African Folktales

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A clever tortoise carrying a huge pile of yams on his back as his shell begins to crack, while birds and forest animals scatter in surprise – Igbo folktales

How the Tortoise Broke His Shell

by Elizabeth Fabowale

Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Come closer, for this tale is older than the hills, older than the tallest trees in the forest. Long ago, in a lush village beside the great river, there lived a tortoise whose cunning and greed were known far and wide. His shell shone like polished ebony, smooth and strong, and all the animals admired him for his cleverness and

Eshu wearing a two colored hat walks between villagers arguing in a Yoruba village setting – Yoruba folktales

Inspired Tales·West African inspired tales

How Eshu Tested the Village

Long ago, before men knew all the ways of the gods, Eshu the divine trickster walked the earth. He loved to test people, for through trials he revealed their true hearts. Among the Orishas, Eshu was known as the one who brought confusion but also wisdom, for his games taught

A fisherman kneels before Oshun, the golden river goddess glowing on a tropical riverbank – Yoruba folktales

The Fisherman and the River Goddess Oshun

Once upon a time, when rivers still spoke and spirits walked among

Tortoise sneaks food at a grand feast in a Yoruba palace setting, with villagers watching in a parchment-style aged storybook look – Yoruba folktales

The Trickster Tortoise and the King’s Feast

In the days when the talking drum carried news faster than the

Sanhaja traveler in snowy High Atlas mountains

The Snow Spirits of the High Atlas

Algerian Folktales·North African Folktales

Long ago, when the mountains of the High Atlas stood taller in the eyes of men and the valleys below were filled with untamed rivers, the Sanhaja people carried

Zayanes hunter with bow in Middle Atlas forest

The Guardian of Middle Atlas

Algerian Folktales·North African Folktales

Long ago, when the mountains of the Middle Atlas were young and the rivers still sang the songs of creation, the Zayanes people lived close to the forests. They

The Tree of Eternal Memory

Algerian Folktales·North African Folktales

Come closer, children of the Souss, and listen well. The wind that dances through the Anti Atlas carries not only dust and the cry of goats but also the

Arab rider on horse crossing Sahara sands at sunset

The Rider of Endless Sands

Algerian Folktales·North African Folktales

Long ago, before the sands of Algeria shifted into the shapes we know today, when the Hilali tribes rode their camels across the boundless Sahara, there lived a

Mozabite elder teaching children under palm trees in M’zab valley oasi

The Oasis of Hidden Wisdom

North African Folktales

Long ago, when the desert winds carried voices of both mercy and warning, the Mozabite people of the M’zab Valley whispered stories of an oasis that did not appear

Igbo palm wine tapper chooses plain calabash before the Forest God in the forest.

The Palm Wine Tapper and the Forest God

Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Hear this tale, for it has been carried by the wind of ages. In a small Igbo village, there once lived a humble palm wine tapper named Obinna. Each

Parchment-style illustration of a sly jackal tricking an ostrich into dancing wildly under desert moonlight, with African motifs and a starry Kalahari sky in aged storybook style.

The Trickster Jackal and the Ostrich’s Dance

Southern Africa-Inspired Tales

Listen, children of the red earth, gather close around the flickering fire. Listen to this tale of long, long ago, when the wind was young and the desert

Sun and Moon facing each other in the sky after their quarrel in an Igbo folktale

How the Sun and Moon Became Enemies

Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Once upon a time, when the world was young, the sky was peaceful and bright. In those early days, the Sun and the Moon were the closest of companions.

A young Igbo girl named Adaeze dances gracefully in a glowing spirit world, surrounded by radiant spirits wearing masks of light.

The Girl Who Danced with the Spirits

Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Come closer, children, for this story is older than the hills and deeper than the roots of the ancient trees. In the days when people still listened closely to

Tortoise falling from the sky after tricking the birds at a heavenly feast in an Igbo folktale about greed and downfall.

The Tortoise and the Feast in the Sky

Nigerian folktales·Nigerian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, before your grandmother’s grandmother was born, the animals of the earth lived in unity and often gathered for celebrations. Among them was Tortoise, a creature known not

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