Long ago, in a village deep within the green hills of Sierra Leone, there lived a drummer named Kanu. He was the guardian of a sacred drum, a drum unlike any other. Its skin was stretched tight with care, its frame carved from the oldest tree in the forest, and its sound carried far across valleys and rivers. But this drum was no ordinary instrument, it could speak.
When danger approached, the drum would thunder with words. When a stranger came near, the drum would call out to the villagers. Its deep voice echoed through the land, warning, guiding, and protecting. The people trusted the drum as though it were an elder among them.
For many seasons, the village lived in safety because of the drum. Whenever enemies threatened, the drum spoke, and the warriors prepared. Whenever storms gathered, the drum warned them, and the farmers saved their harvest. Children grew up knowing its voice, and elders bowed their heads whenever it spoke. It was the heart of the community, and all treated it with reverence.
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But time passed, and the younger villagers began to grow careless. They no longer remembered the dangers of the past. One evening, as the drum warned of a coming flood, some youths laughed. “Listen to it! The drum thinks it is a man,” one mocked. Another struck it playfully, imitating its words. The laughter spread until many joined in, forgetting the respect owed to the sacred drum.
Kanu, the drummer, was troubled. He lifted his hands and cried, “Stop! This drum is not a toy. It is a gift from our ancestors, a voice that guards us. If we mock it, we mock the wisdom of those who came before us.” But the young men only laughed harder.
That night, the skies darkened. Rain poured without end, heavier than any storm the villagers could remember. The river swelled, rushing down into the fields and sweeping away the crops. Houses trembled, and animals scattered. The villagers cried out, but many had ignored the drum’s warning, and their preparations were too late. Disaster fell upon them.
When the storm passed, the village lay in sorrow. Families mourned their losses, and the people remembered the laughter that had silenced their caution. In shame, the villagers gathered before the drum. Its skin was torn where the youths had struck it, its frame cracked, and its once-powerful voice was weak.
The elders spoke sternly. “We forgot respect. We forgot unity. We mocked the drum that spoke like a man, and so we suffered.” The people bowed their heads, tears in their eyes.
Together, they worked to restore the drum. They brought the strongest wood, the finest animal skin, and the purest oil. Kanu led the repairs with songs of apology, and the villagers joined their voices in prayer. When the drum was healed, they placed it at the heart of the village once more.
That night, as the moon rose, the drum thundered again, its voice strong and deep. “Children of the village, remember me. I am the voice of your ancestors, the shield of your people. Respect me, and you shall live in unity and safety.”
From that day forward, no one mocked the sacred drum again. It spoke rarely, but when it did, all listened with reverence. The story was told to every child so that the mistake would never be repeated.
And so, the drum remained the protector of the people, not because it was magic alone, but because it reminded them that respect for tradition binds a community together and keeps it strong.
Moral Lesson
The story of The Drum That Spoke Like a Man teaches that tradition and wisdom must never be mocked. A community thrives when it listens to the voices of the past and unites in respect. Disregarding sacred things brings harm, but honoring them ensures safety and harmony.
Knowledge Check
What made the drum special in The Drum That Spoke Like a Man?
It could speak with a human voice, warning the villagers of danger.How did the drum protect the village in The Drum That Spoke Like a Man?
It warned them of enemies, storms, and other dangers so they could prepare.Why did the young villagers laugh at the drum in The Drum That Spoke Like a Man?
They grew careless and mocked it, forgetting its sacred importance.What disaster struck the village after the drum was mocked in The Drum That Spoke Like a Man?
A great flood destroyed crops, homes, and animals.How did the villagers restore the sacred drum in The Drum That Spoke Like a Man?
They repaired it with strong wood, fine animal skin, and prayers of respect.What is the main lesson of The Drum That Spoke Like a Man?
That respect for tradition and unity protects a community from harm.
Source: Loko folktale, Sierra Leone. Noted in African Folklore: An Encyclopedia (2004).
