African Myths and Folk Tales Read online

Animals on Earth

  When he had finished eating she said, “Now go into the garden and choose a drum. Do not take the one which sounds ‘Dong-dong’; take the one which says ‘Ding-ding.’”

  Anansi then said, “Do you think I will take your advice, you witch? No. I will choose the drum which says ‘Dong-dong.’ You are just trying to play a trick on me.”

  He did as he wished. Having secured the drum he marched off without so much as thanking the old woman.

  No sooner had he reached home, than he thought to show off his new power to the villagers. He called all to the public square, and told them to bring dishes and trays, as he was going to supply them with food. The people in great joy rushed to the spot. Anansi took his position in the midst of them, and began to beat his drum. To his surprise and horror, instead of the abundance of foodstuffs which Kweku had summoned, Anansi saw, rushing toward him, beasts and serpents of all kinds. Such things had never been seen on the earth before.

  All the people except Anansi fled in every direction. He was too frightened to move and was quickly devoured by the animals. Thus he had been speedily punished for his disobedience.

  Fortunately, Kweku, with his mother and sisters, had been at the outer edge of the crowd, and they easily escaped into shelter. The animals then went in all directions and ever since they have roamed wild in the forests.

  A man with wisdom is better off than a stupid man with any amount of charm and superstition.

  No man puts new cloth into an old garment.

  The Origin of Lake Tanganyika

  Long, long ago, in the region where you see the lake, there was a wide plain where lived many tribes who had large herds of oxen and goats.

  In this plain was a very large village. As was the custom in those days, all the houses of this village were surrounded by tall hedges with stalls where people drove in their cattle for the night to keep them from wild beasts and robbers.

  In one of these enclosures there lived with his wife a man who owned a deep spring from which a little stream came.

  This spring, strange to say, contained many kinds of fishes which the man and his wife used for food; but this large supply of food was a secret. No one outside the family knew it.

  A story handed down from father to son said that the day when the secret should be told by one of them to strangers, the family would be ruined and destroyed. It was very necessary, then, to keep this secret.

  By and by there came into this family a pretty daughter. She grew to be a woman and many young men from around came to admire her.

  It happened, unknown to the father and mother, that the daughter loved one of these men, and her love for him increased. One day she secretly brought the young man some fish from the wonderful spring. The flesh was so good and of such a fine flavor that her lover wanted to know whence it came. The daughter kept silent for a long time through fear of what might happen if she told the secret. Finally she promised to tell it. Her love for the young man was so great as to make her believe that she must do whatever he asked of her.

  One day the mother and father had to make a journey; before starting they strictly cautioned their daughter to keep the secret about the wonderful spring, to admit no stranger into the home, and not to gossip with the neighbors.

  The daughter promised; but as soon as the mother and father had started she went hurriedly to find her lover.

  “Come,” said she, “you are going to learn now where the fish comes from.”

  Her lover went with her. He entered the house, where the daughter gave him palm wine, bananas, sorghum porridge, palm oil, seasoned with pepper, and a quantity of fish.

  When he had finished the meal, the man said, “Show me where you catch the fish.”

  She replied, “Yes, but it is a secret which, if told, will cause great misfortunes.”

  “Fear not,” said her lover.

  They rose. She led him within the enclosure and showed him what seemed to be a little pool, round in shape and full of clear water, which bubbled out of the ground.

  “Look,” said she, “there is the wonderful spring, and there are the delicious fish.”

  The young man had never seen anything like it, for there was no river nearby. A fish came near him, and he stretched out his hand to catch it. Alas! that was the end of everything!

  The muzimu (spirit) was enraged. The earth split asunder; the plain sank so deep that the longest plummet cannot go to the bottom of it; the spring overflowed and filled the great chasm which had appeared in the earth.

  And now what do you see at the spot? Tanganyika.

  The Beginning of Death

  When Kintu first came to the earth he found there was no food at all. He brought with him one cow and had only its milk for his food. In the course of time a woman named Nambi came with her brother to the earth and saw Kintu. The woman fell in love with him. She wished to be married to him, and told him so. But she had to return with her brother to her people and her father, Gulu, who was king of the sky.

  Nambi’s relatives objected to the marriage because they said that the man did not know of any food except that which the cow gave, and they did not like him. Gulu their father, however, said they had better test Kintu before he agreed to the marriage. He then sent his son to take Kintu’s cow. For a time Kintu was at a loss what to eat, but he learned to eat herbs.

  Nambi happened to see the cow and knew it. She complained that her brothers wished to kill the man she loved. She then went to the earth and told Kintu where his cow was, and invited him to return with her to take it away. Kintu consented and went.

  When Nambi’s brothers saw Kintu with their sister, they told their father. He ordered them to build a house for Kintu and said they were to put him to another test.

  An enormous meal was cooked, enough food for a hundred people, and brought to Kintu. He was told that unless he ate it all he would be killed as a thief. If he failed to eat it, they said, this would be proof that he was not the great Kintu. He was then shut up in a house and left.

  After he had eaten and drunk as much as he wished, he did not know what to do with the rest of the food. Fortunately he discovered a deep hole in the floor of the house. He turned all the food and beer into it and covered it over so that no one could detect the place. He then called the people outside.

  The sons of Gulu came in, but would not believe he had eaten all the food. They, therefore, searched the house, but failed to find anything.

  They then went to their father and told him that Kintu had eaten all the food. He would not believe the story, and said Kintu must be further tested. A copper ax was sent by Gulu, who said to Kintu, “Go and cut me firewood from the rock, because I do not use ordinary firewood.”

  When Kintu went with the ax he said to himself, “What am I to do? If I strike the rock, the ax will only turn its edge or rebound.” However, after he had looked at the rock he found there were cracks in it. He broke off pieces, then, and returned with them to Gulu, who was surprised to get them.

  Still he said Kintu must be further tried before they gave their consent to the marriage. Kintu was next sent to get water and was told he must bring dew only, because Gulu did not drink water from wells. Kintu took the water-pot and went off to a field where he put the pot down and began to ponder what he was to do to collect the dew. He was sorely puzzled; but, upon returning to the pot, he found it full of water, and he carried it back to Gulu.

  Gulu was most surprised and said, “This man is a wonderful being; he shall have his cow back and marry my daughter.”

  Kintu was told he was to pick his cow from the herd and take it. This was a more difficult task than the others. Since there were so many cows like his own he feared he would take the wrong one.

  While he was thus puzzled a large bee came and said, “Take the one upon whose horns I shall alight; it is yours.”

  The next morning he went to the appointed place and stood and watched the bee which was resting on a tree near him. A large herd of cows
was brought before him, and he pretended to look for his cow; but in reality he watched the bee, which did not move.

  After a time Kintu said, “My cow is not there.”

  A second herd was brought, and again he said, “My cow is not there.”

  A third much larger herd was brought, and the bee flew at once and rested upon a cow which was a very large one, and Kintu said, “That is my cow.”

  The bee then flew to another cow, and Kintu said, “That is one of the calves from my cow,” and so on to a second and third which he claimed as the calves that had been born during the cow’s stay with Gulu.

  Gulu was delighted with Kintu and said, “You are truly Kintu; take your cows: no one can deceive or rob you; you are too smart for that.”

  African Cattle

  He called Nambi and said to Kintu, “Take my daughter who loves you, marry her and go back to your home.”

  Gulu further said, “You must hurry away and go back before Death (Walumbe) comes, because he will want to go with you and you must not take him; he will only cause you trouble and unhappiness.”

  Nambi agreed to what her father said and went to pack up her things. Kintu and Nambi then took leave of Gulu, who said, “Be sure if you have forgotten anything not to come back, because Death will want to go with you and you must go without him.”

  They started off home, taking with them, besides Nambi’s things and the cows, a goat, a sheep, a fowl, and a plantain tree. On the way Nambi looked into her basket and found out that she had forgotten the grain for the fowl, and said to Kintu, “I must go back for the grain for the fowl, or it will die.”

  Kintu told her not to go back, but in vain. She said, “I will hurry back and get in without any one seeing me.”

  He said, “Your brother Death will be on the watch and see you.”

  She would not listen to her husband, but went back and said to her father, “I have forgotten the grain for the fowl, and I am come to take it from the doorway where I put it.”

  He replied, “Did I not tell you that you were not to return if you forgot anything, because your brother Death would see you and want to go with you? Now he will accompany you.”

  She tried to steal away without Death, but he followed her.

  When she returned to Kintu, he was angry at seeing Death, and said, “Why have you brought your brother with you? Who can live with him?”

  Nambi was sorry; so Kintu said, “Let us go on and see what will happen.”

  When they reached the earth Nambi planted her garden, and the plantains grew rapidly, and she soon had a large plantain grove. They lived happily for some time and had a number of children, until one day Death asked Kintu to send one of his children to be his cook.

  Death

  Kintu replied, “If Gulu comes and asks me for one of my children, what am I to say to him? Shall I tell him that I have given her to be your cook?”

  Death was silent and went away, but he again asked for a child to be his cook, and again Kintu refused to send one of his daughters to serve Death in this or any other way.

  Death then said, “I will kill them.”

  Kintu, who did not know what he meant, asked, “What is it you will do?”

  In a short time, however, one of the children fell ill and died, and from that time they began to die at intervals. Kintu returned to Gulu and told him about the passing of the children, and accused Death of being the cause.

  Gulu replied, “Did I not tell you when you were going away to go at once with your wife and not to return if you had forgotten anything, but you allowed Nambi to return for the grain? Now you have Death living with you. Had you obeyed me you would have been free from him and not lost any of your children.”

  After some further entreaty, Gulu sent Kaikuzi, the brother of Death, to assist Nambi, and to prevent Death from killing the children.

  Kaikuzi went to the earth with Kintu and was met by Nambi, who told him her pitiful story. He said he would call Death and ask him not to kill the children.

  When Death came to greet his brother they had quite a pleasant meeting, and Kaikuzi told him he had come to take him back, because their father wanted him.

  Death said, “Let us take our sister, too”; but Kaikuzi said he was not sent to take her, because she was married and had to stay with her husband.

  Death refused to go without his sister, and Kaikuzi was angry with him and ordered him to do as he was told. Death, however, escaped from Kaikuzi’s grip and fled away into the earth.

  For a long time there was strife between the two brothers. Kaikuzi tried in every possible way to catch his brother Death, who always escaped. At last Kaikuzi told the people to remain in their houses for several days and not let any of the animals out, and he would have a final hunt for Death. He further told them that if they saw Death they must not call out nor raise the usual cry.

  The instructions were followed for two or three days, and Kaikuzi got his brother to come out of the earth and was about to capture him, when some children took their goats to the pasture and saw Death and called out. Kaikuzi rushed to the spot and asked why they called, and was told they had seen Death. He was angry, because Death had gone into the earth again.

  He went to Kintu, then, and told him he was tired of hunting Death and wanted to return home. He also complained that the children had frightened Death into the earth again. Kintu thanked Kaikuzi for his help and said he feared nothing more could be done, and hoped Death would not kill all the people.

  From that time Death has lived upon the earth and killed people whenever he could, and then escaped into the earth.

  Regret causes an aching which is worse than pain.

  After a foolish action comes remorse.

  Remorse weeps tears of blood and gives the echo of what is lost forever.

  Why Children Belong to the Mother

  There was once an animal called Ejimm, which had two sons named Obegud and Igwe. They lived in the forest, near the home of a poor man and wife who had twelve children.

  One day these parents left their children at home and went to their farm. While they were away and the children were singing and playing together the wicked beast Ejimm heard their voices.

  She sent her son Obegud to their home to say that he had something to sell. The beast did so, and the children asked him to show his wares.

  As soon as he had succeeded so far in attracting their attention, he went back singing a song to let Ejimm know that all was well. Ejimm then rushed to the home, and stood outside of the gate—a fearful sight! Then she thrust out her long sharp claws, seized a child, and carried it off to her den in the woods.

  On their return from work on the plantation, the parents missed one of their children. They heard from the others that a monster with a very long mouth had killed him and carried him off.

  The Father running from the Beast

  Long they wept for their lost child, and when the time came to go to the farm next day, the father bade his wife go alone while he waited at home to catch Ejimm. At first the woman would not go, but after a while her husband persuaded her, so she left him and went on.

  At noon the beast sent out her other son Igwe, telling him to say what his brother Obegud had said the day before. He did so, and again the children asked him to bring out his wares. He then ran homeward, singing as he went another song as a sign to Ejimm that all was well.

  When Ejimm heard this she again came out to take one of the children. She came to the gate as before. The man was well armed, but at the horrible sight of the beast he lost his courage. He ran for his life through the forest. He left his children helpless before the greedy monster. Ejimm, then, seized another child and carried it off to make of it a great feast.

  When the mother returned and learned that a second child had been taken, she was heartbroken. With her eyes filled with tears she turned fiercely on her husband, and asked why he had not saved his child.

  To cover up his cowardice, he told her that he had become suddenl
y sick, and had had to leave the infants for a while, and during his short absence the monster had come and had taken another.

  The children, however, all cried out, “No, Mother. Father fled in terror at the sight of the animal, and left us to face the danger alone.”

  He ran back to his hiding place.

  The mother was angry at him for his cowardly act, and drove him away. He did not need to be told a second time. He went out and hid himself in the woods nearby.

  The mother said she would risk her life to save her children. She got a very sharp sword, and waited for the beast, which came again as before, and thrust her head through the gate to seize a child. Then the woman took courage, faced the danger, and killed the beast. The children gave loud shouts of joy.

  The father who had heard all of this came from his hiding place in the hope that all danger was then over. Obegud and Igwe, the two sons of Ejimm, however, had heard the noise of the struggle, and now rushed out to the aid of their mother. When the man saw these other two monsters he ran back to his hiding place, but the woman held her position and was not afraid. She saved her children and killed the beasts.

  When the mother had finished the fight with the beasts, out came the worthless husband from his hiding place, and asked for a knife, that he might divide the flesh of the beasts between himself and his wife. The best of the flesh he kept for his share, and gave the heads only to the woman who had saved the children and had slain the beasts.

  To this the mother of the children refused to agree. She called upon Master Obassi to decide between her husband and herself. To whom did the flesh of the beasts belong?

  Obassi heard her cry, and sent a messenger to bring them before him. When they arrived, the wife stood forth, bowed and said: