Long ago, in a small Mpongwe village in the heart of Gabon, there lived a boy who was known for his restless spirit. He was lively, playful, and full of curiosity, but he often ignored the words of his parents. Whenever his father or mother told him not to do something, he would shrug and wander away, convinced that he knew better than everyone else.
One evening, as the sun dipped low and the forest shadows grew long, his parents warned him not to go beyond the village path. The forest at night was alive with mysteries and hidden dangers. The elders said that spirits moved freely after dark, watching, listening, and sometimes punishing those who ignored the wisdom of their parents. But the boy laughed. “Spirits cannot harm me,” he said. “I am quick, I am strong, and I want to see the forest for myself.”
His parents begged him to stay near the firelight. Yet, as the village settled into sleep, he slipped quietly out of his hut. The moon was bright, and the forest shimmered with silver light. Owls hooted from the tall trees, and strange insects sang in the undergrowth. The boy felt proud of his courage. “See,” he whispered to himself, “nothing can happen to me.”
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Deeper and deeper he went, ignoring the path. Suddenly, the air grew heavy and still. The night sounds stopped. From behind the trees, voices began to whisper. They were not human voices but strange and hollow, like the wind inside a drum. Out of the darkness came shapes, tall and thin, with glowing eyes. These were the forest spirits the elders had spoken of.
The spirits circled the boy and spoke in one voice. “You were told not to enter our forest at night. You disobeyed. Now you belong to us.” Terrified, the boy tried to run, but the spirits moved faster than he could. They lifted him up and carried him deeper into the woods, where no path could be seen. He cried for his parents, but his voice was swallowed by the trees.
Back in the village, his mother woke from sleep and felt her heart grow heavy. She called for her son but found his bed empty. She cried out, and soon the whole village gathered with torches. They knew the boy had entered the forest against their warnings. His parents pleaded with the spirits of the night. They prayed aloud, begging for mercy, promising that the boy had learned his lesson.
The forest trembled with their voices, and the spirits finally spoke. “Because of your love and your cries, we will release him. But this child must never forget. Disobedience brings danger.” With those words, they set the boy down at the edge of the forest. He was trembling and pale, his pride broken.
From that night on, the boy listened carefully to his parents. He never again laughed at the wisdom of the elders, for he had seen the spirits with his own eyes. The village, too, remembered the story, passing it down from generation to generation, so that children would understand the danger of ignoring guidance.
Moral Lesson
The story of The Disobedient Child teaches us that ignoring the wisdom of elders leads to danger. Parents and elders speak from experience, and their words are meant to protect, not to restrict. Disobedience may seem like freedom, but it often opens the door to harm. True wisdom is shown in humility, respect, and the willingness to listen.
Knowledge Check
What is the main lesson in the story of The Disobedient Child?
The lesson is that children should obey their parents and elders, as their guidance protects them from harm.Why did the boy ignore his parents’ warning in the folktale?
He believed he was strong and clever enough to face any danger, so he dismissed their words.Who captured the boy when he entered the forest at night?
The forest spirits captured him as punishment for his disobedience.How did the boy’s parents help save him?
They prayed and pleaded with the spirits, showing their love and sorrow, which convinced the spirits to release him.What change occurred in the boy after his encounter with the spirits?
He became humble and obedient, respecting the words of his parents from that day on.What cultural value does this Gabonese folktale highlight?
It highlights respect for elders and obedience to their wisdom as key values in Mpongwe tradition.
Cultural Origin: Gabonese folktale (Mpongwe Tribe), recorded by Robert H. Nassau in Where Animals Talk: West African Folklore Tales (1914).
