In a small Mossi village, a woman gave birth to a daughter of extraordinary beauty. So stunning was the child that her mother could not bear to consider marrying her off. One bright morning, the mother prepared porridge for her daughter, packed some flour for her, and reminded her not to go to the pond when her friends came by. After the mother left for the market around noon, the daughter’s friends arrived, urging her to accompany them to the pond. She hesitated at first but, persuaded by their insistence, finally agreed to go.
As the girls bathed and played in the cool waters, a crocodile emerged from the pond. It swam swiftly, stealing their clothes and dragging them back into the water. The girls began to sing, imploring the crocodile to return their garments. One sang:
“Handsome crocodile, handsome crocodile,
Give back our skin!”
One by one, each girl received her clothing back, except the beautiful daughter. She too sang:
“Handsome crocodile, handsome crocodile,
Give back my skin!”
The crocodile, charmed by her song, called to her:
“Pretty girl! Pretty girl! Come under it!”
As she stepped into the pond, the crocodile pulled her beneath the water.
Meanwhile, the mother returned from the market, discovering her daughter missing. She began to cry, singing sorrowfully:
“I am a mother, my daughter is gone,
Her friends took her to the pond,
A crocodile has taken her!”
Nearby, a turtledove listened to her lament. Approaching gently, the bird asked:
“If I bring your daughter back, what will you give me?”
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“I will give you a piece of milled grain,” the mother promised. The turtledove perched on a tree near the pond and began to sing:
“Kuglug, kuglugum, tumkagum,
Kuglug, kuglugum binh’”
Hearing the music, the crocodile was delighted. He instructed a monitor lizard to watch over the girl while he went to listen to the song. The lizard agreed, leaving the daughter under his care.
The turtledove sang again, and the monitor lizard, enchanted by the melody, asked the tortoise to take over watching the girl so he could enjoy the music. The tortoise agreed. When the turtledove sang once more, the tortoise enlisted the fish, who then called the frog to keep watch. The frog, captivated by the turtledove’s song, recruited the bullfrog. The bullfrog, equally enchanted, assigned the task to the toad, and the toad, eager to hear the melody, entrusted the girl to the house itself.
When the turtledove realized all the others had left and the girl was alone, she swooped down, lifted her carefully, and brought her safely back to her mother. The crocodile returned to find the daughter gone. Frustrated and furious, he demanded to know who had taken her.
“Lizard, who did you leave the girl with?” he asked.
“I left her with the tortoise so I could hear the song,” replied the lizard.
“Tortoise, who did you leave her with?”
“With the fish, so I could hear the song,” said the tortoise.
“Fish, who did you leave her with?”
“With the frog, so I could hear the song,” said the fish.
“Frog, who did you leave her with?”
“With the bullfrog, so I could hear the song,” said the frog.
“Bullfrog, who did you leave her with?”
“With the toad, so I could hear the song,” said the bullfrog.
“Toad, who did you leave her with?”
“With the house, so I could hear the song,” replied the toad.
In a fit of rage, the crocodile seized the toad, hurling it to the ground. The toad was injured and left crippled, which is why it hops instead of walking to this day.
The beautiful daughter was safely reunited with her mother. Through patience, clever alliances, and resourcefulness, she escaped a perilous fate. The mother, filled with gratitude and relief, kept her daughter close, ever mindful of the lessons learned that day: beauty and charm alone cannot protect one from danger, but ingenuity and trusted friends can turn peril into safety.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that cleverness, patience, and cooperation can overcome even the most threatening dangers. Even those who seem powerless can use intelligence and resourcefulness to survive. Additionally, the story reminds us that beauty alone is not enough to navigate life’s hazards; wise choices and dependable allies are essential.
Knowledge Check
Who is the main character of the story?
The beautiful daughter.
What danger does she face at the pond?
A crocodile that drags her underwater.
Which animals help return the daughter safely to her mother?
Turtledove, monitor lizard, tortoise, fish, frog, bullfrog, and toad.
Why did the crocodile become angry at the end?
All the animals abandoned their watch to listen to the turtledove’s song, leaving the daughter safe.
What lesson does the story teach about resourcefulness and allies?I
Intelligence, patience, and trusted allies can help one escape danger.
Where does this folktale originate?
Mossi people, Burkina Faso.
Source: Mossi folktale, Burkina Faso
