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Zambian folklore

Illustration of greedy old couple turning into monkeys on a tree, from a Zambian folktale.

How the Monkeys Came to Be: A Zambian Folktale

by Ayomide Adekilekun

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

Long ago, in the heart of the African wilderness, there lay a quiet glade where a humble tribe had built their huts. The people lived in harmony with nature and with one another, sharing food, laughter, and the struggles of daily life. Among them lived a frail old man and his equally gaunt wife. They were always complaining of hunger

Illustration of elephant king, hare councillor, and lizard’s deceit in a traditional Bemba folktale from Zambia.

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

Suspicion Spreads: The Elephant, the Hare, and the Rise of Distrust | Bemba Folklore

Long ago, when the world was still young and only animals roamed the earth, the elephant ruled as king over all creatures. By his side was his trusted councillor, the hare, who was admired for his cleverness and wit. Yet though he was the king, the elephant was thin and

Tiny bird outsmarts a lion in Bemba folktale from Zambia, animals watch in forest.

Tiny Titi’s Clever Trick: A Folktale of Courage and Wit | From Bemba, Zambia

It was a terrible day in the forest, especially for the animals

Muti discovers her tiny magical husband rising from the pot in this Bemba folktale from Zambia.

Muti Gets a Husband: A Bemba Folktale from Zambia

Muti was an orphan, left to face the harshness of life from

A Bemba folktale from Zambia showing Ndime singing from a fig tree as hunters rest below.

When the Chief Was Away: Jealousy and Justice in a Bemba Folktale

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

One afternoon, the senior wife of a great Chief gave a command that set the rhythm of the day. “Quickly, grind the mealie into flour. Prepare enough to feed

Bemba folktale from Zambia showing a woman in a tree weaving baskets while men are cast down by magic.

A Match for Any Man: A Zambian Folktale

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

There was once a remarkable woman who proved herself a match for any man. Orphaned at six, she grew up in a village where all the children were boys.

Two Bemba brothers save a baby from a hyena and protect maidens in a Zambian folktale.

Singambala and Kabwell: Heroes of the Hunt | A Tale from Zambia

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

In a time when hunters roamed the Zambian bush with bows and arrows, two brothers, Singambala and Kabwell, were famed for their skill. Brave and sharp-eyed, they spent their

Bemba folktale scene of Awumbi and Mwawumbi, famine-stricken friends, drums revealing betrayal in Zambia.

Friends in Famine: A Bemba Folktale (Zambia)

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

In the long-ago days of hardship, when rains failed and famine tightened its grip upon the land, there lived two inseparable companions named Awumbi and Mwawumbi. These men were

Illustration of a Bemba folktale showing a man leaving while a ghostly infant follows, symbolizing justice.

Were You My Father?: A Zambian Folktale of Betrayal and Justice

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

Long ago, when villages lived closely with the rhythms of nature, there was a young man who had grown into adulthood under the care of his mother. Seeing her

Illustration of animals receiving horns while zebra grazes, from a traditional Bemba folktale in Zambia.

Why the Zebra Remained Hornless: A Bemba Folktale from Zambia

African Folktales·Southern African Folktales·Zambian Folktales

Long ago, when animals still gathered in great councils and spoke to one another with wisdom and fear, they faced a problem that weighed heavily on their minds. The

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