Listen, my children, and open your ears like the wide grasslands at night. This is the tale the Banda elders tell when the fire crackles, when the drums are silent, and when the moon sits high above the treetops.
Long ago, there lived a hunter named Gbado. He was strong as the iron of the blacksmith’s forge and swift as the gazelle on the plain. But he was also restless, his heart always wanted more than what his hands could hold.
One night, after a long hunt, Gbado sat by the river, sharpening his spear. The moon rose, round and bright, bathing the water in silver. Gbado whispered to himself:
“Ah! If only I could catch that shining moon. Its light would be mine, and all would know Gbado, the greatest hunter of earth and sky.”
The moon, hearing his boast, seemed to wink.
And so, Gbado lifted his spear and declared:
“I will chase the moon. I will bring it down from the heavens!
That night, Gbado followed the moon across the savannah. His sandals slapped the earth, his breath steamed in the cold night air. The owls hooted from the baobab trees:
“Hoo, hoo, Gbado! The moon is not for your spear!”
But Gbado ran faster.
The hyena laughed in the darkness:
“Hee-hee-hee! Foolish hunter, can your legs climb the sky?”
Still, Gbado would not stop.
The Elders’ Wisdom
At dawn, Gbado reached a village. The elders, sitting beneath the tamarind tree, saw his weary face. One spoke:
“Gbado, son of the savannah, why do you chase the moon? The moon gives light for all. It is not meant to be owned.”
But Gbado shook his head.
“I must prove I am the greatest hunter. Even if the moon hides, I will find it!”
The elders sighed.
“A hunter who hunts pride will return with emptiness.”
Yet Gbado’s ears were closed like a drumskin pulled too tight.
Magic of the Natural World
The journey led Gbado into the deep forest. There, the trees whispered with voices of spirits. A river spirit rose from the waters, her skin glimmering like fish scales.
“Gbado,” she said, “if you chase the moon, you chase what cannot be caught. Turn back, or you will be lost among the shadows.”
But Gbado answered:
“Spirit, I fear no shadow. I want the light of the moon.”
The spirit wept, and the river swelled, but Gbado leapt across and kept running.
Skyward Climb
At last, Gbado found a mountain that touched the clouds. The moon rested just above its peak, so close it seemed he could grab it. With bleeding feet and trembling arms, he climbed. Higher and higher, the stars pricked his skin like thorns.
At the top, he hurled his spear at the moon. The spear flew straight and true , yet when it struck, the moon only laughed, glowing brighter.
“Gbado,” said the moon, “you cannot hold what belongs to all. If you try, you will lose yourself.”
Then the mountain shook, and Gbado fell. He tumbled down, down, until he landed in the valley below.
The Lesson
When he awoke, his body was weak, and his pride was gone. He returned to his village, no longer boasting. From then on, Gbado hunted only what was needed and shared his catch with the people.
The elders said:
“Now, Gbado has learned: greatness is not in owning the light, but in living with it.”
And so, my children, the story ends.
The moral is this: Do not chase what is beyond your reach. The gifts of the world are for all to share, not for one to possess.
Knowledge Check (SEO-Friendly Q&A)
Q1: What is the Banda folktale “The Hunter Who Chased the Moon” about?
A1: It tells the story of Gbado, a Banda hunter from the Central African Republic, who tries to capture the moon but learns a lesson about pride and humility.
Q2: What cultural values are shown in this Banda folktale?
A2: The story highlights Banda cultural values such as respect for nature, listening to elders, and avoiding the dangers of pride and greed.
Q3: Why did Gbado want to chase the moon in the story?
A3: Gbado wanted to catch the moon to prove he was the greatest hunter, showing his pride and desire for recognition.
Q4: What role do elders play in the folktale?
A4: The elders act as wise guides, warning Gbado that the moon belongs to everyone and that chasing pride leads to emptiness.
Q5: What magical elements appear in the folktale?
A5: The moon speaks, the forest whispers, and a river spirit warns Gbado, reflecting the Banda tradition of blending nature with the supernatural in storytelling.
Q6: What is the moral of “The Hunter Who Chased the Moon”?
A6: The moral is that one should not let pride drive them to chase the impossible , true greatness comes from humility and sharing with others.
