Long ago in a village along the Volta River there was a drum unlike any other. It was carved from the heart of a sacred tree and decorated with intricate symbols that glowed faintly in the sunlight. The villagers believed it had been blessed by the ancestors themselves. When played with respect, it could summon their voices to guide the people, offering wisdom, protection, and blessings. Everyone in the village revered the drum, and only the chosen elders were allowed to touch it.
Among the villagers lived a man whose heart was heavy with greed. He had wealth in the form of crops, goats, and small treasures, yet it was never enough. He wanted more power, more respect, and more influence than anyone else. One day, he heard whispers from children playing near the river that the sacred drum could call the ancestors and bring extraordinary fortune. His eyes widened. If he could play it, he could command blessings, make the rains fall when he wished, and even control the destiny of the village. The thought filled him with ambition, but it also planted a seed of danger.
That night, under the cover of darkness, the greedy man crept to the village center where the drum was kept. The moonlight reflected off its polished surface, and the carvings seemed to shimmer with life. He reached out and touched it, ignoring the warnings that the elders had spoken for generations. His fingers traced the sacred symbols, and for a moment, he felt a strange warmth run through him. Then he began to beat the drum, faster and faster, calling out the names of ancestors he did not even know, demanding they grant him power and wealth.
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The drum responded immediately, but not in the way he had hoped. The air filled with low, vibrating voices that echoed from the past. The ancestors were speaking, but their voices were filled with anger and sorrow. The trees shivered, and the river near the village rippled as if it sensed the disturbance. Suddenly, shadows of the past appeared on the walls of the nearby huts, showing visions of what greed could bring. Crops withered, animals fled, and the villagers looked on in fear. The man tried to command the voices, but the drum would not obey his selfish demands. Instead, it unleashed misfortune across the village.
Terrified, he dropped his hands from the drum and fell to his knees. The villagers ran to see what had happened, and the elders arrived, chanting prayers and performing rituals to calm the spirits. They told the man that the drum had always been a bridge between the living and the ancestors, meant to guide the people and protect the community. Using it for selfish gain was an act of disrespect that could never be ignored. The man realized too late that his greed had caused suffering for himself and for everyone around him. From that day, he vowed to honor the sacred objects and the traditions of the village. He learned that true blessings come from respect, humility, and the careful use of the gifts entrusted to humanity.
The villagers rebuilt what had been damaged, and life slowly returned to normal. The drum was played only during ceremonies, rituals, and moments of great importance, always by those chosen to honor it properly. Its sound reminded everyone that power should never be abused, and that the ancestors were watching over them, always ready to guide those who acted with respect and to correct those who acted with greed. From that time onward, the story of the sacred drum spread across the Volta Region, teaching generations the importance of honoring tradition and the consequences of selfish ambition.
Moral Lesson: The story of the sacred drum teaches that respect for heritage and sacred objects is essential. Misusing power for selfish gain brings misfortune, while humility, honor, and reverence for tradition ensure harmony and blessings for the community.
Knowledge Check
What made the drum in the story sacred and powerful?
Answer: The drum was carved from the heart of a sacred tree and decorated with symbols blessed by the ancestors, allowing it to summon their voices.Why did the greedy man want to use the sacred drum?
Answer: He wanted power, wealth, and influence, believing that the drum could bring him extraordinary fortune and control over the village.How did the ancestors respond when the man misused the drum?
Answer: The ancestors’ voices echoed with anger and sorrow, causing misfortune in the village instead of granting his selfish wishes.What consequences did the village face due to the man’s actions?
Answer: Crops withered, animals fled, and the villagers experienced fear and disruption until the elders performed rituals to calm the spirits.What lesson did the man learn after misusing the drum?
Answer: He learned that true blessings come from respecting sacred objects, traditions, and the community rather than acting out of greed.What is the main theme of The Sacred Drum That Called the Ancestors?
Answer: The main theme is that respect for heritage and proper use of power ensures harmony, while misuse and greed bring misfortune.
Source: Ewe folktale, Volta Region. Recorded by Anna Cottrell & Agbotadua Togbi Kumassah in Once Upon a Time in Ghana (2013).
