Long ago in the forests of Ghana, the clever tortoise wandered about looking for food. One day, as he walked along a path, his eyes fell upon a tall palm tree filled with ripe palm kernel fruits. His stomach rumbled, for he had not eaten all day. The fruits looked juicy and delicious, yet they were far out of reach.
The tortoise thought quickly. He picked up a long stick and shook the palm tree with all his strength. At last, the kernels fell down, but before he could collect them, they rolled into a hole nearby. Determined, he shook the tree again. Still, the fruits slipped away into the same hole.
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Hungry and stubborn, the tortoise decided to chase after them. He crawled into the hole, expecting to find the fruits at the bottom. However, the deeper he went, the longer the path stretched. He walked for hours until he finally stumbled out into a strange village square. To his surprise, he had reached the spirit world.
The Gift of the Drum
Looking around, the tortoise noticed a spirit chewing happily on a palm kernel. With anger he shouted, “Those are mine! You must give them back!” The spirit looked startled but apologized. He explained that he had not known the fruits belonged to someone else. To make peace, the spirit offered the tortoise a gift.
He led the tortoise into a building lined with drums of every size. “Choose whichever drum you wish,” the spirit said kindly. Tortoise, being practical, picked the smallest one. It was light and easy to carry for his long journey back.
When he returned to the forest, he rested beneath a shady tree. Curious, he struck the drum with its stick. At once, a feast appeared before him. There were dishes of every flavor, steaming hot and smelling sweeter than anything he had known. The tortoise ate until he was full and soon fell asleep under the tree.
The Feast of the Animals
The next morning, the tortoise returned home. Proud of his new treasure, he invited all the animals to his house. When they arrived, he beat the drum again and another great feast appeared. The animals clapped their hands, sang songs of joy, and ate until their bellies were round.
This went on day after day. The animals came, the drum was beaten, and everyone ate their fill. But after some time, the tortoise grew weary of always beating the drum. He appointed the elephant, with his strong arms, to be the official drummer.
However, when the elephant struck the little drum, it cracked and broke. At once, the feast vanished. The animals groaned with disappointment, and the tortoise realized he would need another drum.
The Second Visit to the Spirit World
The tortoise set off again to the palm tree. He shook down the palm kernels and threw them into the hole, then followed after them. Just as before, he arrived in the spirit world and found the same spirit gathering the fruits.
“You again,” the tortoise said sharply. “You have eaten my palm kernels. You must give them back.” The spirit calmly handed him the fruits, saying he had not eaten any. But the tortoise insisted some were missing. “You are lying,” he accused, “and you must compensate me.”
Tired of his complaints, the spirit once more offered him a drum. This time the tortoise, greedy for more, chose the largest drum he could find. He believed a bigger drum would bring bigger feasts.
It took him days of hard struggle to drag it back up to the world of men. Exhausted and hungry, he finally reached the forest. He struck the big drum with hope in his eyes. But instead of food, a thousand whips appeared.
The whips chased the tortoise, lashing him all the way home. He cried out in pain, but there was no escape. His greed had brought him punishment instead of plenty.
Moral Lesson of The Tortoise and the Drum
The folktale of The Tortoise and the Drum teaches that greed can lead to suffering while contentment brings peace. The tortoise already had a magical gift that provided him with endless food, yet his desire for more drove him to lie and demand beyond what was fair. In the end, his lack of gratitude turned blessings into punishment. This story reminds us that it is better to appreciate what we have than to chase after more than we need.
Knowledge Check: The Tortoise and the Drum
What food did the tortoise first try to collect in the story of The Tortoise and the Drum?
He tried to collect palm kernel fruits that fell from the tree.How did the tortoise first arrive in the spirit world in The Tortoise and the Drum?
He followed the fallen palm kernels into a hole that led him to the spirit world.What special item did the spirit give the tortoise in The Tortoise and the Drum?
The spirit gave him a magical drum that could produce a feast when beaten.Why did the tortoise return to the spirit world in The Tortoise and the Drum?
He returned because the first small drum broke when the elephant tried to beat it.What was the tortoise’s mistake when he chose the second drum in The Tortoise and the Drum?
He picked the largest drum out of greed, hoping it would bring him more food.What happened when the tortoise beat the large drum in The Tortoise and the Drum?
Instead of food, thousands of whips appeared and beat him all the way home.Cultural Origin
This folktale comes from Ghana and is part of the storytelling traditions that use the clever tortoise as a character to teach lessons about wisdom, greed, and humility.
