African Folktales

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Benga folktales

swine trying to speak in a Benga folktale from Equatorial Guinea, surrounded by animals in a forest clearing.

Why Swine Lost Their Speech

by Elizabeth Fabowale

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, when the world was young and the forest had not yet settled into silence, animals and people shared one common tongue. Their voices echoed through the villages, and their words were understood by all. Among those who spoke clearly were the swine. They were not the grunting creatures we know today. Instead, they carried themselves with confidence, offering

The King’s daughter facing the devil in a Benga folktale from Equatorial Guinea.

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

The King’s Daughter and the Devil

Long ago in a coastal kingdom of the Benga people, there lived a mighty king whose wealth stretched beyond measure. His palace was filled with ivory, coral, and gold, yet none of these treasures brought him greater joy than his only daughter. She was a young woman of unmatched beauty,

The tortoise outwitting the elephant in a Benga folktale from Equatorial Guinea.

The Elephant and the Tortoise

Long ago, in the villages of the Benga people, the animals of

A leopard challenging a ram in a Benga folktale from Equatorial Guinea.

The Leopard and the Ram

In the deep forests of Equatorial Guinea, where tall trees brushed the

Iguana with a forked tongue facing judgment from Lion and other animals under a baobab tree - Benga folktale

The Iguana’s Forked Tongue

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, when the animals of the forest spoke as men and held councils together, Iguana was known for his cleverness. He was smooth in his words, able to

Goat eating cassava peels near a human village while children watch - Benga folktale

Why Goats Became Domestic

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, when the world was still young and the forests stretched wide across Corisco Island, all animals lived freely beneath the sky. Goat was among them, wild and

Goat charging at Tortoise during a tournament as animals watch under a baobab tree - Benga folktale

The Goat’s Grand Tournament

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, in the villages of the Benga people on Corisco Island, the animals often quarreled about strength and honor. Among them, none was more boastful than Goat. With

Tortoise and Deer racing on an African plain while animals cheer near a baobab tree - Benga folktale

Tortoise in a Race

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, on the sunlit shores of Corisco Island, the animals of the Benga people gathered for a contest. They had often argued about who among them was the

a proud leopard with faded paint, bent feathers, and scattered beads – Benga folktale

The Leopard’s Quest for Marriage

African Folktales·Central African Folktales·Equatorial Guinean Folktales

Long ago, when animals lived as people and spoke with voices full of pride, Leopard was the fiercest hunter in the forest. His golden coat was marked with black

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