African Folktales

Browse Tag

Wolof folktale

Mamadou meets Anta the jinn bride, Wolof folktale from The Gambia.

Mamadou and Anta: A Story Between Humans and Jinns | A Wolof Folktale from Gambia

by Ayomide Adekilekun

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

There was once a man named Mamadou who longed for knowledge. Leaving his home in Oualo, he journeyed to Kayor in search of a school where he might learn to read and write. There, under the guidance of a seriny, a learned teacher, Mamadou applied himself diligently. Among his fellow pupils, he soon discovered an unusual companion: a jinn, born

Hare tricking a hyena on a narrow bridge over a river – Wolof folktale

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

The Hyena and the Hare with the Bridge

In the heart of Senegal, among the Wolof people, stories of the clever hare and the foolish hyena are told to teach children how wisdom outshines carelessness. One of these stories is about a bridge, a river, and the choices that reveal who succeeds and who fails. Long ago, the

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

The Talking Head of the Wolof People

In the land of the Wolof people, there once lived a man

a man weeping beside a tiger lying motionless in the forest, while a tiger cub watches closely – Wolof folktale

Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked

Long ago in the dense forests of West Africa, where tall trees

Samba Atta Dabo heals bewitched child, bourhama rites, Wolof folktale from The Gambia.

Samba Atta Dabo: The Bourhama of Thievaly | Wolof Folktale from Gambia

African Folktales·Gambian Folktales·West African Folktales

My name is Samba Atta Dabo, and I am the one who cares for those whom sorcerers have made ill. If evil has been done to a person, it

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

A traditional watercolor-style illustration depicts a scene from a Wolof folktale. A clever hare is tied to a wooden stake in a lush bean field, surrounded by climbing vines and tender pods. Two children stand nearby—one offering a bowl of water, the other holding the rope. In the distance, a hyena approaches as the jeweler walks toward the field carrying a glowing iron rod. The background features a rustic hut, a lone tree, and rolling hills under a parchment-toned sky. The only text is “OldFolktales.com” in the top right corner.

Cunning Hare & the Jeweler’s Children

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

In the bustling markets of ancient Senegal, where the sound of hammering gold and silver rang through the air, there lived a skilled jeweler whose reputation for crafting beautiful

Go toTop