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

The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter

by Elizabeth Fabowale

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

Parchment-style illustration of spider and animal companions before Nzambi Mpungu in Gabonese folktale of heavenly fire.

The Quest for Heavenly Fire: Gabonese Folktale

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Long ago, in the heart of Gabon, there lived Nzambi-on-Earth, a powerful ruler whose daughter was famed across the land for her unmatched beauty. Suitors came from far and

Parchment-style illustration of Ohia chasing the thieving deer with broken pots, Akan folktale from Ghana.

How Jealousy and Selfishness Spread Across the World: Akan Folktale from Ghana

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

There once lived a poor man named Ohia, and his wife, Awirehu. Their life was a long chain of troubles, each link heavier than the last. No matter what

Parchment-style illustration of Ethiopian folktale showing two brothers fed by magical cow in Gambela forest.

The Magic Cow: An Ethiopian Folktale

African Folktales·East African Folktales·Ethiopian Folktales

Once upon a time, in the Gambela region of Ethiopia, there lived a man with two wives. One day, his first wife became gravely ill. Knowing the end was

a tortoise with a magical drum in the spirit world, surrounded by spirits and palm kernels

The Tortoise and the Drum

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago in the forests of Ghana, the clever tortoise wandered about looking for food. One day, as he walked along a path, his eyes fell upon a tall

Kweku Ananse holding bananas while Baboon stands beside a banana tree – Ghanaian Folktale

The Tale of Kweku Ananse and the Baboon’s Bananas

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Kweku Ananse was known throughout the land as a trickster who always believed his cleverness could outwit anyone. His first name, Kweku, came from being born on a Wednesday,

A man carrying a mysterious head wrapped in cloth on his back – Wolof Folktale

The Talking Head of the Wolof People

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the land of the Wolof people, there once lived a man who loved nothing more than to boast. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried weapons wherever he went.

a hare sitting by a bright fire while a hyena coughs sadly in thick smoke, symbolizing wisdom over carelessness in a Senegalese folktale

The Hyena and the Hare with the Fire

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales·Wolof Folktales

In the old days of the Wolof people of Senegal, when the sun dipped low and the earth cooled, animals gathered to share warmth and wisdom. Among them lived

Parchment-style illustration of hare with millet sack and hyena spilling ashes, Senegalese folktale.

The Hyena, the Hare, and Other Tales from Senegal

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales

Across the plains and villages of Senegal, the hare, the hyena, the tortoise, and the monkey have long been the central figures of folktales that delight, instruct, and warn.

Parchment-style illustration of hare with millet sack and hyena spilling ashes, Senegalese folktale.

Millet Sack Trick, and Other Tales

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·West African Folktales

Across the plains and villages of Senegal, the hare, the hyena, the tortoise, and the monkey have long been the central figures of folktales that delight, instruct, and warn.

Parchment-style illustration of a monkey, dog, hare, and hyena in Senegalese folktales, showing cleverness and patience.

Two Tales of Trickery and Wisdom from Senegal

African Folktales·Senegalese Folktales·Wolof Folktales

The Monkey and the Dog In the quiet stretches of Senegal, where the fields spread wide under the sun and farmers tilled the earth with care, two neighbors lived

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