African Folktales
Long ago, in a land far away, there lived a young man named Jelani. He was the son of a wealthy and powerful chief, and he had a gift for interpreting dreams. One night, he had a strange dream that troubled him greatly. He dreamed that he saw seven fat and healthy cows grazing by the river, followed by seven thin and sickly cows that devoured the fat ones. He woke up with a start and wondered what the dream meant.
Long ago, in a small village of the Efik people, there lived a woman named Nkoyo, who was pregnant with twins. She did not know this, for she had never seen or heard of twins before. She only felt that her belly was bigger than usual, and that she often felt two kicks instead of one. One day, as she was walking to the river to fetch some water, she met a huge python on the road. The python was hungry and wanted to eat her, but it also sensed that she was carrying something special in her womb. It decided to spare her life, but only on one condition.
Once upon a time, there was a young hunter named Gingile who lived in a village near the forest. He was very skilled at hunting, but he was also very greedy and selfish. He never shared his game with anyone, not even his family or friends. One day, as he was walking in the forest, he heard a strange rattling sound coming from a nearby tree. He looked up and saw a small bird with a black head and a yellow chest. It was Ngede, the Honeyguide, who knew where to find the sweetest honey in the forest.
Once upon a time, in a land plagued by drought and hunger, there lived a clever Tortoise who was always looking for ways to get ahead. He envied the birds, who could fly to distant lands and feast on the fruits of the earth. He wished he could join them, but he knew he was too slow and heavy to fly.
Long ago, in a land of green hills and fertile valleys, there lived a chief named Shemwindo. He was a proud and powerful ruler, who had many wives and children. But he loved one wife more than the others, Nyamwindo, who was gentle and kind. Nyamwindo had a secret wish in her heart, to have a son who would inherit the chiefdom after Shemwindo.
Long ago, in a small village in the heart of Africa, there lived a young boy named Kofi. He loved music more than anything, and he dreamed of becoming a master drummer like his grandfather, Oba. Oba was the wise elder of the village, and he had a special gift: he could play the talking drum, a mystical instrument that could send messages across great distances.
