Long ago, in an age when the earth still seemed young and fragile, the people who lived along the coasts of West Africa lived in constant fear. Their villages rested near sandy shores where the sea, vast and unpredictable, would often rise beyond its borders. Great waves surged inland, swallowing fields and huts, leaving behind destruction and sorrow. Families mourned lost children, crops were swept away, and homes that had taken years to build were reduced to ruins in a single night.
Flood after flood came without warning. The people prayed, planned, and struggled, but no solution lasted. The sea always found a way to reclaim the land, and despair began to spread like sickness. Many whispered that nothing could save them.
But help came from an unexpected source: a creature often overlooked by humankind—the turtle. Unlike other animals, the turtle was known for her patient wisdom and deep connection to both land and sea. She had watched silently for years, seeing the suffering of mankind, and at last she decided to speak.
One day, as a gathering of villagers stood near the beach, scanning the horizon with worried eyes, the turtle made her slow approach. Her shell glistened under the sun, weathered by salt and sand. When she finally reached the people, she lifted her head and spoke in a calm, steady voice.
“Why do you trouble yourselves so?” she asked. “The sea will always rise, but there is a way to protect your homes and families.”
The people leaned forward eagerly, for never before had a solution been offered to them. The turtle continued, “Go to the shore and plant rows of palm trees. Their roots will grip the sand tightly, binding it together so the waters cannot wash it away. The palms will stand like guardians, holding the earth firm when the floods come again.”
Though many were skeptical, the villagers obeyed. Day after day, men, women, and children worked together, digging holes in the loose sand, pressing in the young palm shoots, and watering them carefully. Seasons passed, and the palms grew tall and strong, their roots reaching deep into the soil.
When the sea rose again, as it always did, the waves crashed against the shore. The water surged forward, but when it reached the line of palms, the earth held firm. The angry flood could go no farther. For the first time in memory, the villagers were safe.
A cry of joy rose from the people. They laughed, danced, and sang praises, for they had been spared by the wisdom of the turtle. Each year thereafter, when the storms returned, the palms stood firm, saving countless lives. Truly, the turtle’s advice had been a gift beyond measure.
One might expect that such an act of kindness would be remembered with gratitude. Surely the people would cherish and protect the turtle, honoring her as their savior. But mankind is often quick to forget and quicker still to turn selfish.
The turtle, in her simplicity, lived as she always had. From time to time she would crawl ashore to lay her eggs in the warm sand, leaving her young to hatch and make their way to the sea. But instead of welcoming her with respect, the villagers saw only a chance for food. Each time she came, she was captured and killed for her flesh.
The very creature who had saved them from destruction, who had taught them how to live safely by the sea, became the victim of their greed.
And so, when a sea-turtle is caught today, she thrashes her forelegs against her breast, striking herself again and again. To those who do not know the story, it may look like a simple struggle against capture. But those who remember understand: it is a gesture of sorrow, a sign of her broken heart. She seems to be saying, “This is the thanks I receive for saving your lives. This is the reward for my kindness.”
The turtle’s beating breast is not only a cry of pain, but also a reminder of mankind’s ingratitude.
Moral of the Story
The tale of the sea-turtle teaches us that wisdom can come from the most humble of creatures, and that kindness should always be repaid with gratitude, not betrayal. To forget the good others have done is to dishonor both them and ourselves.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What natural disaster troubled the villagers in this folktale?
A: Floods from the sea that repeatedly swept across their land.
Q2: Who provided the solution to protect the people from floods?
A: The wise sea-turtle.
Q3: What advice did the turtle give to mankind?
A: To plant rows of palm trees along the seashore to hold the sand firmly.
Q4: How did the palm trees help during floods?
A: Their roots bound the sand, preventing the sea from washing inland.
Q5: Why does the sea-turtle beat its breast when caught?
A: Because of mankind’s ingratitude—despite saving them, she is hunted and killed.
Q6: What lesson does this folktale teach?
A: To honor kindness with gratitude and to respect those who help us, no matter how small they may seem.
Source: Ghanaian Folktale
