove forests of Guinea-Bissau stretched the wide grasslands of the Gabu Savannah. During the rainy season, the land turned green with grazing

A sacred white bird appearing above the wetlands of Guinea-Bissau as villagers watch in fear and wonder

The White Bird of the Mansoa Marshes

Guinea-Bissauan Folktales·West African Folktales

In the northern regions of Guinea-Bissau, beyond the crowded fishing villages and winding riverbanks, stretched the wide wetlands and marshes of Mansoa. Tall grasses moved endlessly with the wind,

A young musician returning a sacred ceremonial drum during a peace gathering in Morocco’s Sous Valley

The Sacred Drum of the Sous Valley

Moroccan Folktales·North African Folktales

Far south of Morocco’s great imperial cities, beyond the snow covered mountains and winding caravan roads, stretched the wide and fertile lands of the Sous Valley. Palm groves lined

A mysterious dancer performing beneath the full moon in the blue streets of Chefchaouen

The Moon Dancer of Chefchaouen

Moroccan Folktales·North African Folktales

Hidden within the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco stood the beautiful town of Chefchaouen, a place known for its blue painted streets, mountain air, and quiet spiritual atmosphere. Travelers

A mysterious spirit guardian standing among ancient cedar trees in Morocco’s Middle Atlas forest

The Cedar Forest Guardian of Ifrane

Moroccan Folktales·North African Folktales

High within the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where cold rivers flowed through valleys shaded by ancient cedar trees, the forests surrounding Ifrane had long been respected as sacred

Twin children in a forest community surrounded by villagers in a symbolic moment of balance and tension

The Twins of the Mongo Forest

Central African Folktales·Congolese (DRC) Folktales

In the vast tropical forests of the central Democratic Republic of Congo, the Mongo people lived in close harmony with nature, guided by ancestral beliefs that shaped how they

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