Tortoise and the “powerful”
Tortoise was angry with Elephant and Hippo. They were proud and boastful. They always laughed at Tortoise because he was weak and small. Tortoise decided to play a trick on them.
One evening tortoise went to the elephant’s home. Elephant was eating so tortoise asked for something to eat. Elephant was angry.
You are too small and weak to eat my food,” he said
Tortoise replied, “I’m stronger than you and I can prove it. Let’s have a tug-of-war and see who is the stronger.”
Elephant laughed and laughed at this but he agreed to the contest. Tortoise tied one end of a strong rope around elephant’s neck and then he took the other end himself. He told elephant to wait until he called “pull”.
Tortoise ran into the forest and soon arrived where hippo lived. Hippo was having a bath in the river.
Tortoise said, “I’m going to show you that I’m stronger then you. We’re going to have a tug-of-war.” Hippo was very angry so he got out of the water at once.
Tortoise tied the second end of the rope around hippo’s neck. Then he ran into the forest again and hid. Then he shouted, “pull!”
Both elephant and hippo pulled hard. At first elephant was stronger but then he got tired and hippo started to win. And then hippo got tired so elephant began to win again.
This went on for many hours. Tortoise sat and laughed. When night came tortoise was tired because he was laughing so much. He took out his scissors and cut the rope in the middle. The rope broke and both animals fell backward, rumbling on and on before the Elephant fell face flat on his house while the hippo fell in to the water.
Tortoise went home happy with the sweet thought that intelligence is better than strength.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A tale of tails
A tale of tails
Many years ago, children didn’t go to school, giraffes had short necks, there was no ice cream and animals had no tails.
The animals were not happy without tails. When fly sat on their backs or on their noses they had no tails to brush the fly away and this was so annoying. So one day king lion called the animals to get a new tail.
Guinea pig was very happy to hear the news because he had no tail and the flies are very nasty whenever they come around him. However, it was raining hard and the air was so cold that day. Guinea pig hated to get wet. So he said to the other animals, “Please, bring me a tail. I’m staying at home”
“What tail do you want?” the animals asked him. “Do you want a long thin one, a short fat one or a long hairy one?”
“Oh, any tail will be good for me,” answered Guinea pig.
Some days later the animals came home with their tails. Elephant had a long thin one with hair at the end which he would use in disciplining the flies if they ever come near him again. Monkey had a strong one which he could use to hold on to trees with. Scorpion had a sharp one he could use to sting with when provoked. And peacock had a beautiful big tail made of feathers of many colours. But nobody brought a tail for Guinea pig.
“Where is my tail?” asked Guinea pig. “Have you forgotten my tail?”
They had forgotten Guinea pig. They had been busy finding a tail for themselves.
So remember: if you have something important to do, do it yourself. Don’t ask others to do it for you. Don’t forget Guinea pig with his tailless bottom.
Many years ago, children didn’t go to school, giraffes had short necks, there was no ice cream and animals had no tails.
The animals were not happy without tails. When fly sat on their backs or on their noses they had no tails to brush the fly away and this was so annoying. So one day king lion called the animals to get a new tail.
Guinea pig was very happy to hear the news because he had no tail and the flies are very nasty whenever they come around him. However, it was raining hard and the air was so cold that day. Guinea pig hated to get wet. So he said to the other animals, “Please, bring me a tail. I’m staying at home”
“What tail do you want?” the animals asked him. “Do you want a long thin one, a short fat one or a long hairy one?”
“Oh, any tail will be good for me,” answered Guinea pig.
Some days later the animals came home with their tails. Elephant had a long thin one with hair at the end which he would use in disciplining the flies if they ever come near him again. Monkey had a strong one which he could use to hold on to trees with. Scorpion had a sharp one he could use to sting with when provoked. And peacock had a beautiful big tail made of feathers of many colours. But nobody brought a tail for Guinea pig.
“Where is my tail?” asked Guinea pig. “Have you forgotten my tail?”
They had forgotten Guinea pig. They had been busy finding a tail for themselves.
So remember: if you have something important to do, do it yourself. Don’t ask others to do it for you. Don’t forget Guinea pig with his tailless bottom.
Tortoise and the hare
Tortoise and the hare
The hare is an animal related to the rabbit. It also happen to be a very beautiful animal with long beautiful ears and a shiny coat of fur. The hare is proud and always downgrade all the other animals’ especially the tortoise about its ugliness and speed.
Hare believes it is the fastest animal on earth, saying it is even faster than “Mercury the fleet footed messenger of the gods. Hare also thought that he should be named the god of speed and that other animals should worship him.
Tortoise watched all these with amusement. As a firm believer of intelligence he believed intelligence is better than strength. One day Tortoise grew tired of hare’s boastfulness and challenged him to a bet. They are to run a race and the winner will take the property of the loser. Hare laughs at this, saying “it will take you a year to run the distance I cover in a day.” Hare did not agree but Tortoise is persistence ad grew more forceful day after day. Eventually, Hare agreed thinking after all; Tortoise property will be mine.
When the day slated for the race arrived. Tortoise stationed his cousins at some intervals which he stood at the final lap. As the race proceeded Hare over confident in himself told the tortoise to race ahead that he wants to give him a head start.
Actually, this was Tortoise cousin, so when the cousin rounded a bend he hid himself in the bush. Hare started the race on the look out for Tortoise. It caught up with ‘him’ on the second lap. The surprised hare asked Tortoise “how did you manage to get this far”.
When I walk, I walk slowly and when I run, I run so fast that you can’t see me.” The tortoise replied.
Hare thought Tortoise was stupid and told him so, and then he gathered more speed and galloped away but not far away, ahead of him, on the third lap was another cousin of the tortoise.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Tortoise asked with a smile.
Hare did not bother to reply and he kept on running to the limit of his strength but alas! Just ahead of him was Tortoise about to cross the finish line.
Hare tried to summon more strength but he was already exhausted beyond limit and he fainted some distance to the finish line just as Tortoise crossed the finish line.
All the animals presented ran to Tortoise and congratulated him. Only the hare’s family ran to him they were ashamed. Hare lost the bet and his property.
He had learnt his lesson and was never boastful again.
The hare is an animal related to the rabbit. It also happen to be a very beautiful animal with long beautiful ears and a shiny coat of fur. The hare is proud and always downgrade all the other animals’ especially the tortoise about its ugliness and speed.
Hare believes it is the fastest animal on earth, saying it is even faster than “Mercury the fleet footed messenger of the gods. Hare also thought that he should be named the god of speed and that other animals should worship him.
Tortoise watched all these with amusement. As a firm believer of intelligence he believed intelligence is better than strength. One day Tortoise grew tired of hare’s boastfulness and challenged him to a bet. They are to run a race and the winner will take the property of the loser. Hare laughs at this, saying “it will take you a year to run the distance I cover in a day.” Hare did not agree but Tortoise is persistence ad grew more forceful day after day. Eventually, Hare agreed thinking after all; Tortoise property will be mine.
When the day slated for the race arrived. Tortoise stationed his cousins at some intervals which he stood at the final lap. As the race proceeded Hare over confident in himself told the tortoise to race ahead that he wants to give him a head start.
Actually, this was Tortoise cousin, so when the cousin rounded a bend he hid himself in the bush. Hare started the race on the look out for Tortoise. It caught up with ‘him’ on the second lap. The surprised hare asked Tortoise “how did you manage to get this far”.
When I walk, I walk slowly and when I run, I run so fast that you can’t see me.” The tortoise replied.
Hare thought Tortoise was stupid and told him so, and then he gathered more speed and galloped away but not far away, ahead of him, on the third lap was another cousin of the tortoise.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Tortoise asked with a smile.
Hare did not bother to reply and he kept on running to the limit of his strength but alas! Just ahead of him was Tortoise about to cross the finish line.
Hare tried to summon more strength but he was already exhausted beyond limit and he fainted some distance to the finish line just as Tortoise crossed the finish line.
All the animals presented ran to Tortoise and congratulated him. Only the hare’s family ran to him they were ashamed. Hare lost the bet and his property.
He had learnt his lesson and was never boastful again.
Why the ostrich neck is long
Why the ostrich neck is long
Ostrich and the crocodile were very good friend in a land where animals are still animals, men were still men and all animal lived in a forest.
One day, Crocodile had a toothache and needed to have it checked. Ostrich offered to check it so he peeved his head deep Crocodile’s head and repaired the damage.
After, Crocodile toothache is gone. He remembered that it had been a long time since he had eaten and he was now so hungry that the head of the ostrich smelt so good and nice in his mouth that his tongue starts watering. In voluntarily, he snapped his mouth shut.
Ostrich having finished the job and told Crocodile to open his mouth so he could get his head out. The croc by now has grown obstinate thinking that this meal is too good to lose. The frightened Ostrich started to wiggle vigorously all the while begging the crocodile and appealing to his conscience. He also reminded him that they are friends.
When Ostrich realise that Crocodile is not yielding, he intensified his effort to remove its head from Crocodile’s mouth but his neck becomes longer and longer. Finally, it was able to force its head through a gap between Crocodile’s teeth.
Since then Ostrich had been afraid, so whenever it sees something strange it thinks the object is after its head and quickly buries it in the sand.
Ostrich and the crocodile were very good friend in a land where animals are still animals, men were still men and all animal lived in a forest.
One day, Crocodile had a toothache and needed to have it checked. Ostrich offered to check it so he peeved his head deep Crocodile’s head and repaired the damage.
After, Crocodile toothache is gone. He remembered that it had been a long time since he had eaten and he was now so hungry that the head of the ostrich smelt so good and nice in his mouth that his tongue starts watering. In voluntarily, he snapped his mouth shut.
Ostrich having finished the job and told Crocodile to open his mouth so he could get his head out. The croc by now has grown obstinate thinking that this meal is too good to lose. The frightened Ostrich started to wiggle vigorously all the while begging the crocodile and appealing to his conscience. He also reminded him that they are friends.
When Ostrich realise that Crocodile is not yielding, he intensified his effort to remove its head from Crocodile’s mouth but his neck becomes longer and longer. Finally, it was able to force its head through a gap between Crocodile’s teeth.
Since then Ostrich had been afraid, so whenever it sees something strange it thinks the object is after its head and quickly buries it in the sand.
Tortoise teaches lesson
Tortoise teaches lesson
A long time ago, all the animals periodically gathered to pray to the god of the animals. During the session, all the animals noticed that Chimpanzee did not say amen to any of the prayers said.
When they asked him Chimpanzee told them that he didn’t need their prayers. On the way home, Tortoise and Chimpanzee happened to travel in the same company. The Chimp happily told Tortoise of his future plans. He told Tortoise that he is going to be the next king of the animals.
“Why?” Asked the tortoise surprised.
“Because I look like a man of course”
“You look like a man?” the tortoise exclaimed
Tortoise is now more than surprised. “So this is the source of the earlier naughtiness and arrogance.” The tortoise thought. “I have to deflate his pride.”
Although Tortoise has no strength, it is not afraid of any challenge. What he lack in strength he gained in intelligence, cunning and wiles. Tortoise also has a very powerful weapon in his arsenal- his knowledge of the other animals. Tortoise also has the ability to see well into the future.
He thought and thought. Even after he arrived home his mind was not at rest. He was so occupied with the method to use in deflating the chimp’s pride and make him ashamed. After a week, he arrived at a plan. The plan was that he would pitch Chimpanzee against a more formidable force. Tortoise thought of the animals that could fill this space, he picked the lion. It happens that Lion was also aspiring to be the king of the animals.
Tortoise prepared some akara –fried beans cake and coated them with honey. Then Tortoise went to a well known path which he knew Lion takes frequently. He threw the akara randomly on the path. When Lion passed the path he saw Tortoise eating the akara and smacking his lips.
“Have a taste.” Tortoise said as he offered some akara to the lion. Lion eagerly took the cake and ate it.
“Oh, it is sweet,” said Lion in between bite “where did you get it.”
Picking another akara from the ground, Tortoise said he doesn’t know but he saw Chimpanzee in the area some minutes ago.
After they finished eating the cakes, they searched the area unsuccessfully for more cakes. All, this while Tortoise kept hinting that the possible source of the Akara was the chimp.
Lion sensing that Tortoise knew more about the cakes than he was admitting cajoled the tortoise to reveal its source when that did not work Lion started threatening him.
Tortoise told Lion that he was sworn to secrecy and that he can’t reveal the akara source. After much begging and persuasion, Tortoise lied that the akara was really the faeces of Chimpanzee.
Lion still needing a taste of the sweet faeces quickly charged to the chimp’s hut, there he told the chimp that he needs a taste of the sweet faeces. Chimpanzee not knowing what he meant asked, “Which sweet faeces?”
“The one you gave the tortoise.” Lion replied promptly.
Chimpanzee told Lion that he has no sweet faeces. But Lion not believing him grabbed the chimpanzee from behind and started hitting his behind.
“Give me the sweet faeces.”
The chimpanzee taking the first painful hit on his buttocks spurt out some faeces which the lion eagerly ate but this faeces was bitter and foul smelling. This made Lion angrier and he hit the monkey harder. Soon, the ground was filled with faeces but they were not sweet.
The lion hit Chimpanzee long and hard for several hours. Even the intervention of the other animals could not save the chimp from Lion. Only the intervention of Tortoise saved Chimpanzee from disability. When Lion released the chimp it was late, his buttocks were already swollen, reddish and completely hairless.
Tortoise was very sorry, what began as a trick now ended as a disaster, as for the chimp it could not sleep all night, its sore buttocks was very painful and he was also ashamed of his humiliation.
A long time ago, all the animals periodically gathered to pray to the god of the animals. During the session, all the animals noticed that Chimpanzee did not say amen to any of the prayers said.
When they asked him Chimpanzee told them that he didn’t need their prayers. On the way home, Tortoise and Chimpanzee happened to travel in the same company. The Chimp happily told Tortoise of his future plans. He told Tortoise that he is going to be the next king of the animals.
“Why?” Asked the tortoise surprised.
“Because I look like a man of course”
“You look like a man?” the tortoise exclaimed
Tortoise is now more than surprised. “So this is the source of the earlier naughtiness and arrogance.” The tortoise thought. “I have to deflate his pride.”
Although Tortoise has no strength, it is not afraid of any challenge. What he lack in strength he gained in intelligence, cunning and wiles. Tortoise also has a very powerful weapon in his arsenal- his knowledge of the other animals. Tortoise also has the ability to see well into the future.
He thought and thought. Even after he arrived home his mind was not at rest. He was so occupied with the method to use in deflating the chimp’s pride and make him ashamed. After a week, he arrived at a plan. The plan was that he would pitch Chimpanzee against a more formidable force. Tortoise thought of the animals that could fill this space, he picked the lion. It happens that Lion was also aspiring to be the king of the animals.
Tortoise prepared some akara –fried beans cake and coated them with honey. Then Tortoise went to a well known path which he knew Lion takes frequently. He threw the akara randomly on the path. When Lion passed the path he saw Tortoise eating the akara and smacking his lips.
“Have a taste.” Tortoise said as he offered some akara to the lion. Lion eagerly took the cake and ate it.
“Oh, it is sweet,” said Lion in between bite “where did you get it.”
Picking another akara from the ground, Tortoise said he doesn’t know but he saw Chimpanzee in the area some minutes ago.
After they finished eating the cakes, they searched the area unsuccessfully for more cakes. All, this while Tortoise kept hinting that the possible source of the Akara was the chimp.
Lion sensing that Tortoise knew more about the cakes than he was admitting cajoled the tortoise to reveal its source when that did not work Lion started threatening him.
Tortoise told Lion that he was sworn to secrecy and that he can’t reveal the akara source. After much begging and persuasion, Tortoise lied that the akara was really the faeces of Chimpanzee.
Lion still needing a taste of the sweet faeces quickly charged to the chimp’s hut, there he told the chimp that he needs a taste of the sweet faeces. Chimpanzee not knowing what he meant asked, “Which sweet faeces?”
“The one you gave the tortoise.” Lion replied promptly.
Chimpanzee told Lion that he has no sweet faeces. But Lion not believing him grabbed the chimpanzee from behind and started hitting his behind.
“Give me the sweet faeces.”
The chimpanzee taking the first painful hit on his buttocks spurt out some faeces which the lion eagerly ate but this faeces was bitter and foul smelling. This made Lion angrier and he hit the monkey harder. Soon, the ground was filled with faeces but they were not sweet.
The lion hit Chimpanzee long and hard for several hours. Even the intervention of the other animals could not save the chimp from Lion. Only the intervention of Tortoise saved Chimpanzee from disability. When Lion released the chimp it was late, his buttocks were already swollen, reddish and completely hairless.
Tortoise was very sorry, what began as a trick now ended as a disaster, as for the chimp it could not sleep all night, its sore buttocks was very painful and he was also ashamed of his humiliation.
Palm oil daughter
Palm oil daughter
A long time ago in never, never land there lived a woman called Olurombi. Olurombi loves her husband very much and he also loves her as well but Olurombi was barren. She did not have a child.
Olurombi husband was a very wealthy farmer. So naturally, her husband’s relatives and the villagers advise the man to marry another wife since polygamy- the marrying of more than a wife at the same time is allowed at that time. This went on and on. One day, Olurombi husband told her that he thinks he would take the advice of the town people because he needs an heir who would inherit his property and carry on his lineage. Olurombi became very sad because she did not want her husband to marry another wife.
The woman is now desperate for a child. So that she could save her marriage and prevent her husband from marrying another wife went to the Iroko tree to request for a child. In those days Iroko trees process great magical powers. She asked Iroko tree for a child and promised to sacrifice the child to Iroko tree when the child grows to eighteen years of age. Iroko tree obliged her and she gave birth to a very beautiful girl after nine months.
The girl grew to become eighteen years old. The woman had already forgotten her promise. The Iroko tree sent its priest to the woman to remind her of her promise. The priest told her, “Oh, hard working good woman, Servant of the great Iroko tree. Iroko sends his blessing, he also tells me to remind you of your vow eighteen years ago.
Olurombi feigned ignorance; she claimed that she doesn’t know Iroko and she have nothing to do with him. She also called the priest an impostor. The woman had the priest disgraced and beaten up.
The priest before he went away sang a chorus. It went thus:
♪♪ Onikaluku jeje ewure, ewure, ewure
Onikaluku jeje agutan, agutan bolojo
Olurombi jeje omore amore apon bi epo
Olurombi, o jon jon Iroko jon jon
Eni to fo mo re rubo
Jon jon Iroko jon jon ♪♪
♪♪ Everyone pledged goat, goat, goat
Everyone pledged ram, a big fat ram
Olurombi pledged her child, fair as oil
Olurombi, the Iroko is expecting you
Ye that pledged a your child
Iroko is waiting, Iroko is waiting, and Iroko is waiting ♪♪
This drama kept on repeating year after year.
When the girl turns twenty one, Olurombi went to the market on one sunny afternoon. After warming her child not to touch the jars of palm oil she left in the store. While the young girl as finding some items in the store, she mistakenly broke a jar containing palm oil. She tried to salvage some of the palm oil. In the process, the oil spilled on her feet and she slowly began to melt.
By the time Olurombi returned from the market in the early evening only the girl’s head and upper body remained. After searching all through the house, Olurombi rushed to the store where she kept her jars of palm oil. Just as she entered the room and rushed to grab her daughter the girl dissolve into a puddle of oil at her feet.
Devastated, Olurombi knelt down in the room weeping loudly not caring that she is staining her clothes. She cried and cried, saying, “I am finished. I am finished. I have destroyed myself.”
So Olurombi lost a child which she might have redeemed with a goat or ram.
A long time ago in never, never land there lived a woman called Olurombi. Olurombi loves her husband very much and he also loves her as well but Olurombi was barren. She did not have a child.
Olurombi husband was a very wealthy farmer. So naturally, her husband’s relatives and the villagers advise the man to marry another wife since polygamy- the marrying of more than a wife at the same time is allowed at that time. This went on and on. One day, Olurombi husband told her that he thinks he would take the advice of the town people because he needs an heir who would inherit his property and carry on his lineage. Olurombi became very sad because she did not want her husband to marry another wife.
The woman is now desperate for a child. So that she could save her marriage and prevent her husband from marrying another wife went to the Iroko tree to request for a child. In those days Iroko trees process great magical powers. She asked Iroko tree for a child and promised to sacrifice the child to Iroko tree when the child grows to eighteen years of age. Iroko tree obliged her and she gave birth to a very beautiful girl after nine months.
The girl grew to become eighteen years old. The woman had already forgotten her promise. The Iroko tree sent its priest to the woman to remind her of her promise. The priest told her, “Oh, hard working good woman, Servant of the great Iroko tree. Iroko sends his blessing, he also tells me to remind you of your vow eighteen years ago.
Olurombi feigned ignorance; she claimed that she doesn’t know Iroko and she have nothing to do with him. She also called the priest an impostor. The woman had the priest disgraced and beaten up.
The priest before he went away sang a chorus. It went thus:
♪♪ Onikaluku jeje ewure, ewure, ewure
Onikaluku jeje agutan, agutan bolojo
Olurombi jeje omore amore apon bi epo
Olurombi, o jon jon Iroko jon jon
Eni to fo mo re rubo
Jon jon Iroko jon jon ♪♪
♪♪ Everyone pledged goat, goat, goat
Everyone pledged ram, a big fat ram
Olurombi pledged her child, fair as oil
Olurombi, the Iroko is expecting you
Ye that pledged a your child
Iroko is waiting, Iroko is waiting, and Iroko is waiting ♪♪
This drama kept on repeating year after year.
When the girl turns twenty one, Olurombi went to the market on one sunny afternoon. After warming her child not to touch the jars of palm oil she left in the store. While the young girl as finding some items in the store, she mistakenly broke a jar containing palm oil. She tried to salvage some of the palm oil. In the process, the oil spilled on her feet and she slowly began to melt.
By the time Olurombi returned from the market in the early evening only the girl’s head and upper body remained. After searching all through the house, Olurombi rushed to the store where she kept her jars of palm oil. Just as she entered the room and rushed to grab her daughter the girl dissolve into a puddle of oil at her feet.
Devastated, Olurombi knelt down in the room weeping loudly not caring that she is staining her clothes. She cried and cried, saying, “I am finished. I am finished. I have destroyed myself.”
So Olurombi lost a child which she might have redeemed with a goat or ram.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Why the pig snouts around
Why the pig snouts around
A long time ago the Tortoise and the Pig were great friends. The Pig was a very hard working farmer while tortoise was a very lazy man who spends his day sleeping and eating. He always says that the sun is too hot and it might damage his skin.
All the other animals tried to warn the Pig that his alliance with the tortoise will lead to disaster. The Pig usually laughs at this and said that people do not understand his friend tortoise. He would then praise tortoise and explain that tortoise is a good friend who hard times befell. Whenever pig meets tortoise he also reports what the other animals thought of the tortoise, then tortoise will tell him not to be worried that people were envious of their friendship.
At harvest time, all the other animals harvested their crops and stored it in their barns. The pig’s barns were the biggest because he was the hardest working farmer in the village. But his friend’s tortoise barn was as empty as a harmattan air, the pig offered to share his crops with tortoise but tortoise pretended as if he does not want them. So whenever he knows that pig’s wife was cooking, he and his family will come visiting. The tortoise and his family will talk with the pig without helping to prepare the meal and when the food is ready they would eat twice as much as the pig’s family. This went on and on.
Now the tortoise family are tired of this routine so they start pestering tortoise to provide for them, tortoise thought hard and hard and then an ideal occurred to him. One day the tortoise pretended to be ill. He went to the pig and told him that he needs some money to get medical attention. The pig, which did not have any money on him, sold his harvest and lent tortoise the proceeds. The tortoise took the money and spent it lavishly.
Some weeks later when it became evident that the tortoise was not really sick but just pretending the pig asked him for his money. The tortoise told him that he is arranging repayments. This went on and on.
Then one day, the tortoise saw the pig coming. He quickly turned over and told his wife to use his chest as a grounding mill. When the pig arrived he asked Mrs. Tortoise where her husband was Mrs. Tortoise told him that he went out to collect some money from his debtors.
Hearing this a furious pig grabbed the grounding mill Mrs. Tortoise was working on and flung it over the yard. Mrs. Tortoise then started crying that she had lost the expensive grounding stone her grandfather willed her.
The tortoise landed with a thump! in the bush. The he rose and went back home. The pig and sighting the tortoise asked him for his money. Mrs Tortoise then told her husband that his friend had thrown away the generational grounding stone.
“What!” asked the tortoise “the generational grounding stone?” He then told pig that he had his money with him showing him a bag which he had filled with stones but he will give him on one condition. The condition was if he returned the grounding mill.
Pig went angrily in search of the grounding stone and since then he had been searching for it. Of course, he won’t find it.
A long time ago the Tortoise and the Pig were great friends. The Pig was a very hard working farmer while tortoise was a very lazy man who spends his day sleeping and eating. He always says that the sun is too hot and it might damage his skin.
All the other animals tried to warn the Pig that his alliance with the tortoise will lead to disaster. The Pig usually laughs at this and said that people do not understand his friend tortoise. He would then praise tortoise and explain that tortoise is a good friend who hard times befell. Whenever pig meets tortoise he also reports what the other animals thought of the tortoise, then tortoise will tell him not to be worried that people were envious of their friendship.
At harvest time, all the other animals harvested their crops and stored it in their barns. The pig’s barns were the biggest because he was the hardest working farmer in the village. But his friend’s tortoise barn was as empty as a harmattan air, the pig offered to share his crops with tortoise but tortoise pretended as if he does not want them. So whenever he knows that pig’s wife was cooking, he and his family will come visiting. The tortoise and his family will talk with the pig without helping to prepare the meal and when the food is ready they would eat twice as much as the pig’s family. This went on and on.
Now the tortoise family are tired of this routine so they start pestering tortoise to provide for them, tortoise thought hard and hard and then an ideal occurred to him. One day the tortoise pretended to be ill. He went to the pig and told him that he needs some money to get medical attention. The pig, which did not have any money on him, sold his harvest and lent tortoise the proceeds. The tortoise took the money and spent it lavishly.
Some weeks later when it became evident that the tortoise was not really sick but just pretending the pig asked him for his money. The tortoise told him that he is arranging repayments. This went on and on.
Then one day, the tortoise saw the pig coming. He quickly turned over and told his wife to use his chest as a grounding mill. When the pig arrived he asked Mrs. Tortoise where her husband was Mrs. Tortoise told him that he went out to collect some money from his debtors.
Hearing this a furious pig grabbed the grounding mill Mrs. Tortoise was working on and flung it over the yard. Mrs. Tortoise then started crying that she had lost the expensive grounding stone her grandfather willed her.
The tortoise landed with a thump! in the bush. The he rose and went back home. The pig and sighting the tortoise asked him for his money. Mrs Tortoise then told her husband that his friend had thrown away the generational grounding stone.
“What!” asked the tortoise “the generational grounding stone?” He then told pig that he had his money with him showing him a bag which he had filled with stones but he will give him on one condition. The condition was if he returned the grounding mill.
Pig went angrily in search of the grounding stone and since then he had been searching for it. Of course, he won’t find it.
Why dogs lives at home
Once upon a time all animals lived in the forest. One day the animals sent a delegation to the lion king of the forest about how unhappy they were. They accused humans of killing their family members and relatives in discriminately.
They lion after listening to the animals grievances called an assembly to debate the solution to the problem. Each animal gave a suggestion.
Later, the animals decided that on the next market day, all hunters would go to the market with their family. Since they won’t take their guns with them, the animals will go to their homes and take their guns which they would dump into the river.
Now, the dog was a very good friend of a hunter the hunter had been good to the dog whenever he came to the forest. So the dog quietly went to the hunter and told him all that the animas had decided. He also told the hunter to take along his gun to the market on the next market day.
After the dog left, the hunter went to the village chief and narrated the dog’s story to him. The chief assembled his people and instructed them to take their guns with them when they go to the market –place. He also arranged for some vigilante groups to patrol the town.
On the next market day, all the hunters did as their chief told them. Likewise when the animals arrived in the town they found that there are some people keeping watch over the town although they succeeded in gaining entrance into the houses they were surprised not to find any gun.
They went back to the forests sadly. The animals agreed among themselves that an animal betrayed them to the hunters. And they decided to consult the oracle, so they can discover who did the terrible job.
The oracle pointed out dog as the betrayer. The general consensus was that dog should be killed but he ran away before they could lay hands on him.
That’s why the dogs live with man still this day
Once upon a time all animals lived in the forest. One day the animals sent a delegation to the lion king of the forest about how unhappy they were. They accused humans of killing their family members and relatives in discriminately.
They lion after listening to the animals grievances called an assembly to debate the solution to the problem. Each animal gave a suggestion.
Later, the animals decided that on the next market day, all hunters would go to the market with their family. Since they won’t take their guns with them, the animals will go to their homes and take their guns which they would dump into the river.
Now, the dog was a very good friend of a hunter the hunter had been good to the dog whenever he came to the forest. So the dog quietly went to the hunter and told him all that the animas had decided. He also told the hunter to take along his gun to the market on the next market day.
After the dog left, the hunter went to the village chief and narrated the dog’s story to him. The chief assembled his people and instructed them to take their guns with them when they go to the market –place. He also arranged for some vigilante groups to patrol the town.
On the next market day, all the hunters did as their chief told them. Likewise when the animals arrived in the town they found that there are some people keeping watch over the town although they succeeded in gaining entrance into the houses they were surprised not to find any gun.
They went back to the forests sadly. The animals agreed among themselves that an animal betrayed them to the hunters. And they decided to consult the oracle, so they can discover who did the terrible job.
The oracle pointed out dog as the betrayer. The general consensus was that dog should be killed but he ran away before they could lay hands on him.
That’s why the dogs live with man still this day
The magic stick
The magic stick
Once upon a time a man had two wives. Each wife had one child. The man loved his second wife and her child very much. He gave them many good things. He did not love his firs wife and her child. He did not give them any food.
One day an old fairy gave the older wife a stick. She told her to lock herself in and speak to the stick. The stick would give her all the good things she wanted. The first wife did as she was told. The stick gave her a great deal of food, some clothes and plenty of money. The first wife showed their gifts to the second wife and told her about her stick. He rich wife decided to steal the stick.
One day the rich wife managed to take the stick home. She called her child to her and they locked themselves in. she then ordered the stick to give them many good things. But the stick gave her a terrible trashing. The first wife came and spoke to her stick and the beating stopped. The man now soon loved his first wife and her child.
Once upon a time a man had two wives. Each wife had one child. The man loved his second wife and her child very much. He gave them many good things. He did not love his firs wife and her child. He did not give them any food.
One day an old fairy gave the older wife a stick. She told her to lock herself in and speak to the stick. The stick would give her all the good things she wanted. The first wife did as she was told. The stick gave her a great deal of food, some clothes and plenty of money. The first wife showed their gifts to the second wife and told her about her stick. He rich wife decided to steal the stick.
One day the rich wife managed to take the stick home. She called her child to her and they locked themselves in. she then ordered the stick to give them many good things. But the stick gave her a terrible trashing. The first wife came and spoke to her stick and the beating stopped. The man now soon loved his first wife and her child.
The farmer, his son and the donkey
While a farmer and his son were going on a journey taking their donkey along, they passed a group of boys playing games. The boys laughed at the man and boy because they were walking. “You fools,” one said. “Why don’t you ride that donkey?”
The farmer did not like people laughing at him. He quickly put his son on the donkey and hurried through the village. As they passed a town some elderly men saw the boy on the donkey and said. “There, look at that! The boy sits and rests while the old man walks. There is no respect for the old! You mean child, get down off that donkey and let your father ride.”
The son did not want the people to think he was disrespectful so he jumped down and helped his father up onto the donkey’s back. The three walked on. A short while later, they passed a group of women and children working in the fields. The women were angry to see the man sitting comfortably and his son walking in the heat and dust. They shouted at the farmer, “There, that’s a man for you. He sits there like a chief while his own son suffers.”
As soon as he heard the women, the farmer pulled the boy up to sit in front of him on the donkey. They continued like this until they arrived at the market town. Everyone looked at they passed. The farmer stopped the donkey and asked a woman why everyone was staring. The woman answered, “Well, we’re surprised by the way you treat your donkey. You’re going to break its back! Then you won’t be able to continue your journey.”
So father and son climbed down. They thought and thought about what they could down. At last they realised that there is nothing you can do to satisfy the world. You can only try your efforts. With that in mind they continued their journey periodically changing who is carried by the donkey and letting it rest at times.The farmer, his son and the donkey
While a farmer and his son were going on a journey taking their donkey along, they passed a group of boys playing games. The boys laughed at the man and boy because they were walking. “You fools,” one said. “Why don’t you ride that donkey?”
The farmer did not like people laughing at him. He quickly put his son on the donkey and hurried through the village. As they passed a town some elderly men saw the boy on the donkey and said. “There, look at that! The boy sits and rests while the old man walks. There is no respect for the old! You mean child, get down off that donkey and let your father ride.”
The son did not want the people to think he was disrespectful so he jumped down and helped his father up onto the donkey’s back. The three walked on. A short while later, they passed a group of women and children working in the fields. The women were angry to see the man sitting comfortably and his son walking in the heat and dust. They shouted at the farmer, “There, that’s a man for you. He sits there like a chief while his own son suffers.”
As soon as he heard the women, the farmer pulled the boy up to sit in front of him on the donkey. They continued like this until they arrived at the market town. Everyone looked at they passed. The farmer stopped the donkey and asked a woman why everyone was staring. The woman answered, “Well, we’re surprised by the way you treat your donkey. You’re going to break its back! Then you won’t be able to continue your journey.”
So father and son climbed down. They thought and thought about what they could down. At last they realised that there is nothing you can do to satisfy the world. You can only try your efforts. With that in mind they continued their journey periodically changing who is carried by the donkey and letting it rest at times.
While a farmer and his son were going on a journey taking their donkey along, they passed a group of boys playing games. The boys laughed at the man and boy because they were walking. “You fools,” one said. “Why don’t you ride that donkey?”
The farmer did not like people laughing at him. He quickly put his son on the donkey and hurried through the village. As they passed a town some elderly men saw the boy on the donkey and said. “There, look at that! The boy sits and rests while the old man walks. There is no respect for the old! You mean child, get down off that donkey and let your father ride.”
The son did not want the people to think he was disrespectful so he jumped down and helped his father up onto the donkey’s back. The three walked on. A short while later, they passed a group of women and children working in the fields. The women were angry to see the man sitting comfortably and his son walking in the heat and dust. They shouted at the farmer, “There, that’s a man for you. He sits there like a chief while his own son suffers.”
As soon as he heard the women, the farmer pulled the boy up to sit in front of him on the donkey. They continued like this until they arrived at the market town. Everyone looked at they passed. The farmer stopped the donkey and asked a woman why everyone was staring. The woman answered, “Well, we’re surprised by the way you treat your donkey. You’re going to break its back! Then you won’t be able to continue your journey.”
So father and son climbed down. They thought and thought about what they could down. At last they realised that there is nothing you can do to satisfy the world. You can only try your efforts. With that in mind they continued their journey periodically changing who is carried by the donkey and letting it rest at times.The farmer, his son and the donkey
While a farmer and his son were going on a journey taking their donkey along, they passed a group of boys playing games. The boys laughed at the man and boy because they were walking. “You fools,” one said. “Why don’t you ride that donkey?”
The farmer did not like people laughing at him. He quickly put his son on the donkey and hurried through the village. As they passed a town some elderly men saw the boy on the donkey and said. “There, look at that! The boy sits and rests while the old man walks. There is no respect for the old! You mean child, get down off that donkey and let your father ride.”
The son did not want the people to think he was disrespectful so he jumped down and helped his father up onto the donkey’s back. The three walked on. A short while later, they passed a group of women and children working in the fields. The women were angry to see the man sitting comfortably and his son walking in the heat and dust. They shouted at the farmer, “There, that’s a man for you. He sits there like a chief while his own son suffers.”
As soon as he heard the women, the farmer pulled the boy up to sit in front of him on the donkey. They continued like this until they arrived at the market town. Everyone looked at they passed. The farmer stopped the donkey and asked a woman why everyone was staring. The woman answered, “Well, we’re surprised by the way you treat your donkey. You’re going to break its back! Then you won’t be able to continue your journey.”
So father and son climbed down. They thought and thought about what they could down. At last they realised that there is nothing you can do to satisfy the world. You can only try your efforts. With that in mind they continued their journey periodically changing who is carried by the donkey and letting it rest at times.
Why the tortoise has a rough shell
Once upon a time, all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and bean to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies and drew beautiful patterns on them.
Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what they all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky, his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was famine in those days and tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two weeks. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his shell.
Tortoise began to plan how he could go to the feast in the sky. He had no wings but he went to the birds and asked o be allowed to go with them.
“We know you too well,” said the birds after listening to him. “You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us, you will soon be up to mischief.”
“You do not know me,” said tortoise. “I am different from what I was having learnt that anyone who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”
Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he had changed indeed. They then each gave him a feather, and with the feathers he made two wings.
At last, the great day arrived. Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting-place. When all the bird had gathered, they set off together. Tortoise was happy and talkative as he flew among the birds. He was chosen as the spokesman for the group because he was a great orator.
“There is one important thing which we must not forget,” he said s they flew on their way. “When people are invited to a great feast like this, they take new names for the occasion. Our hosts in the sky will expect us o honour this age-old custom.”
None of the birds had heard of this custom but they all knew that tortoise was widely travelled and thought he should know the customs of different peoples. So hey each took a new name. Tortoise chose to be called all of you.
Soon the party arrived in the sky. Their hosts were very happy to see them and made them welcome. Tortoise stood up in his many- coloured plumage and thanked them for the invitation. His speech was so eloquent that the birds wee glad they had brought him and nodded their heads in approval of what he said. The hosts took him to be the king of the birds, especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.
The people of the sky set before their gests the most delicious dishes tortoise had ever seen. The soup was hot and full of meat and fish. There was pounded yam and yam pottage cooked with palm oil and fresh fish. There were also pots of palm wine. Tortoise just as he had planned, turned to one of his hosts and asked: “for who have you prepared this feast?”
“For all of you,” replied the man surprised.
Tortoise then turned to the birds, “do you remember that my name is all of you? The custom here is to serve the spokesman first.” With that he set to the food and ate with gusto, the birds watched angrily. The people of the sky thought it must be the bird’s custom to let their king have his fill first.
Tortoise ate and drinks until he was full and his body swelled in his shell.
The birds decided to punish tortoise. When it was time to leave, they each took back the feather they had given him. So he was left to stand in his hard sell, full of food and wine, without wings to fly home.
Tortoise asked the birds to take a message to his wife but they all refused. In the end, however, Eagle, who had felt angrier than the others, suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message.
“Tell my wife,” said Tortoise, “to bring out all the soft things in my house and cover the compound so that I can jump down from the sky without hurting myself.”
Eagle promised to deliver the message but when he reached tortoise’s house, he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house. And she brought out her husband’s hoes, machetes, spears, guns and even cannon. Tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife bringing things out, but it was too far away to see what they were. When all seemed ready he made his jump. Own, down and down, he fell. Then like the sound of a bomb exploding he crashed to the compound. Tortoise survived the fall but his shell was smashed into pieces. Only with the help of a great medicine man, Mrs Snail, was he able to have it patched up.
That is why the tortoise’s shell is rough.
Once upon a time, all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and bean to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies and drew beautiful patterns on them.
Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what they all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky, his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was famine in those days and tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two weeks. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his shell.
Tortoise began to plan how he could go to the feast in the sky. He had no wings but he went to the birds and asked o be allowed to go with them.
“We know you too well,” said the birds after listening to him. “You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us, you will soon be up to mischief.”
“You do not know me,” said tortoise. “I am different from what I was having learnt that anyone who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”
Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he had changed indeed. They then each gave him a feather, and with the feathers he made two wings.
At last, the great day arrived. Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting-place. When all the bird had gathered, they set off together. Tortoise was happy and talkative as he flew among the birds. He was chosen as the spokesman for the group because he was a great orator.
“There is one important thing which we must not forget,” he said s they flew on their way. “When people are invited to a great feast like this, they take new names for the occasion. Our hosts in the sky will expect us o honour this age-old custom.”
None of the birds had heard of this custom but they all knew that tortoise was widely travelled and thought he should know the customs of different peoples. So hey each took a new name. Tortoise chose to be called all of you.
Soon the party arrived in the sky. Their hosts were very happy to see them and made them welcome. Tortoise stood up in his many- coloured plumage and thanked them for the invitation. His speech was so eloquent that the birds wee glad they had brought him and nodded their heads in approval of what he said. The hosts took him to be the king of the birds, especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.
The people of the sky set before their gests the most delicious dishes tortoise had ever seen. The soup was hot and full of meat and fish. There was pounded yam and yam pottage cooked with palm oil and fresh fish. There were also pots of palm wine. Tortoise just as he had planned, turned to one of his hosts and asked: “for who have you prepared this feast?”
“For all of you,” replied the man surprised.
Tortoise then turned to the birds, “do you remember that my name is all of you? The custom here is to serve the spokesman first.” With that he set to the food and ate with gusto, the birds watched angrily. The people of the sky thought it must be the bird’s custom to let their king have his fill first.
Tortoise ate and drinks until he was full and his body swelled in his shell.
The birds decided to punish tortoise. When it was time to leave, they each took back the feather they had given him. So he was left to stand in his hard sell, full of food and wine, without wings to fly home.
Tortoise asked the birds to take a message to his wife but they all refused. In the end, however, Eagle, who had felt angrier than the others, suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message.
“Tell my wife,” said Tortoise, “to bring out all the soft things in my house and cover the compound so that I can jump down from the sky without hurting myself.”
Eagle promised to deliver the message but when he reached tortoise’s house, he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house. And she brought out her husband’s hoes, machetes, spears, guns and even cannon. Tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife bringing things out, but it was too far away to see what they were. When all seemed ready he made his jump. Own, down and down, he fell. Then like the sound of a bomb exploding he crashed to the compound. Tortoise survived the fall but his shell was smashed into pieces. Only with the help of a great medicine man, Mrs Snail, was he able to have it patched up.
That is why the tortoise’s shell is rough.
Why the tortoise has a rough shell
Once upon a time, all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and bean to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies and drew beautiful patterns on them.
Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what they all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky, his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was famine in those days and tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two weeks. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his shell.
Tortoise began to plan how he could go to the feast in the sky. He had no wings but he went to the birds and asked o be allowed to go with them.
“We know you too well,” said the birds after listening to him. “You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us, you will soon be up to mischief.”
“You do not know me,” said tortoise. “I am different from what I was having learnt that anyone who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”
Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he had changed indeed. They then each gave him a feather, and with the feathers he made two wings.
At last, the great day arrived. Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting-place. When all the bird had gathered, they set off together. Tortoise was happy and talkative as he flew among the birds. He was chosen as the spokesman for the group because he was a great orator.
“There is one important thing which we must not forget,” he said s they flew on their way. “When people are invited to a great feast like this, they take new names for the occasion. Our hosts in the sky will expect us o honour this age-old custom.”
None of the birds had heard of this custom but they all knew that tortoise was widely travelled and thought he should know the customs of different peoples. So hey each took a new name. Tortoise chose to be called all of you.
Soon the party arrived in the sky. Their hosts were very happy to see them and made them welcome. Tortoise stood up in his many- coloured plumage and thanked them for the invitation. His speech was so eloquent that the birds wee glad they had brought him and nodded their heads in approval of what he said. The hosts took him to be the king of the birds, especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.
The people of the sky set before their gests the most delicious dishes tortoise had ever seen. The soup was hot and full of meat and fish. There was pounded yam and yam pottage cooked with palm oil and fresh fish. There were also pots of palm wine. Tortoise just as he had planned, turned to one of his hosts and asked: “for who have you prepared this feast?”
“For all of you,” replied the man surprised.
Tortoise then turned to the birds, “do you remember that my name is all of you? The custom here is to serve the spokesman first.” With that he set to the food and ate with gusto, the birds watched angrily. The people of the sky thought it must be the bird’s custom to let their king have his fill first.
Tortoise ate and drinks until he was full and his body swelled in his shell.
The birds decided to punish tortoise. When it was time to leave, they each took back the feather they had given him. So he was left to stand in his hard sell, full of food and wine, without wings to fly home.
Tortoise asked the birds to take a message to his wife but they all refused. In the end, however, Eagle, who had felt angrier than the others, suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message.
“Tell my wife,” said Tortoise, “to bring out all the soft things in my house and cover the compound so that I can jump down from the sky without hurting myself.”
Eagle promised to deliver the message but when he reached tortoise’s house, he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house. And she brought out her husband’s hoes, machetes, spears, guns and even cannon. Tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife bringing things out, but it was too far away to see what they were. When all seemed ready he made his jump. Own, down and down, he fell. Then like the sound of a bomb exploding he crashed to the compound. Tortoise survived the fall but his shell was smashed into pieces. Only with the help of a great medicine man, Mrs Snail, was he able to have it patched up.
That is why the tortoise’s shell is rough.
Once upon a time, all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and bean to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies and drew beautiful patterns on them.
Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what they all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky, his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was famine in those days and tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two weeks. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his shell.
Tortoise began to plan how he could go to the feast in the sky. He had no wings but he went to the birds and asked o be allowed to go with them.
“We know you too well,” said the birds after listening to him. “You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us, you will soon be up to mischief.”
“You do not know me,” said tortoise. “I am different from what I was having learnt that anyone who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”
Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he had changed indeed. They then each gave him a feather, and with the feathers he made two wings.
At last, the great day arrived. Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting-place. When all the bird had gathered, they set off together. Tortoise was happy and talkative as he flew among the birds. He was chosen as the spokesman for the group because he was a great orator.
“There is one important thing which we must not forget,” he said s they flew on their way. “When people are invited to a great feast like this, they take new names for the occasion. Our hosts in the sky will expect us o honour this age-old custom.”
None of the birds had heard of this custom but they all knew that tortoise was widely travelled and thought he should know the customs of different peoples. So hey each took a new name. Tortoise chose to be called all of you.
Soon the party arrived in the sky. Their hosts were very happy to see them and made them welcome. Tortoise stood up in his many- coloured plumage and thanked them for the invitation. His speech was so eloquent that the birds wee glad they had brought him and nodded their heads in approval of what he said. The hosts took him to be the king of the birds, especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.
The people of the sky set before their gests the most delicious dishes tortoise had ever seen. The soup was hot and full of meat and fish. There was pounded yam and yam pottage cooked with palm oil and fresh fish. There were also pots of palm wine. Tortoise just as he had planned, turned to one of his hosts and asked: “for who have you prepared this feast?”
“For all of you,” replied the man surprised.
Tortoise then turned to the birds, “do you remember that my name is all of you? The custom here is to serve the spokesman first.” With that he set to the food and ate with gusto, the birds watched angrily. The people of the sky thought it must be the bird’s custom to let their king have his fill first.
Tortoise ate and drinks until he was full and his body swelled in his shell.
The birds decided to punish tortoise. When it was time to leave, they each took back the feather they had given him. So he was left to stand in his hard sell, full of food and wine, without wings to fly home.
Tortoise asked the birds to take a message to his wife but they all refused. In the end, however, Eagle, who had felt angrier than the others, suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message.
“Tell my wife,” said Tortoise, “to bring out all the soft things in my house and cover the compound so that I can jump down from the sky without hurting myself.”
Eagle promised to deliver the message but when he reached tortoise’s house, he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house. And she brought out her husband’s hoes, machetes, spears, guns and even cannon. Tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife bringing things out, but it was too far away to see what they were. When all seemed ready he made his jump. Own, down and down, he fell. Then like the sound of a bomb exploding he crashed to the compound. Tortoise survived the fall but his shell was smashed into pieces. Only with the help of a great medicine man, Mrs Snail, was he able to have it patched up.
That is why the tortoise’s shell is rough.
The Dancing Palm Tree.
Once upon a time Tortoise found that he could not get enough food to eat. He lived near a market but of course he had no money. He thought that there must be a way to get some of the food for himself.
At last he figured out a fine plan. When everyone had gone to market, Tortoise crawled to a certain palm tree a hundred metres or so from the open market clumsily he wedged himself into a hole near the foot of the tree. Safe inside, he began to sing.
“Dance, Palm tree, dance,
Dance all the way around
the market-place.
Dance, Palm tree, dance,
Dance all the way around
the market-place.”
Now Tortoise was a wise creature with special magic powers. As soon as the palm tree heard the song, it picked up its roots and began to whirl down the forest path to the market.
Imagine the surprise of the traders, shopkeepers, hawkers, sellers and buyers when they saw a palm tree dancing towards them. At first they stood amazed: “what is this? A dancing palm tree? This has never happened before!” They waited curiously to see what would happen. But as the palm tree came closer, one man exclaimed, “This is something strange. I’m getting out of here!” and he began to run.
Then everyone began to run here and there- mothers looking for their crying children, wives looking for their husbands. In a very short time the market –place was empty. But in their haste the people had left behind corn, yams, cassava, palm oil and all kinds of good things. When the market was completely quiet, Tortoise ordered the palm tree to stop dancing. Then he crawled out very slowly and went around the market gathering up the things he liked and storing them in the palm tree. When he was quite satisfied with what he had collected, he wedged himself back into the hole near the front of the palm tree and commanded the palm tree to dance back to its place in the forest. Tortoise waited until dark and then crawled home with his booty.
For four market days the dancing palm tree came, filling the people with terror. The people sent delegations to the Oba, the king of the village. But he laughed at their story. When his trusted adviser came running and panting to the palace on the fourth market day to confirm the story the market people had told, the king decided to see for himself.
The following market day, the king called his entire household together and they went with great ceremony to the market-place.
As for Tortoise, he had begun to realise that his good fortune must come to an end. “After all”, he remembered, “There is no god like the throat: it demands sacrifices daily.” But although he had hidden himself inside the palm tree, he waited a long time before commanding it to dance.
When the time came and went and the dancing palm tree did not appear, the delegates and the king’s adviser trembled, fearful that the tree would not appear at all, and that the king would account them liars. Just before high noon, however, the dancing palm tree whirled into the market place. The people who were shopping ran away; the king’s messengers ran away; the king’s adviser ran away; all the king’s guards ran away. But the king himself was brave. It was unthinkable for a king to run. He stood still as the dancing tree moved closer, and closer, and closer, trying his best to hold onto his courage. Nevertheless, when the palm tree was very, very close, he could not stay there any longer. Truly he had never seen anything like this in his life before. And so he ran. He ran as he had never run before. He lost his crown and his shoes and his sceptre, and he arrived at the palace wearing only a single robe. Everyone in the village was surprised to see the king running like a thief.
The next morning the king assembles the wisest men and magicians in his kingdom and told them that he would give half of all he possessed to the man who could solve the problem of the dancing palm tree. Now, all the wise men had heard about the dancing palm tree but there was only one of them- an old man with much experience- who was willing to undertake the task.
The old man set to work and made Sigidi, a seated image of a man from clay. It looked very real. The n the wise man painted Sigidi with a substance. When the next market day came, the w2ise old man went very early to the market –place, left Sigidi in the centre of there market and hid himself near the top of a tall tree where he could see everything that happened.
As usual, the palm tree danced into the market place. And as usual everyone also fled, except Sigidi. Tortoise looked at him surprised. He hesitated for a moment then went to the man. “Look here,” he said “Who do you think you are?” the man said nothing.
“If you don’t answer me I will slap you!” tortoise threatened. Still the man said nothing.
Whap! Tortoise gave the man a hard slap on the right cheek and the tortoise’s hand struck fast to Sigidi.
“You! What do you think you are doing? Let me go! Let me go, or I will use my left hand and give you a harder slap.”
Sigidi said nothing, so Whap! Tortoise gave the man a hard slap with his left hand, his left hand struck fast.
“Now listen to mw,” said tortoise. “This has gone far enough. Let go of my hands or I will kick you with my right foot.” Whap! He kicked with his right foot and his right foot also stuck fast.
“This is serious,” thought tortoise in despair. “How am I ever going to get away from this man?”
“Please let me go,” he begged. “I am sorry I spoke to you like that, but please let me go.”
At this point, the wise old man came down from the tree where he had been hiding, took him to the king who, you can be sure, punished tortoise severely for his trickery.
Once upon a time Tortoise found that he could not get enough food to eat. He lived near a market but of course he had no money. He thought that there must be a way to get some of the food for himself.
At last he figured out a fine plan. When everyone had gone to market, Tortoise crawled to a certain palm tree a hundred metres or so from the open market clumsily he wedged himself into a hole near the foot of the tree. Safe inside, he began to sing.
“Dance, Palm tree, dance,
Dance all the way around
the market-place.
Dance, Palm tree, dance,
Dance all the way around
the market-place.”
Now Tortoise was a wise creature with special magic powers. As soon as the palm tree heard the song, it picked up its roots and began to whirl down the forest path to the market.
Imagine the surprise of the traders, shopkeepers, hawkers, sellers and buyers when they saw a palm tree dancing towards them. At first they stood amazed: “what is this? A dancing palm tree? This has never happened before!” They waited curiously to see what would happen. But as the palm tree came closer, one man exclaimed, “This is something strange. I’m getting out of here!” and he began to run.
Then everyone began to run here and there- mothers looking for their crying children, wives looking for their husbands. In a very short time the market –place was empty. But in their haste the people had left behind corn, yams, cassava, palm oil and all kinds of good things. When the market was completely quiet, Tortoise ordered the palm tree to stop dancing. Then he crawled out very slowly and went around the market gathering up the things he liked and storing them in the palm tree. When he was quite satisfied with what he had collected, he wedged himself back into the hole near the front of the palm tree and commanded the palm tree to dance back to its place in the forest. Tortoise waited until dark and then crawled home with his booty.
For four market days the dancing palm tree came, filling the people with terror. The people sent delegations to the Oba, the king of the village. But he laughed at their story. When his trusted adviser came running and panting to the palace on the fourth market day to confirm the story the market people had told, the king decided to see for himself.
The following market day, the king called his entire household together and they went with great ceremony to the market-place.
As for Tortoise, he had begun to realise that his good fortune must come to an end. “After all”, he remembered, “There is no god like the throat: it demands sacrifices daily.” But although he had hidden himself inside the palm tree, he waited a long time before commanding it to dance.
When the time came and went and the dancing palm tree did not appear, the delegates and the king’s adviser trembled, fearful that the tree would not appear at all, and that the king would account them liars. Just before high noon, however, the dancing palm tree whirled into the market place. The people who were shopping ran away; the king’s messengers ran away; the king’s adviser ran away; all the king’s guards ran away. But the king himself was brave. It was unthinkable for a king to run. He stood still as the dancing tree moved closer, and closer, and closer, trying his best to hold onto his courage. Nevertheless, when the palm tree was very, very close, he could not stay there any longer. Truly he had never seen anything like this in his life before. And so he ran. He ran as he had never run before. He lost his crown and his shoes and his sceptre, and he arrived at the palace wearing only a single robe. Everyone in the village was surprised to see the king running like a thief.
The next morning the king assembles the wisest men and magicians in his kingdom and told them that he would give half of all he possessed to the man who could solve the problem of the dancing palm tree. Now, all the wise men had heard about the dancing palm tree but there was only one of them- an old man with much experience- who was willing to undertake the task.
The old man set to work and made Sigidi, a seated image of a man from clay. It looked very real. The n the wise man painted Sigidi with a substance. When the next market day came, the w2ise old man went very early to the market –place, left Sigidi in the centre of there market and hid himself near the top of a tall tree where he could see everything that happened.
As usual, the palm tree danced into the market place. And as usual everyone also fled, except Sigidi. Tortoise looked at him surprised. He hesitated for a moment then went to the man. “Look here,” he said “Who do you think you are?” the man said nothing.
“If you don’t answer me I will slap you!” tortoise threatened. Still the man said nothing.
Whap! Tortoise gave the man a hard slap on the right cheek and the tortoise’s hand struck fast to Sigidi.
“You! What do you think you are doing? Let me go! Let me go, or I will use my left hand and give you a harder slap.”
Sigidi said nothing, so Whap! Tortoise gave the man a hard slap with his left hand, his left hand struck fast.
“Now listen to mw,” said tortoise. “This has gone far enough. Let go of my hands or I will kick you with my right foot.” Whap! He kicked with his right foot and his right foot also stuck fast.
“This is serious,” thought tortoise in despair. “How am I ever going to get away from this man?”
“Please let me go,” he begged. “I am sorry I spoke to you like that, but please let me go.”
At this point, the wise old man came down from the tree where he had been hiding, took him to the king who, you can be sure, punished tortoise severely for his trickery.
Welcome
This site can be more aptly named tales by moonlight (but the blog is unavailable). This would capture the untold millennia of time which the solitary moon have spent travelling the lush balmy plains of Africa.
It would also bring to mind the thousand years old tradition of sitting under the full moon listening to humorous folktales passed by mouth from grandfathers to grandchildren.
This tradition is changing though: the increasing the increasing alienation from the great old orators and the emergence of modern conveniences are threatening to kill the age old tradition.
I have greatly enjoyed sitting at the foot of grandpa listening to the humorous, witty tales of tortoise exploits while enjoying the bond. I feel I should publish these stories so others can enjoy it.
Feel free to browse through these stories. Read them and if you enjoy them as I did and still do: encourage others to read too. Each story has a scheme behind it which hides the morals it teaches. Can you find them?
It would also bring to mind the thousand years old tradition of sitting under the full moon listening to humorous folktales passed by mouth from grandfathers to grandchildren.
This tradition is changing though: the increasing the increasing alienation from the great old orators and the emergence of modern conveniences are threatening to kill the age old tradition.
I have greatly enjoyed sitting at the foot of grandpa listening to the humorous, witty tales of tortoise exploits while enjoying the bond. I feel I should publish these stories so others can enjoy it.
Feel free to browse through these stories. Read them and if you enjoy them as I did and still do: encourage others to read too. Each story has a scheme behind it which hides the morals it teaches. Can you find them?
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