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African storytelling - Page 2

Adet dances in the moonlight while Tortoise watches and Prince Ekpenyon spies, Nigerian folktale scene.

The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter

African Folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in a kingdom where men and beasts lived under the same rule, there was a king whose power stretched across the forests, rivers, and farmlands. His authority was unquestioned, and even the wild animals acknowledged him as their ruler. Yet among all creatures, one stood out for his cleverness, Tortoise. He was known not for strength or size,

A young Wolof girl kneels beside the Senegal River at sunset, listening to a glowing spiral shell as the water shimmers around her

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales

The Shell That Carried the Voice of Ancestors

Long ago, when the tides still obeyed the songs of the ancestors, there was a small Wolof village by the edge of the Senegal River. The people there lived by the rhythm of water fishing, trading, and offering thanks to the spirits who guarded the flow between land and sea.

Parchment-style illustration of Ohia accusing the deer before King Tiger and animals, Akan folktale from Ghana.

The Tale of the Confused Akim-Man and the Mysterious Mr. Minū – Akan Folktale

It once happened that a poor Akim-man set out from his quiet

Mantis steals glowing moonlight in the Kalahari Desert, watched by jackal and ostrich under a starry sky.

How the Mantis Stole the Moonlight

Listen, children of the desert wind, listen well to this tale

Illustration of Bakongo folktale showing a child saving his mother from an Imp’s trap

How a Child Saved His Mother’s Life: A Bakongo Folktale From DR Congo.

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Congolese (DRC) Folktales

Once upon a time, in a small village near the forests of the Congo, a man cleared a vast piece of bushland and asked his wife to plant it

Illustration of wolf rescued by ox, judged by elephant in a Gambian folktale of justice.

The Wolf, the Ox, and the Elephant| A Gambian Folktale of Deception and Justice

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

On a moonlit night, a lone wolf wandered restlessly across the open plains, driven by unrelenting hunger. His stomach growled, and his sharp eyes searched the darkness for the

Illustration of a Gambian folktale showing a waxambaané defeating a lion as a jinn flees in fear

The Lion, the Jinn, and the Waxambaané | A Gambian Folktale

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

One day in Yang-Yang, a small village in The Gambia, a mighty lion and a cunning jinn crossed paths on a dusty road. Each was full of pride, unwilling

Hare tricks Hyena by stealing millet during famine, Mossi folktale from Burkina Faso.

The Hyena and the Hare: A Mossi Folktale That Teaches Lessons on Cunning and Consequences

African Folktales·Burkinabe Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in the savannas of Burkina Faso, famine swept through the land so harshly that even the strongest trees bent under the cries of the hungry. Families searched

A Mossi folktale scene of a lion bound to a tree by man’s cunning in Burkina Faso.

The Man and the Lion: A Mossi Folktale That Teaches Lessons on Intelligence and Fear of God

African Folktales·Burkinabe Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in the lands of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso, the wild animals of the bush gathered together with restless hearts. They were troubled by a single thought:

A Guinean hunter kneeling before the Spirit of the Bush in a glowing forest – Guinean folktale

The Hunter and the Spirit of the Bush

African Folktales·Guinean Folktales·West African Folktales

In the heart of Guinea, where the forests stretch wide and the call of birds mixes with the rustle of leaves, there once lived a hunter named Famo. He

Hyena striking a large drum as animals watch in the forest - Gabonese folktale

The Hyena and the Drum

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales·Mpongwe Folktales

Once upon a time, in the deep forests of Gabon where the Mpongwe people told stories under the moonlight, the animals gathered in the great clearing to share news.

Tortoise defeats Leopard through wisdom and patience in an Equatorial Guinean folktale of envy, survival, and cunning.

The Power of Wisdom and Patience: Equatorial Guinean Folktale

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, when sickness and death haunted villages, the people of Equatorial Guinea often abandoned their settlements, believing malevolent spirits infested the land. Even the beasts of the forest

The Chameleon and the Wild Rat: An Equatorial Guinean Folktale That Teaches Lessons on Blame, Loyalty, and Responsibility

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, in the forests of Equatorial Guinea, the animals lived close to one another, their villages forming a vast, lively town. It was a place of constant chatter, where

Old parchment-style illustration of fox tricking elephant for water in Gabonese folktale, drawn with warm earthy colors.

How the Fox Followed the Elephant: Gabonese Folktale

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

In the heart of Central Africa, where the deep forests of Gabon hum with life, two unlikely companions once set out on a journey together: the elephant, mighty and

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African storytelling - Page 2

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