Long ago, before the sky was full of birds as we know them today, there was a sheikh, a wise priest who served the people. At that time, he was not a crow at all, he was a bright, shining white bird, pure and respected. People trusted him because he spoke for Wak, the Sun God, and carried their messages to the heavens. In Somali culture, and in many Cushitic traditions, the crow was believed to be the messenger of Wak, the powerful Sun God. The Oromo people also honored Wak and believed that the crow could speak for the god. Whenever the crow cawed, it was said to mean “Wak! Wak!” and the birds and people listened closely, for the crow’s voice carried divine messages.
At first, the sheikh followed the sacred ways. He ate the food that was proper for his station and guided the smaller birds and the larger ones. But over time, something changed. The sheikh grew greedy. He began to eat both fruits and meat, ignoring the rules that the other birds had lived by for generations. The smaller birds were supposed to eat only meat, and the larger ones were meant to eat only fruit. Yet this priestly bird took from both, enjoying more than his fair share.
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The birds noticed. They whispered among themselves, their voices rising into a chorus of concern. “This sheikh,” they said, “he is no longer pure. He eats meat and fruit, though he is supposed to follow the sacred law.”
Finally, all the birds gathered in the clearing of the great forest. They flapped their wings and spoke in one voice, saying, “Sheikh, you are the messenger of Wak, the Sun God. You are meant to guide us, not to eat as you please. By taking from both sides, you dishonor yourself and our sacred order. You must be punished.”
The sheikh felt shame and fear, but his desire for both fruits and meat burned stronger than his conscience. He tried to defend himself. “I am the sheikh! I serve Wak! Surely he will forgive me if I take what I need to survive.”
But the birds would not relent. They called upon the power of Wak and pronounced a curse. “From this day, you shall carry the weight of your greed. Your bright white feathers will darken, and your voice will carry the memory of your wrong choices. You will live among us as a warning to others.”
And so it happened. The sheikh’s feathers blackened as night, one by one, until his body was entirely black. His eyes still gleamed with intelligence, but the beauty of his white feathers was gone forever. His caw, “Wak! Wak!” remained, but it now carried a lesson: honesty and restraint must guide all who serve the gods, or they will suffer the consequences.
The black crow became a symbol for the people. Mothers would tell their children, “Do not be greedy like the crow. Respect what belongs to others, and follow the sacred law.” In Somali villages and across Cushitic lands, the crow’s story was shared from one generation to the next, reminding everyone that power and knowledge must be tempered with fairness and humility.
Even today, when a crow flies overhead and caws loudly, elders say that it is speaking the voice of Wak, carrying messages of the Sun God to those who will listen. And they remember the lesson of the black crow: that greed, dishonesty, and selfishness bring a heavy price, even for those closest to the gods.
Moral Lesson
The Black Crow teaches that greed and dishonesty corrupt even the purest hearts. Those entrusted with responsibility must act with fairness and respect. Taking more than one’s share harms oneself and the community, and even wisdom cannot protect the greedy from the consequences of their actions.
Knowledge Check
Who was the crow before it became black?
The crow was once a white sheikh or priest who served as the messenger of Wak, the Sun God.Why did the birds accuse the sheikh?
The birds accused him because he ate both meat and fruit, breaking the sacred rule that smaller birds eat only meat and larger birds eat only fruit.What does the crow’s caw “Wak! Wak!” represent?
It represents messages from the Sun God, Wak, as the crow was believed to speak for the deity.What punishment did the sheikh receive?
He was cursed by the birds and Wak so that his feathers turned black, marking his greed and dishonesty.What lesson does the story of the black crow teach?
The story teaches that greed and dishonesty lead to punishment, and those entrusted with responsibility must act fairly.Why is the black crow important in Somali and Cushitic culture?
The black crow symbolizes the Sun God’s messenger and serves as a moral reminder to live honestly, respect rules, and avoid greed.
Cultural Origin: Somalia (Eastern African Folktale)
