Long ago in the land of the Senufo, there was a humble farmer who lived on the edge of the forest. Though his field was small and his harvests modest, he was known throughout the village for his kindness. Whatever little he gathered, he always shared with neighbors, travelers, and even strangers. He often said, “Food is sweeter when eaten together, and blessings multiply when shared.”
One morning, as he worked in his field, a dazzling bird landed on a branch nearby. Its feathers shimmered with colors brighter than any jewel, and its song filled the air with sweetness. To his amazement, wherever the bird pecked the ground, baskets of food appeared — yams, millet, maize, and fruits. The farmer bowed and thanked the heavens, for he understood this was no ordinary bird but a spirit’s gift.
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From that day on, the bird returned to the farmer each morning. With its help, his barn was always full. Yet the farmer never hoarded his wealth. He invited the villagers to his home, fed the hungry, and shared with widows and orphans. Soon his name became a blessing on every tongue. The people said, “This is a man who knows the secret of abundance.”
But not everyone rejoiced. Among the villagers was a greedy man who could not bear to see another praised. He hoarded his crops, refused to share, and grew envious of the farmer’s generosity. “Why should he be the one chosen by the magical bird” he grumbled. “I deserve it more, and I will have it.”
One evening, he hid near the farmer’s home, waiting for the bird to appear. When it flew down to the field, he leapt out and captured it in a net. The bird cried out, its feathers flashing like lightning, but the greedy man held on tightly. “Now all the food will be mine,” he shouted with triumph.
He carried the bird to his compound and locked it inside. But when he demanded food, the bird remained silent. When he ordered it to fill his barn, nothing happened. The magical bird lowered its head and gave no gift. Furious, the man struck the cage and shouted louder, but the bird would not sing again. At last, in the silence of night, the bird spread its wings and disappeared, leaving behind nothing but a single feather that soon turned to dust.
The next morning, the villagers awoke to find that the bird no longer visited the generous farmer. The baskets of food stopped appearing, and the magical blessing was gone forever. The people mourned, for they had lost a gift that had fed everyone. They whispered among themselves, “Abundance does not live where greed makes its home.”
From then on, the Senufo people told the story of the bird to their children. They taught that true wealth is not in how much one keeps, but in how much one shares. And whenever a feast was held, they remembered the farmer’s kindness and the vanished bird of abundance.
Moral Lesson
This folktale teaches that generosity invites blessings while greed destroys them. Abundance is not measured by possessions but by the willingness to share with others.
Knowledge Check
Who did the magical bird first choose to bless in The Bird of Abundance?
Answer: The bird chose a humble and generous farmer who always shared his food with others.What happened whenever the bird pecked the ground?
Answer: Baskets of food appeared, filled with yams, millet, maize, and fruits.How did the farmer use the blessings of the bird?
Answer: He shared the food with his neighbors, the hungry, widows, and orphans.What did the greedy man do when he saw the bird?
Answer: He captured the bird in a net and tried to keep it for himself.Why did the bird refuse to give food to the greedy man?
Answer: Because the man’s selfishness and greed drove away the bird’s power of abundance.What lesson do the Senufo people pass on through this story?
Answer: They teach that abundance remains only where generosity and kindness are practiced.
Source: Senufo folktale, Côte d’Ivoire. Published in L’Oiseau d’abondance: Contes sénoufos sur les chemins de la vie by Marie Lorillard (2023).
