In the rolling hills of Guinea, where the sun kissed the earth golden every morning and the baobab trees stood tall like wise old guardians, there lived a humble weaver named Samba. He was not a man of great wealth or power, but his hands could craft cloth so beautiful it was said to sing with colors. Samba’s fame spread quietly, whispered in the markets and along dusty paths.
One day, the king of the land, Mamadou, known for his love of riddles and his sharp mind, announced a challenge. “Whoever can solve my riddle,” he declared from his throne of carved ebony, “shall be rewarded with gold, land, and the hand of my daughter in marriage.” The riddle was this: “I speak without a mouth, hear without ears, and answer without a voice. What am I?”
Many wise men, scholars, and even the cleverest hunters came to the palace, each presenting their answers with confidence. But the king only smiled and said, “No, that is not the answer.”
Samba, hearing of the challenge while working at his loom, smiled to himself. “This riddle is not meant to confuse, but to reveal what is often unseen.”
He made his way to the palace, his steps steady but his heart calm. When his turn came, the king recited the riddle again. Samba looked at the king and said, “The answer is the Echo.”
A hush fell over the hall. The king’s eyes twinkled. “Indeed,” he said, “you see beyond what is visible. You understand the spirit of the land, which speaks back to us if we listen.”
The king kept his word. Samba was granted the riches promised, and more importantly, he was honored for his wisdom. The king’s daughter, a woman of gentle spirit and keen mind, saw in Samba not only a suitor but a partner.
In time, Samba’s woven cloth adorned the palace, each thread a story, each pattern a song. The echo of his cleverness and humility lived on in the hearts of the people, reminding them that wisdom often comes from listening closely to the world around us.
✧ Commentary
This Guinean folktale highlights the value of wisdom, humility, and attentiveness. Samba’s success was not from arrogance but from a quiet understanding of his world. The riddle and its answer symbolize how sometimes the simplest things — like an echo — hold profound truths. The story encourages us to listen carefully, for knowledge is often found in what echoes back to us from nature and life itself.
✧ Moral
True wisdom is found in listening deeply and understanding the world beyond appearances.
✧ Questions & Answers
1. Q: What was the king’s challenge in the story? A: To solve a riddle about something that speaks without a mouth and hears without ears.
2. Q: Who was Samba and what was his special skill? A: Samba was a humble weaver known for his beautiful cloth and quiet wisdom.
3. Q: What was the answer to the king’s riddle? A: The Echo.
4. Q: Why did Samba succeed where others failed? A: Because he listened closely and understood the deeper meaning of the riddle.
5. Q: What does this story teach us about wisdom? A: That wisdom comes from listening carefully and seeing beyond what is obvious.
