Long ago on La Digue Island, when the waves still carried the songs of warriors and the forests whispered of ancient battles, there stood a sacred hill known as Mont Rouge. Hidden within its caves were two great drums, carved from the heart of a fallen flame tree. They were said to belong to the island’s bravest defenders, men who once rose against tyranny and fought for the freedom of their people.
Every generation grew up hearing about the Flaming Drums. The elders said that when injustice darkened the land, the drums would burst into fire and thunder, calling forth the spirits of the old warriors to restore balance.
In a nearby village lived a young drummer named Karel. He was quiet but gifted, able to summon emotion from a single rhythm. His grandfather, Papa Jules, was the last guardian of the ancient tale. One evening, as they sat near the fire, Karel asked, “Grandfather, do the Flaming Drums truly exist?”
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Papa Jules gazed into the flames. “They do, my boy. But they are not meant for pride or fame. The drums awaken only when the island cries for justice.”
Years passed, and the island changed. Traders and officials arrived, taking land from farmers and forcing villagers to pay unfair taxes. The people grew weary and fearful. Karel watched his neighbours lose their farms while those in power grew rich. Each night, the hills grew quieter, and even the sea seemed to sigh with sorrow.
One evening, a storm swept across La Digue. The sky burned with lightning, and thunder rolled like distant drums. Karel could not sleep. As he looked toward Mont Rouge, he saw flashes of red fire glowing among the rocks. His heart pounded. Could it be the legend awakening?
He took his small drum and ran through the storm. The rain soaked his clothes, but he did not stop. When he reached the cave, he saw them, the ancient drums, tall as men, blazing with a red flame that did not burn the stone. The sound they made was deep and alive, echoing like heartbeats through the mountain.
A voice rose from the fire, strong and solemn. “Who disturbs the drums of the warriors?”
Karel knelt. “It is I, Karel, son of La Digue. The people suffer while the greedy rule. I come not for power but for justice.”
The flames pulsed brighter. “Then play, child of the island. Let your rhythm awaken the spirit of courage.”
With trembling hands, Karel lifted his drumsticks and began to play. His rhythm was slow at first, then fierce, echoing through the storm. The air trembled, and the fire from the great drums leapt higher, forming the shapes of warriors in smoke and light. Their voices joined his rhythm, filling the night with thunder.
Down in the village, people awoke to the sound. The earth shook as if the mountain itself were alive. The corrupt officials fled in fear, and the next morning, when the storm cleared, the people found that the land deeds stolen from them had been burned to ash, but the boundaries were restored.
The Flaming Drums of La Digue had spoken. Justice had returned.
Karel never boasted of what happened. He simply returned to his village, quietly mending his small drum. Yet when people saw him, they bowed their heads with respect, for they knew he had played a rhythm that carried the heartbeat of the island itself.
To this day, elders still tell the story of that stormy night. And whenever lightning flashes above Mont Rouge, they say the drums are testing the hearts of men waiting to see if courage and justice still live in La Digue.
Moral Lesson
The story reminds us that justice is a living spirit that cannot be silenced. When greed and oppression rise, truth and courage will always find a voice. The Flaming Drums symbolize the fire of righteousness that burns within every heart willing to stand for what is right.
Knowledge check
What were the Flaming Drums, and where were they hidden?
They were ancient drums carved from a flame tree, hidden in the caves of Mont Rouge on La Digue Island.Who was Karel, and what was his special talent?
Karel was a young Seychellois drummer known for his deep connection to rhythm and emotion.What event caused the Flaming Drums to awaken?
The drums awoke when injustice and greed spread across the island, and Karel sought justice for his people.How did Karel awaken the spirits of the warriors?
He played his drum with pure intention during a storm, summoning the fiery spirits through his rhythm.What happened to the corrupt officials after the drums awakened?
They fled the island in fear, and the land stolen from the villagers was miraculously restored.What lesson does the story of The Flaming Drums of La Digue teach?
It teaches that courage and justice always burn brighter than greed, and true heroes act for others, not for fame.
Cultural Origin:
Source: Heroic legend, La Digue Island. Recorded by Paul Delpech in Legends of the Creole Warriors (1941).
