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Gabonese folktales

Monkey laughing from a tree while Leopard growls angrily below in a Gabonese forest

Why Monkey Mocked Leopard

by Elizabeth Fabowale

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

Deep in the forests of Gabon, where the tall trees swayed and the rivers whispered through the undergrowth, Leopard ruled as the most feared hunter. His sharp claws and swift leaps brought down antelope and bush pig alike. The animals spoke his name in whispers, for no creature wished to cross his path. Yet among them was Monkey, quick and

A boastful frog on a riverbank in Gabon, challenging a sparrow in the air and fish in the river - Gabonese folktale

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

The Boastful Frog

In the lush forests and rivers of Gabon, where the air echoed with the songs of birds and the rush of flowing waters, there lived a frog who thought himself the greatest of all creatures. His skin glistened green in the sunlight, and his strong legs gave him the power

Tortoise hiding in his shell while Leopard looks frustrated - Gabonese folktale

The Tortoise and the Leopard

Deep in the forests of Gabon, where tall trees reached toward the

A greedy hunter in a Gabonese forest setting too many traps, with a leopard caught and ready to attack - Gabonese folktale

The Greedy Hunter

Long ago, in the deep green forests of Gabon, where the tall

A family of varans faces a hungry leopard and uses cleverness to survive.

The Leopard’s Unexpected Meal

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

The forest had become difficult for the varan family. Food was scarce, and the family struggled to find enough to eat. Day after day, they searched for something that

A jealous crab creates suspicion between a leopard and an otter who were once close friends.

A Friendship Broken by Deception

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

The leopard and the otter shared a close friendship. They trusted one another and enjoyed spending time together. Their friendship had grown strong over time, and their families were

Lendjè faces a frightening marriage custom after helping a hungry chameleon and snail.

The Marriage Custom That Nearly Cost Him His Life

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Lendjè wanted to marry Ilombè, but winning her hand was not going to be simple. Her family had established a frightening condition for the man who wished to become

A hunter encounters a mysterious speaking bird that warns him not to touch it.

The Bird That Spoke in Warnings

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

The hunter had gone into the forest in search of food. He was hungry, and the day’s hunt had not given him what he needed. He continued moving through

Ilombè searches for her stolen baby after a jealous woman takes the child.

The Mystery of Ilombè’s Stolen Baby

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Ilombè found herself alone in an abandoned village that had once belonged to her family. The settlement had been deserted for some time, and the familiar sounds of ordinary

Tortoises work together to empty a giant wine barrel in a Gabonese trickster tale.

The Impossible Wine Barrel Challenge

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Ilombè was a young woman whose beauty attracted many suitors. Men came from different places hoping to marry her, but her father was not willing to accept just anyone

A pregnant woman watches her husband enter the forest to search for the wild fruit she craves.

A Craving That Led Into the Forest

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Pregnancy had changed the way the woman looked at food. Things she had once enjoyed no longer appealed to her, while certain foods became almost impossible to resist. One

Ilombè carries her daughter through the forest after receiving a warning from the voices of her deceased relatives.

The Mother who Followed the Voices of the Dead

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Long ago, there lived a great chief named R’Agnambiè. Like many powerful men of his time, he had several wives. Among them were Ngwè-Nkondé, Ngwè-Légè, Ngwanga, Arondo and the

The Leopard and the Rat-Fouisseur during their troubled friendship in a Gabonese folktale.

The Leopard and the Rat-Fouisseur

Central African Folktales·Gabonese Folktales

Long ago, in a forest where animals lived in villages of their own, there lived a Leopard named Magéna and a Rat-Fouisseur named Kumbi. Their villages stood some distance

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.

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