stories
stringlengths 49
19.6k
| labels
int64 0
2
| source
stringclasses 4
values | use_case
stringclasses 3
values |
|---|---|---|---|
now the sultan of the city was very ill and all the wise men said that the only thing to cure him was the flesh of the king of the snakes and that the only man who could get it was a man with a strange mark on his chest so the vizir had set people to watch at the public baths to see if such a man came there for three days hassebu remembered his promise to the king of the snakes and did not go near the baths then came a morning so hot he could hardly breathe and he forgot all about it the moment he had slipped off his robe he was taken before the vizir who said to him lead us to the place where the king of the snakes lives i do not know it answered he but the vizir did not believe him and had him bound and beaten till his back was all torn then hassebu cried loose me that i may take you they went together a long long way till they reached the palace of the king of the snakes and hassebu said to the king it was not i look at my back and you will see how they drove me to it who has beaten you like this asked the king it was the vizir replied hassebu then i am already dead said the king sadly but you must carry me there yourself so hassebu carried him and on the way the king said when i arrive i shall be killed and my flesh will be cooked but take some of the water that i am boiled in and put it in a bottle and lay it on one side the vizir will tell you to drink it but be careful not to do so then take some more of the water and drink it and you will become a great physician and the third supply you will give to the sultan and when the vizir comes to you and asks did you drink what i gave you you must answer i did and this is for you and he will drink it and die and your soul will rest and they went their way into the town and all happened as the king of the snakes had said and the sultan loved hassebu who became a great physician and cured many sick people but he was always sorry for the poor king of the snakes | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the prince advanced alone and resting his head against the stone he burst into tears his father and mother stood silently behind with a curious pang in their souls which they did not quite understand could it be that they were ashamed of themselves but after a while the prince turned round and walking past them in to the palace he bade the slaves bring him mourning for seven days no one saw him but at the end of them he went out hunting and helped his father rule his people only no one dared to speak to him of his wife and son at last one morning after the girl had been lying awake all night thinking of her husband she said to her friend the snake you have all shown me much kindness but now i am well again and want to go home and hear some news of my husband and if he still mourns for me now the heart of the snake was sad at her words but he only said yes thus it must be go and bid farewell to my father and mother but if they offer you a present see that you take nothing but my fathers ring and my mothers casket so she went to the parent snakes who wept bitterly at the thought of losing her and offered her gold and jewels as much as she could carry in remembrance of them but the girl shook her head and pushed the shining heap away from her i shall never forget you never she said in a broken voice but the only tokens i will accept from you are that little ring and this old casket the two snakes looked at each other in dismay the ring and the casket were the only things they did not want her to have then after a short pause they spoke why do you want the ring and casket so much who has told you of them oh nobody it is just my fancy answered she but the old snakes shook their heads and replied not so it is our son who told you and as he said so it must be if you need food or clothes or a house tell the ring and it will find them for you and if you are unhappy or in danger tell the casket and it will set things right then they both gave her their blessing and she picked up her baby and went her way she walked for a long time till at length she came near the town where her husband and his father dwelt here she stopped under a grove of palm trees and told the ring that she wanted a house it is ready mistress whispered a queer little voice which made her jump and looking behind her she saw a lovely palace made of the finest woods and a row of slaves with tall fans bowing before the door glad indeed was she to enter for she was very tired and after eating a good supper of fruit and milk which she found in one of the rooms she flung herself down on a pile of cushions and went to sleep with her baby beside her here she stayed quietly and every day the baby grew taller and stronger and very soon he could run about and even talk of course the neighbours had a great deal to say about the house which had been built so quickly–so very quickly–on the outskirts of the town and invented all kinds of stories about the rich lady who lived in it and by and bye when the king returned with his son from the wars some of these tales reached his ears it is really very odd about that house under the palms he said to the queen i must find out something of the lady whom no one ever sees i daresay it is not a lady at all but a gang of conspirators who want to get possession of my throne to morrow i shall take my son and my chief ministers and insist on getting inside soon after sunrise next day the princes wife was standing on a little hill behind the house when she saw a cloud of dust coming through the town a moment afterwards she heard faintly the roll of the drums that announced the kings presence and saw a crowd of people approaching the grove of palms her heart beat fast could her husband be among them in any case they must not discover her there so just bidding the ring prepare some food for them she ran inside and bound a veil of golden gauze round her head and face then taking the childs hand she went to the door and waited in a few minutes the whole procession came up and she stepped forward and begged them to come in and rest willingly answered the king go first and we will follow you they followed her into a long dark room in which was a table covered with gold cups and baskets filled with dates and cocoa nuts and all kinds of ripe yellow fruits and the king and the prince sat upon cushions and were served by slaves while the ministers among whom she recognised her own brother stood behind ah i owe all my misery to him she said to herself from the first he has hated me but outwardly she showed nothing and when the king asked her what news there was in the town she only answered you have ridden far eat first and drink for you must be hungry and thirsty and then i will tell you my news you speak sense answered the king and silence prevailed for some time longer then he said now lady i have finished and am refreshed therefore tell me i pray you who you are and whence you come but first be seated she bowed her head and sat down on a big scarlet cushion drawing her little boy who was asleep in a corner on to her knee and began to tell the story of her life as her brother listened he would fain have left the house and hidden himself in the forest but it was his duty to wave the fan of peacocks feathers over the kings head to keep off the flies and he knew he would be seized by the royal guards if he tried to desert his post he must stay where he was there was no help for it and luckily for him the king was too much interested in the tale to notice that the fan had ceased moving and that flies were dancing right on the top of his thick curly hair the story went on but the story teller never once looked at the prince even through her veil though he on his side never moved his eyes from her when she reached the part where she had sat weeping in the tree the kings son could restrain himself no longer it is my wife he cried springing to where she sat with the sleeping child in her lap they have lied to me and you are not dead after all nor the boy either but what has happened why did they lie to me and why did you leave my house where you were safe and he turned and looked fiercely at his father let me finish my tale first and then you will know answered she throwing back her veil and she told how her brother had come to the palace and accused her of being a witch and had tried to persuade the king to slay her but he would not do that she continued softly and after all if i had stayed on in your house i should never have met the snake nor have got my hand back again so let us forget all about it and be happy once more for see our son is growing quite a big boy and what shall be done to your brother asked the king who was glad to think that someone had acted in this matter worse than himself put him out of the town answered she | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the hedgehog jumped first straight down onto the bamboo stick—but thanks to his stiff quills he was not hurt then came the turn of the dog and he jumped and was transfixed by the sharp bamboo as the hedgehog departed he called over his shoulder ask your banana skins to help you | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the wren however flew out safe and sound between the camels big teeth and hurried back to his children you are quite right he said the camel is a monstrous big animal but i am pretty well satisfied with myself just the same | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
no indeed answered the ape come right on into the rabbits hole there is plenty of food for one more but for fear any others should see us feasting be careful to make no noise in rolling away the stone that closes the doorway the wolf obeyed and the moment he rolled aside the stone and started to enter the cave the ape slipped between his legs and shoved back the stone leaving the wolf a prisoner meanwhile the lion arrived accompanied by his hungry friend well well said he so the ape got out of the cave after all never mind we will eat the wolf instead and while they made their dinner off the wolf the clever ape was dancing and gambolling in the tree top overjoyed at his success in tricking both of his enemies | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
haha where are you this time little brother called the boar gleefully here i am big brother shouted back the tricky little chameleon and so the boar puzzled and ashamed had to admit that the chameleon had won the race | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
ramamba began the guinea hen again if you are really dead open your eyes the crocodile opened his eyes looked at the guinea hen and said to himself to day i shall certainly taste the flesh of a guinea hen turn over on your other side commanded the guinea hen and ramamba turned over then all the little guinea chicks ran together in a bunch and sang in chorus ramamba meant to eat us all but he shall never taste our flesh our plans have all failed said the crocodile to his children we shall not have the feast we hoped for but may my curse rest upon any one of my descendants who fails to eat a guinea fowl if he gets the chance and for her part the guinea hen said if ever my children or grandchildren go into the water may they be eaten by the crocodile when they must bathe let them bathe in the dust and when they would drink let them quench their thirst in the evening dew that is why the guinea fowl never goes into the water and that is why the guinea hen and the crocodile are no longer friends | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
presently the owner of the field passed that way and discovering the two thieves gave chase to them the guinea fowl at once took to flight deserting her friend the hen the latter loaded down with her big potatoes fell an easy prey to the farmer who caught and took her home with him that is how the hen was domesticated by man while the guinea fowl still runs wild | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the cat was so angry that she felt that she would rather have drowned than live to be laughed at like that in her rage she managed to struggle ashore and before the rat could make his escape she pounced upon him and seized him by the head mercy mercy cried the rat if you must eat me begin at my tail for he wanted to see the light of day as long as possible dont bother me said the cat and she promptly ate him up and to this day it is a common saying in madagascar dont bother me said the cat | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
grandpa elephant please stop and let me pick a green branch so that i can keep the flies off of you certainly my grandson said the elephant and he stood quite still while the frog broke off the branch pretty soon they drew near to the house where the girl lived and when she saw them coming the elephant plodding patiently along with the little frog perched on his broad back holding the cords in one hand and waving the green branch she came to meet them calling out mr elephant you certainly are nothing but the frogs saddle horse | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
all the same he did it answered the crocodile how did he do it asked the rabbit by binding me with cord and carrying me through the jungle on his head the rabbit told the hunter to take the cord and show how he had bound the crocodile when this was done the hunter took the crocodile once more on his head and carried him back to the jungle where he had first found him then the rabbit asked the hunter do you eat crocodiles yes answered the hunter then eat him and quickly advised the rabbit since the crocodile intended to do you harm | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
and they grabbed up sticks and tried to kill him the poor rat barely managed to escape and ran back all bruised and sore to where the toad was waiting brother toad said he i thought that i could do more than you but you have shown me that you can indeed do more than i no one can excel in every way | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
for whenever they came out anteater visited them and took them out sack and pack the wagtail ants fled to the trees but there on many occasions sat centipede waiting for them or the birds gobbled them up the gray ants had intended to save themselves from extermination by taking to flight but this also availed them nothing because the lizard the hunting spider and the birds went a great deal faster than they when the insect king heard that they could come to no agreement he sent them the secret of unity and the message of work together but unfortunately he chose for his messenger the beetle and he has never yet arrived at the ants so that they are still to day the embodiment of discord and consequently the prey of enemies | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
but monkey did not even hear him over and over sounded the resistless waltz of cockcrow after a while lion showed signs of fatigue and when he had gone the round once more with his young lion wife he growled as he passed monkey my whole kingdom is yours ape if you just stop playing i do not want it answered monkey but withdraw the sentence and give me my bow and arrow and you wolf acknowledge that you stole it from me i acknowledge i acknowledge cried wolf while lion cried at the same instant that he withdrew the sentence monkey gave them just a few more turns of the cockcrow gathered up his bow and arrow and seated himself high up in the nearest camel thorn tree the court and other animals were so afraid that he might begin again that they hastily disbanded to new parts of the world | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
no sooner did tiger cast his eyes on ram than fear again took possession of him and he wished to turn back jackal had provided against this and made tiger fast to himself with a leathern thong and said come on when ram cried in a loud voice and pinching his child at the same time you have done well friend jackal to have brought us tiger to eat for you hear how my child is crying for food on these dreadful words tiger notwithstanding the entreaties of jackal to let him go to let him loose set off in the greatest alarm dragayed jackal after him over hill and valley through bushes and over rocks and never stopped to look behind him till he brought back himself and half dead jackal to his place again and so ram escaped | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
he then took a stick and thrashed him within an inch of his life wolf according to the directions of jackal lay quiet as long as he could he then got up and bobbled off to tell his misfortune to jackal who pretended to comfort him what a pity said wolf i have not got such a handsome skin as you have | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the man did so and then thrashed wolf till he was nearly dead | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
well are you strongest now was jackals first question when lion arrived at his side no jackal answered lion let that fellow there keep the name and welcome such as he i have never before seen in the first place he had about ten of his bodyguard storm me i really did not bother myself much about them but when i attempted to turn him to chaff he spat and blew fire at me mostly into my face that burned just a little but not very badly and when i again endeavored to pull him to the ground he jerked out from his body one of his ribs with which he gave me some very ugly wounds so bad that i had to make chips fly and as a parting he sent some warm bullets after me no jackal give him the name | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when he was some distance away the cock crowed he thereupon ran so that you could bear the stones rattle in the dark purple and crimson and out of breath he came back to his companions frightful frightful was all that they could get from him at first but after a while he told them when i looked through the window i saw in the fireplace two bright coals shining and when i wanted to go through the front door to go and look i stepped into an iron trap i jumped into the house and there some one seized me with a fork and pitched me up on to the loft there again some one was ready and threw me down on all fours i wanted to fly through the middle door but there some one blew on a trumpet and smote me with a sledge hammer so that i did not know where i landed but coming to very quickly i found i was in the fireplace and there another flew at me and scratched the eyes almost out of my bead i thereupon fled out of the back door and lastly i was attacked on the leg by the sixth with a pair of fire tongs and when i was still running away some one shouted out of the house stop him stop h i m | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
after they had greeted each other mrs tigers first question was well cousin jackal how goes everything with the small team are they still all well and happy and do they not trouble you cousin jackal too much oh my goodness no mrs tiger answered jackal enthusiastically but dont let us talk so loud because if they beard you it certainly would cause them many heartfelt tears and they might also want to go back with you and then all our trouble would have been for nothing but i would like to see them cousin jackal said mrs tiger a little disturbed why certainly mrs tiger was his answer but i do not think it is wise for them to see you i will lift them up to the window one by one and then you can put your mind at rest concerning their health and progress after mr and mrs jackal and mrs tiger had sat together for some time drinking coffee and talking over one thing and another jackal took tigers wife to a door and told her to look through it out upon the back yard there he would show her the children one by one while they would not be able to see her everything was done exactly as jackal had said but the sixth little tiger he picked up twice because the firstborn he had the day before prepared in pickle for their sunday meal and so it happened every saturday until the last little tiger which was the youngest had to be lifted up seven times in succession and when mrs tiger came again the following week all was still as death and everything seemed to have a deserted appearance on the estate she walked straight to the front door and there she found a letter in the poll grass near the door which read thus we have gone for a picnic with the children from there we will ride by jackals dance for new year this is necessary for the completion of their progressive education saturday after saturday did mrs tiger go and look but every time jackals house seemed to look more deserted and after a while there was a spiders web over the door and the trail of snake showed that he too had taken up his abode there | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
but how were they to get him out some one must stand guard to seize him the moment he put out his head owl must keep guard he has the largest eyes he can see well they exclaimed owl went and took up his position before the hole the sun was warm and soon owl became sleepy and presently he was fast asleep tink tinkje peeped saw that owl was asleep and z zip away he went shortly afterwards the other birds came to see if tink tinkje were still in the hole t sie t sie they heard in a tree and there the little vagabond was sitting white crow perfectly disgusted turned around and exclaimed now i wont say a single word more and from that day to this whitecrow has never spoken even though you strike him he makes no sound he utters no cry | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
lion roared jackal stop beating your wife at once help me instantly or you will be sorry wife jackal said aloud give me now the strongest rope you have and aside to her give me the worst rope of the lot jackal again let down a rope but just as lion reached the top jackal gave a strong tug and broke the rope poor old lion rolled down the side of the hill and lay there roaring from pain he had been fatally hurt jackal inquired uncle lion have you hurt yourself have you much pain wait a while i am coming directly to help you jackal and his wife slowly walked away | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
upon this the jackal again performed upon the hide with tremendous force for their daring to give him such a rotten reim and mrs jackal and the little ones responded with some fearful screams and yells he then called loudly out to his wife for a strong buffalo reim which would support any weight this again was lowered and fastened to the lion when all bands pulled away at their uncle and just when he had reached so far that he could look over the precipice into the pots to see all the fat meat cooking and all the biltongs hanging out to dry the reim was again cut and the poor lion fell with such force that he was fairly stunned for some time after the lion had recovered his senses the jackal in a most sympathizing tone suggested that he was afraid that it was of no use to attempt to haul him up onto the precipice and recommended instead that a nice fat piece of elands breast be roasted and dropped into the lions mouth the lion half famished with hunger and much bruised readily accepted the offer and sat eagerly awaiting the fat morsel in the mean time the jackal had a round stone made red hot and wrapped a quantity of inside fat or suet round it to make it appear like a ball of fat when the lion saw it held out he opened his capacious mouth to the utmost extent and the wily jackal cleverly dropped the hot ball right into it which ran through the poor old beast killing him on the spot it need hardly be told that there was great rejoicing on the precipice that night | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
lion said then take the fat and carry it to your mother the lioness and he gave him the lungs to take to his own wife and children when jackal arrived he did not give the fat to lions wife but to his own wife and children he gave however the lungs to lions wife and he pelted lions little children with the lungs saying you children of the big pawed one you big pawed ones he said to lioness i go to help my father the lion but he went far away with his wife and children | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when he returned lion gave him a shin and said take this to your wife little jackal took the shin to lions house lions wife said i cannot take this because it should not come here little jackal thereupon struck lions wife in the face and went back to the place where the ox was killed lion gave him a large piece of meat and said take this to my wife little jackal took it to his own wife this continued till the ox was flnished then they both went home when lion arrived at his house he found there was weeping in his family his wife said is it you who sent little jackal to beat me and my children and is it you who sent this shin did i ever eat a shin when lion heard this he was very angry and at once went to little jackals house when he reached the rock little jackal looked down and said who are you and what is your name and whose son are you and where are you from and where are you going to and whom do you want and what do you want him for lion replied i have merely come to see you i wish you to let down the rope little jackal let down a rope made of mouse skins and when lion climbed a little way up the rope broke and he fell and was hurt he then went home | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when he went to sleep he also opened his mouth the young lions saw that the ostrich had no teeth they went to their mother and said this fellow who says he is your equal has no teeth he is insulting you then the lioness went to wake the ostrich and said get up let us fight and they fought and the ostrich said go to that side of the anthill and i will go to this side of it the ostrich struck the anthill and sent it toward the lioness but the second time he struck the lioness in a vulnerable spot near the liver and killed her | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
listen now you remain behind unnoticed and when you hear me shout you will know that we have arrived safely at the seacow pool then you must harass the boers dogs as much as you can and the rest will look out for themselves thereupon the trek moved on it was necessary to go very slowly as many of the water animals were not accustomed to the journey on land but they trekked past the boers farm in safety and toward break of day they were all safely at the sea cow pool there most of the water animals disappeared suddenly into the deep water and crocodile also began to make preparations to follow their example with tearful eyes he said to lion that he was oh so thankful for the help that from pure relief and joy he must first give vent to his feelings by a few screams thereupon he suited his words to actions so that even the mountains echoed and then thanked lion on behalf of his subjects and purposely continued with a long speech dwelling on all the benefits both sides would derive from the agreement of peace lion was just about to say good day and take his departure when the first shot fell and with it elephant and a few other animals i told you all so shouted jackal from the other side of the sea cow pool why did you allow yourselves to he misled by a few crocodile tears crocodile had disappeared long ago into the water all one saw was just a lot of bubbles and on the banks there was an actual war against the animals it simply crackled the way the boers shot them but most of them fortunately came out of it alive shortly after they say crocodile received his well earned reward when he met a driver with a load of dynamite and even now when the elephant gets the chance he pitches them up into the highest forks of the trees | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
jackal was at once condemned to death by lion and hyena was to execute the sentence jackal pleaded hard for mercy but finding this useless he made a last request to lion always as he said so fair and just in his dealings that he should not have to suffer a lingering death lion inquired of him in what manner he wished to die and he asked that his tail might be shaved and rubbed with a little fat and that hyena might then swing him round twice and dash his brains out upon a stone this being considered sufficiently fair by lion was ordered by him to be carried out in his presence when jackals tail had been shaved and greased hyena caught hold of him with great force and before he had fairly lifted him from the ground the cunning jackal had slipped away from hyenas grasp and was running for his life pursued by all the animals lion was the foremost pursuer and after a great chase jackal got under an overhanging precipice and standing on his hind legs with his shoulders pressed against the rock called loudly to lion to help him as the rock was falling and would crush them both lion put his shoulders to the rock and exerted himself to the utmost after some little time jackal proposed that he should creep slowly out and fetch a large pole to prop up the rock so that lion could get out and save his life jackal did creep out and left lion there to starve and die | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
one had this plan and another had that but no plan seemed of value finally one of them suggested come let all of us go to the dry river bed and dance in that way we can tread out the water | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
yes thats good in a one two three tortoises shell was covered with pitch and foot by foot he moved away to the river at the edge close to the water he lay down and drew his head into his shell rabbit during the evening came to get a drink ha he chuckled sarcastically they are after all quite decent here they have placed a stone so now i need not unnecessarily wet my feet | 2 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
that is decided it was decided rabbit should die by taking him by his tail and dashing his head to pieces against some stone but who is to do it lion because he is the most powerful one good lion should do it he stood up walked to the front and poor rabbit was brought to him rabbit pleaded and beseeched that he couldnt die such a miserable death lion took rabbit firmly by the tail and swung him around the white skin slipped off from rabbit and there lion stood with the white bit of skin and hair in his paw rabbit was free | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
no heres boer already and hes got his gun good morning and with these parting words he ran away as fast as he could boer came and saw monkey in the wip so so monkey now you are caught you are the fellow who has been stealing my lambs hey no boer no screamed monkey not i but jackal no i know you you arent too good for that no boer no not i but jackal monkey stammered oh i know you just wait a little and boer raising his gun aimed and shot poor monkey dead | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
certainly dear uncle but how will you manage to come up we must let down a thong for you lion tied the thong around his body and jackal began drawing him up but when nearly to the top jackal cried to lion my uncle how heavy you are then unseen by lion he cut the thong lion fell to the ground while jackal began loudly and angrily to scold his wife and then said go wife fetch me a new thong an old one he said aside to her lion again tied himself to the thong and just as he was near the top jackal cut the thong as before lion fell heavily to the bottom groaning aloud as he had been seriously hurt no said jackal that will never do you must however manage to come up high enough so that you may get a mouthful at least then aloud he ordered his wife to prepare a good piece but aside he told her to make a stone hot and to cover it with fat then he drew lion up once more and complaining how heavy he was to hold told him to open his mouth and thereupon threw the hot stone down his throat lion fell to the ground and lay there pleading for water while jackal climbed down and made his escape | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
you tawny rogue have you not played at beating long enough have you no more loving game than this but when she had bitten a hole through the cowskin she saw that they were other people then she fled falling here and there yet made her escape | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
then he called out the fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva the animals came running back and when they saw that the inkalimeva was dead they rejoiced greatly they asked the hare for the tail which should be kept for the chief the hare replied the one i killed had no tail they said how can an inkalimeva be without a tail they began to search and at length they found a piece of the tail in the fence they told the chief that the hare had eaten the tail he said bring him to me all the animals ran after the hare but he fled and they could not catch him the hare ran into a hole at the mouth of which the animals set a snare and then went away the hare remained in the hole for many days but at length he managed to get out without being caught he went to a place where he found a bushbuck imbabala building a hut there was a pot with meat in it on the fire he said to the bushbuck can i take this little piece of meat the bushbuck answered you must not do it but he took the meat and ate it all afterwards he whistled in a particular manner and there fell a storm of hail which killed the bushbuck then he took the skin of the bushbuck and made for himself a mantle after this the hare went into the forest to procure some weapons to fight with while he was cutting a stick the monkeys threw leaves upon him he called to them to come down and beat him they came down but he killed them all with his weapons | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
snake did so and the white man covered her with the stone but although she exerted herself very much she could not rise then the white man wanted again to release snake but jackal interfered and said do not lift the stone she wanted to bite you therefore she may rise by herself then they both went away and left snake under the stone | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
jackal answered very slowly and considerately doubting the whole affair and demanding to see first the place and whether the man was able to lift the stone snake lay down and the man to prove the truth of his account put the stone again over her when she was fast jackal said now let her lie there | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
oh me a thorn has pricked me and sticks in me thus she fell down from above and was sadly hurt since that day it is said that hyenas hind feet have been shorter and smaller than the front ones | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
then he will recover hyena is one who does not care for my uncles sufferings lion followed his advice got hold of hyena drew the skin over her cars whilst she howled with all her might and put it on | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
so when heron came to the banks of the water jackal asked him brother heron when the wind comes from this side how will you stand he turned his neck towards him and said i stand thus bending my neck on one side jackal asked him again when a storm comes and when it rains how do you stand he said to him i stand thus indeed bending my neck down then jackal beat him on his neck and broke his neck in the middle since that day herons neck is bent | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
he did so and cock flew away upbraiding at the same time jackal with these words you rogue do you also pray there sat jackal speechless because he had been outdone | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
tortoise said the water belongs to elephant there came lion and said little tortoise give me water when little tortoise was about to say something lion got hold of him and beat him lion drank of the water and since then the animals drink water when elephant came back from the hunting he said little tortoise is there water tortoise answered the animals have drunk the water elephant asked little tortoise shall i chew you or swallow you down little tortoise said swallow me if you please and elephant swallowed him whole after elephant had swallowed little tortoise and he had entered his body he tore off his liver heart and kidneys elephant said little tortoise you kill me so elephant died but little tortoise came out of his dead body and went wherever he liked | 2 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
tortoise answered its mother and said have you not always sprinkled me that you want to sprinkle me now then they went and fed for a whole year on the remains of giraffe | 2 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the ostriches hearing this ran so tremendously that they quite exhausted their strength and fell down then the tortoises assembled by and by at the place where the ostriches had fallen and devoured them | 2 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
wood beats dog dog bites cat and cat bites mouse through this judgment itkler got satisfaction and addressed baboon in the following manner yes now i am content since i have received satisfaction and with all my heart i thank thee baboon because thou hast exercised justice on my behalf and given me redress then baboon said from to day i will not any longer be called jan but baboon shall be my name since that time baboon walks on all fours having probably lost the privilege of walking erect through this foolish judgment | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
baboon said aside whilst i am looking at him he steals upon me whilst my hollow eyes are on him when at last lion sprung at him he lay quickly down upon his face and lion jumped over him falling down the precipice and was dashed to pieces | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the stallion on this became angry took the baboon by his shoulders and pressed him upon a hot flat rock since that day the baboon has a bald place on his back the baboon said lamenting i my mothers child i the gum eater am outdone by this milkeater | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
and diving went to the other side of the pool and sat there lion pursued him but as he could not catch him he returned home from that day it is said lion walked on his feet and also began to creep upon bis game and the white crows became entirely dumb since the day that they said nothing can be said of that matter | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
of him who has white dogs alas thou son of her who is short eared thou my short eared child son of her who eats raw flesh thou flesh devourer son of her whose nostrils are red from the prey thou with blood stained nostrils son of her who drinks pit water thou water drinker | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
but when at night time she fell asleep they saw some of the lions hair which was hanging out where he had slipped on the womans skin and they cried verily this is quite another being it is for this reason that the cows refused to be milked then the people of the kraal began to break up the hut in which lion lay asleep when they took off the mats they said conjuring them if thou art favourably inclined to me o mat give the sound sawa meaning making no noise to the poles on which the but rested they said if thou art favourably inclined to me o pole thou must give the sound gara they addressed also the bamboos and the bedskins in a similar manner thus gradually and noiselessly they removed the hut and all its contents then they took bunches of grass put them over the lion and lighting them said if thou art favourably inclined to me o fire thou must flare up boo boo before thou comest to the heart so the fire flared up when it came towards the heart and the heart of the woman jumped upon the ground the mother of the kraal picked it up and put it into a calabash lion from his place in the fire said to the mother of the kraal how nicely i have eaten your daughter the woman answered you have also now a comfortable place now the woman took the first milk of as many cows had calves and put it into the calabash where her daughters heart was the calabash increased in size and in proportion to this the girl grew again inside it one day when the mother of the kraal went out to fetch wood she said to hare by the time that i come back you must have everything nice and clean but during her mothers absence the girl crept out of the calabash and put the hut in good order as she had been used to do in former days and said to hare when mother comes back and asks who has done these things you must say i hare did them after she had done all she hid herself on the stage when the mother of the kraal came home she said hare who has done these things they look just as they used when my daughter did them hare said i did the things but the mother would not believe it and looked at the calabash seeing it was empty she searched the stage and found her daughter then she embraced and kissed her and from that day the girl stayed with her mother and did every thing as she was wont in former times but she now remained unmarried | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when it burnt him he said get down and shook himself but sun stuck fast to his back and burnt jackals back black from that day | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
behold this is the judgment which i pass upon thee said sun since that day horses certain time of dying commenced | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
then lion tore the rope made of sinews and ran after little fox but jackal said my boy thou son of lean mrs fox thou wilt never be caught truly lion was thus beaten in running by little fox | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
with these words she took up a piece of wood and struck him on the nose since that day the hares nose is slit | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
and she took a stick and beat the hare on his mouth which was slit by the blow the hare fled and is still fleeing | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the hare being duly incensed at having received such treatment raised his claws and scratched the moons face and the dark spots which we now see on the surface of the moon are the scars which she received on that occasion | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
but the hare deceived men and said as i die and perish so shall you also | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the salamander went on his way with this message outran the chameleon and arriving first where the men were told them that they must die | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
he followed this advice and the flames flaring up into his face burnt him most miserably so that he was glad to make his escape the other however called to him here take the kirri a knobstick and run to the hills to hunt there for honey hence sprung the race of bushmen | 2 | west african folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was once a king who was very powerful he had great influence over the wild beasts and animals now the tortoise was looked upon as the wisest of all beasts and men this king had a son named ekpenyon to whom he gave fifty young girls as wives but the prince did not like any of them the king was very angry at this and made a law that if any man had a daughter who was finer than the prince’s wives and who found favour in his son’s eyes the girl herself and her father and mother should be killednow about this time the tortoise and his wife had a daughter who was very beautiful the mother thought it was not safe to keep such a fine child as the prince might fall in love with her so she told her husband that her daughter ought to be killed and thrown away into the bush the tortoise however was unwilling and hid her until she was three years old one day when both the tortoise and his wife were away on their farm the king’s son happened to be hunting near their house and saw a bird perched on the top of the fence round the house the bird was watching the little girl and was so entranced with her beauty that he did not notice the prince coming | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
many years ago the hippopotamus whose name was isantim was one of the biggest kings on the land he was second only to the elephant the hippo had seven large fat wives of whom he was very fond now and then he used to give a big feast to the people but a curious thing was that although every one knew the hippo no one except his seven wives knew his nameat one of the feasts just as the people were about to sit down the hippo said “you have come to feed at my table but none of you know my name | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
okun archibong was one of king archibong’s slaves and lived on a farm near calabar he was a hunter and used to kill bush buck and other kinds of antelopes and many monkeys the skins he used to dry in the sun and when they were properly cured he used to sell them in the market the monkey skins were used for making drums and the antelope skins were used for sitting mats the flesh after it had been well smoked over a wood fire he also sold but he did not make much moneyokun archibong married a slave woman of duke’s house named nkoyo he paid a small dowry to the dukes took his wife home to his farm and in the dry season time she had a son about four months after the birth of the child nkoyo took him to the farm while her husband was absent hunting she placed the little boy under a shady tree and went about her work which was clearing the ground for the yams which would be planted about two months before the rains every day while the mother was working a big ape used to come from the forest and play with the little boy he used to hold him in his arms and carry him up a tree and when nkoyo had finished her work he used to bring the baby back to her | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
in the olden days there was a very fine young hen who lived with her parents in the bushone day a hawk was hovering round about eleven o’clock in the morning as was his custom making large circles in the air and scarcely moving his wings his keen eyes were wide open taking in everything for nothing moving ever escapes the eyes of a hawk no matter how small it may be or how high up in the air the hawk may be circling | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the elephant and the hippopotamus always used to feed together and were good friendsone day when they were both dining together the tortoise appeared and said that although they were both big and strong neither of them could pull him out of the water with a strong piece of tie tie and he offered the elephant ten thousand rods if he could draw him out of the river the next day the elephant seeing that the tortoise was very small said “if i cannot draw you out of the water i will give you twenty thousand rods” so on the following morning the tortoise got some very strong tie tie and made it fast to his leg and went down to the river when he got there as he knew the place well he made the tie tie fast round a big rock and left the other end on the shore for the elephant to pull by then went down to the bottom of the river and hid himself | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
ituen was a young man of calabar he was the only child of his parents and they were extremely fond of him as he was of fine proportions and very good to look upon they were poor people and when ituen grew up and became a man he had very little money indeed in fact he had so little food that every day it was his custom to go to the market carrying an empty bag into which he used to put anything eatable he could find after the market was overat this time offiong was king he was an old man but he had plenty of wives one of these women named attem was quite young and very good looking she did not like her old husband but wished for a young and handsome husband she therefore told her servant to go round the town and the market to try and find such a man and to bring him at night by the side door to her house and she herself would let him in and would take care that her husband did not discover himthat day the servant went all round the town but failed to find any young man good looking enough she was just returning to report her ill success when on passing through the market place she saw ituen picking up the remains of corn and other things which had been left on the ground | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
efriam duke was an ancient king of calabar he was a peaceful man and did not like war he had a wonderful drum the property of which when it was beaten was always to provide plenty of good food and drink so whenever any country declared war against him he used to call all his enemies together and beat his drum then to the surprise of every one instead of fighting the people found tables spread with all sorts of dishes fish foo foo palm oil chop soup cooked yams and ocros and plenty of palm wine for everybody in this way he kept all the country quiet and sent his enemies away with full stomachs and in a happy and contented frame of mind there was only one drawback to possessing the drum and that was if the owner of the drum walked over any stick on the road or stept over a fallen tree all the food would immediately go bad and three hundred egbo men would appear with sticks and whips and beat the owner of the drum and all the invited guests very severelyefriam duke was a rich man he had many farms and hundreds of slaves a large store of kernels on the beach and many puncheons of palm oil he also had fifty wives and many children the wives were all fine women and healthy they were also good mothers and all of them had plenty of children which was good for the king’s houseevery few months the king used to issue invitations to all his subjects to come to a big feast even the wild animals were invited the elephants hippopotami leopards bush cows and antelopes used to come for in those days there was no trouble as they were friendly with man and when they were at the feast they did not kill one another all the people and the animals as well were envious of the king’s drum and wanted to possess it but the king would not part with itone morning ikwor edem one of the king’s wives took her little daughter down to the spring to wash her as she was covered with yaws which are bad sores all over the body the tortoise happened to be up a palm tree just over the spring cutting nuts for his midday meal and while he was cutting one of the nuts fell to the ground just in front of the child the little girl seeing the good food cried for it and the mother not knowing any better picked up the palm nut and gave it to her daughter directly the tortoise saw this he climbed down the tree and asked the woman where his palm nut was she replied that she had given it to her child to eat then the tortoise who very much wanted the king’s drum thought he would make plenty palaver over this and force the king to give him the drum so he said to the mother of the child—“i am a poor man and i climbed the tree to get food for myself and my family then you took my palm nut and gave it to your child | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
old town calabar once had a king called essiya who like most of the calabar kings in the olden days was rich and powerful but although he was so wealthy he did not possess many slaves he therefore used to call upon the animals and birds to help his people with their work in order to get the work done quickly and well he determined to appoint head chiefs of all the different species | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
king effiom of duke town calabar was very fond of pretty maidens and whenever he heard of a girl who was unusually good looking he always sent for her and if she took his fancy he made her one of his wives this he could afford to do as he was a rich man and could pay any dowry which the parents asked most of his money having been made by buying and selling slaveseffiom had two hundred and fifty wives but he was never content and wanted to have all the finest women in the land some of the king’s friends who were always on the look out for pretty girls told effiom that the cock’s daughter was a lovely virgin and far superior to any of the king’s wives directly the king heard this he sent for the cock and said he intended to have his daughter as one of his wives the cock being a poor man could not resist the order of the king so he brought his daughter who was very good looking and pleased the king immensely when the king had paid the cock a dowry of six puncheons of palm oil the cock told effiom that if he married his daughter he must not forget that she had the natural instincts of a hen and that he should not blame adia unen his daughter if she picked up corn whenever she saw it the king replied that he did not mind what she ate so long as he possessed herthe king then took adia unen as his wife and liked her so much that he neglected all his other wives and lived entirely with adia unen as she suited him exactly and pleased him more than any of his other wives | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
eyamba i of calabar was a very powerful king he fought and conquered all the surrounding countries killing all the old men and women but the able bodied men and girls he caught and brought back as slaves and they worked on the farms until they diedthis king had two hundred wives but none of them had borne a son to him his subjects seeing that he was becoming an old man begged him to marry one of the spider’s daughters as they always had plenty of children but when the king saw the spider’s daughter he did not like her as she was ugly and the people said it was because her mother had had so many children at the same time however in order to please his people he married the ugly girl and placed her among his other wives but they all complained because she was so ugly and said she could not live with them the king therefore built her a separate house for herself where she was given food and drink the same as the other wives every one jeered at her on account of her ugliness but she was not really ugly but beautiful as she was born with two skins and at her birth her mother was made to promise that she should never remove the ugly skin until a certain time arrived save only during the night and that she must put it on again before dawn now the king’s head wife knew this and was very fearful lest the king should find it out and fall in love with the spider’s daughter so she went to a ju ju man and offered him two hundred rods to make a potion that would make the king forget altogether that the spider’s daughter was his wife this the ju ju man finally consented to do after much haggling over the price for three hundred and fifty rods and he made up some “medicine” which the head wife mixed with the king’s food for some months this had the effect of making the king forget the spider’s daughter and he used to pass quite close to her without recognising her in any way when four months had elapsed and the king had not once sent for adiaha for that was the name of the spider’s daughter she began to get tired and went back to her parents her father the spider then took her to another ju ju man who by making spells and casting lots very soon discovered that it was the king’s head wife who had made the ju ju and had enchanted the king so that he would not look at adiaha he therefore told the spider that adiaha should give the king some medicine which he would prepare which would make the king remember her he prepared the medicine for which the spider had to pay a large sum of money and that very day adiaha made a small dish of food into which she had placed the medicine and presented it to the king directly he had eaten the dish his eyes were opened and he recognised his wife and told her to come to him that very evening | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was once an old mother sheep who had seven lambs and one day the bat who was about to make a visit to his father in law who lived a long day’s march away went to the old sheep and asked her to lend him one of her young lambs to carry his load for him at first the mother sheep refused but as the young lamb was anxious to travel and see something of the world and begged to be allowed to go at last she reluctantly consented so in the morning at daylight the bat and the lamb set off together the lamb carrying the bat’s drinking horn when they reached half way the bat told the lamb to leave the horn underneath a bamboo tree directly he arrived at the house he sent the lamb back to get the horn when the lamb had gone the bat’s father in law brought him food and the bat ate it all leaving nothing for the lamb when the lamb returned the bat said to him “hullo | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
many years ago when king eyo was ruler of calabar the fish used to live on the land he was a great friend of the leopard and frequently used to go to his house in the bush where the leopard entertained him | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
udo ubok udom was a famous king who lived at itam which is an inland town and does not possess a river the king and his wife therefore used to wash at the spring just behind their houseking udo had a daughter of whom he was very fond and looked after her most carefully and she grew up into a beautiful womanfor some time the king had been absent from his house and had not been to the spring for two years when he went to his old place to wash he found that the idem ju ju tree had grown up all round the place and it was impossible for him to use the spring as he had done formerly he therefore called fifty of his young men to bring their matchets knifes and cut down the tree they started cutting the tree but it had no effect as directly they made a cut in the tree it closed up again so after working all day they found they had made no impression on itwhen they returned at night they told the king that they had been unable to destroy the tree | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
very many years ago before the oldest man alive at the present time can remember the towns of ikom okuni abijon insofan obokum and all the other injor towns were situated round and near the insofan mountain and the head chief of the whole country was called agbor abragba and enfitop also lived there and were also under king agbor the insofan mountain is about two days’ march inland from the cross river and as none of the people there could swim and knew nothing about canoes they never went anywhere outside their own country and were afraid to go down to the big river the whole country was taken up with yam farms and was divided amongst the various towns each town having its own bush | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when ‘ndarake was king of idu being young and rich he was very fond of fine girls and had plenty of slaves the ‘nsiat bird was then living at idu and had a very pretty daughter whom ‘ndarake wished to marry when he spoke to the father about the matter he replied that of course he had no objection personally as it would be a great honour for his daughter to marry the king but unfortunately when any of his family had children they always gave birth to twins which as the king knew was not allowed in the country the native custom being to kill both the children and throw them into the bush the mother being driven away and allowed to starve | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
a long time ago in the days of king adam of calabar the king wanted to know if there was any animal or bird which was capable of enduring hunger for a long period when he found one the king said he would make him a chief of his tribethe ‘nsasak bird is very small having a shining breast of green and red he also has blue and yellow feathers and red round the neck and his chief food consists of ripe palm nuts the odudu bird on the other hand is much larger about the size of a magpie with plenty of feathers but a very thin body he has a long tail and his colouring is black and brown with a cream coloured breast he lives chiefly on grasshoppers and is also very fond of crickets which make a noise at nightboth the ‘nsasak bird and the odudu were great friends and used to live together | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
in the beginning of the world when the creator had made men and women and the animals they all lived together in the creation land the creator was a big chief past all men and being very kind hearted was very sorry whenever any one died | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
many years ago there was a great famine throughout the land and all the people were starving the yam crop had failed entirely the plantains did not bear any fruit the ground nuts were all shrivelled up and the corn never came to a head even the palm oil nuts did not ripen and the peppers and ocros also gave outthe leopard however who lived entirely on “beef” did not care for any of these things and although some of the animals who lived on corn and the growing crops began to get rather skinny he did not mind very much in order to save himself trouble as everybody was complaining of the famine he called a meeting of all the animals and told them that as they all knew he was very powerful and must have food that the famine did not affect him as he only lived on flesh and as there were plenty of animals about he did not intend to starve he then told all the animals present at the meeting that if they did not wish to be killed themselves they must bring their grandmothers to him for food and when they were finished he would feed off their mothers the animals might bring their grandmothers in succession and he would take them in their turn so that as there were many different animals it would probably be some time before their mothers were eaten by which time it was possible that the famine would be over but in any case he warned them that he was determined to have sufficient food for himself and that if the grandmothers or mothers were not forthcoming he would turn upon the young people themselves and kill and eat themthis of course the young generation who had attended the meeting did not appreciate and in order to save their own skins agreed to supply the leopard with his daily mealthe first to appear with his aged grandmother was the squirrel | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when eyo iii was ruling over all men and animals he had a very big palaver house to which he used to invite his subjects at intervals to feast | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was once a very beautiful girl called akim she was a native of ibibio and the name was given to her on account of her good looks as she was born in the spring time she was an only daughter and her parents were extremely fond of her the people of the town and more particularly the young girls were so jealous of akim’s good looks and beautiful form—for she was perfectly made very strong and her carriage bearing and manners were most graceful—that her parents would not allow her to join the young girls’ society in the town as is customary for all young people to do both boys and girls belonging to a company according to their age a company consisting as a rule of all the boys or girls born in the same yearakim’s parents were rather poor but she was a good daughter and gave them no trouble so they had a happy home one day as akim was on her way to draw water from the spring she met the company of seven girls to which in an ordinary way she would have belonged if her parents had not forbidden her these girls told her that they were going to hold a play in the town in three days’ time and asked her to join them she said she was very sorry but that her parents were poor and only had herself to work for them she therefore had no time to spare for dancing and plays she then left them and went homein the evening the seven girls met together and as they were very envious of akim they discussed how they should be revenged upon her for refusing to join their company and they talked for a long time as to how they could get akim into danger or punish her in some wayat last one of the girls suggested that they should all go to akim’s house every day and help her with her work so that when they had made friends with her they would be able to entice her away and take their revenge upon her for being more beautiful than themselves although they went every day and helped akim and her parents with their work the parents knew that they were jealous of their daughter and repeatedly warned her not on any account to go with them as they were not to be trustedat the end of the year there was going to be a big play called the new yam play to which akim’s parents had been invited the play was going to be held at a town about two hours’ march from where they lived | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was once an old woman who was very poor and lived in a small mud hut thatched with mats made from the leaves of the tombo palm in the bush she was often very hungry as there was no one to look after herin the olden days the moon used often to come down to the earth although she lived most of the time in the sky | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
in the olden days there were no hooks or casting nets so that when the natives wanted to catch fish they made baskets and set traps at the river sideone man named akon obo who was very poor began to make baskets and traps out of bamboo palm and then when the river went down he used to take his traps to a pool and set them baited with palm nuts in the night the big fish used to smell the palm nuts and go into the trap when at once the door would fall down and in the morning akon obo would go and take the fish out he was very successful in his fishing and used to sell the fish in the market for plenty of money when he could afford to pay the dowry he married a woman named eyong a native of okuni and had three children by her but he still continued his fishing | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
ekpo and etim were half brothers that is to say they had the same mother but different fathers their mother first of all had married a chief of duke town when ekpo was born but after a time she got tired of him and went to old town where she married ejuqua and gave birth to etimboth of the boys grew up and became very rich ekpo had a cock of which he was very fond and every day when ekpo sat down to meals the cock used to fly on to the table and feed also ama ukwa a native of old town who was rather poor was jealous of the two brothers and made up his mind if possible to bring about a quarrel between them although he pretended to be friends with bothone day ekpo the elder brother gave a big dinner to which etim and many other people were invited ama ukwa was also present | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
mbotu was a very famous king of old town calabar he was frequently at war and was always successful as he was a most skilful leader all the prisoners he took were made slaves he therefore became very rich but on the other hand he had many enemies the people of itu in particular were very angry with him and wanted to kill him but they were not strong enough to beat mbotu in a pitched battle so they had to resort to craft the itu people had an old woman who was a witch and could turn herself into whatever she pleased and when she offered to kill mbotu the people were very glad and promised her plenty of money and cloth if she succeeded in ridding them of their worst enemy | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was once a woman named affiong any who lived at ‘nsidung a small town to the south of calabar she was married to a chief of hensham town called etim ekeng they had lived together for several years but had no children the chief was very anxious to have a child during his lifetime and made sacrifices to his ju ju but they had no effect so he went to a witch man who told him that the reason he had no children was that he was too rich the chief then asked the witch man how he should spend his money in order to get a child and he was told to make friends with everybody and give big feasts so that he should get rid of some of his money and become poorerthe chief then went home and told his wife the next day his wife called all her company together and gave them a big dinner which cost a lot of money much food was consumed and large quantities of tombo were drunk then the chief entertained his company which cost a lot more money he also wasted a lot of money in the egbo house when half of his property was wasted his wife told him that she had conceived the chief being very glad called a big play for the next dayin those days all the rich chiefs of the country belonged to the alligator company and used to meet in the water the reason they belonged to the company was first of all to protect their canoes when they went trading and secondly to destroy the canoes and property of the people who did not belong to their company and to take their money and kill their slaveschief etim ekeng was a kind man and would not join this society although he was repeatedly urged to do so after a time a son was born to the chief and he called him edet etim the chief then called the egbo society together and all the doors of the houses in the town were shut the markets were stopped and the women were not allowed to go outside their houses while the egbo was playing this was kept up for several days and cost the chief a lot of money then he made up his mind that he would divide his property and give his son half when he became old enough | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
many years ago there was a calabar hunter called effiong who lived in the bush killed plenty of animals and made much money every one in the country knew him and one of his best friends was a man called okun who lived near him but effiong was very extravagant and spent much money in eating and drinking with every one until at last he became quite poor so he had to go out hunting again but now his good luck seemed to have deserted him for although he worked hard and hunted day and night he could not succeed in killing anything one day as he was very hungry he went to his friend okun and borrowed two hundred rods from him and told him to come to his house on a certain day to get his money and he told him to bring his gun loaded with himnow some time before this effiong had made friends with a leopard and a bush cat whom he had met in the forest whilst on one of his hunting expeditions and he had also made friends with a goat and a cock at a farm where he had stayed for the night but though effiong had borrowed the money from okun he could not think how he was to repay it on the day he had promised at last however he thought of a plan and on the next day he went to his friend the leopard and asked him to lend him two hundred rods promising to return the amount to him on the same day as he had promised to pay okun and he also told the leopard that if he were absent when he came for his money he could kill anything he saw in the house and eat it the leopard was then to wait until the hunter arrived when he would pay him the money and to this the leopard agreed the hunter then went to his friend the goat and borrowed two hundred rods from him in the same way | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
many years ago the sun and water were great friends and both lived on the earth together | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
a chief of inde named inkita had a son named ayong kita whose mother had died at his birththe old chief was a hunter and used to take his son out with him when he went into the bush he used to do most of his hunting in the long grass which grows over nearly all the inde country and used to kill plenty of bush buck in the dry seasonin those days the people had no guns so the chief had to shoot everything he got with his bow and arrows which required a lot of skillwhen his little son was old enough he gave him a small bow and some small arrows and taught him how to shoot the little boy was very quick at learning and by continually practising at lizards and small birds soon became expert in the use of his little bow and could hit them almost every time he shot at themwhen the boy was ten years old his father died and as he thus became the head of his father’s house and was in authority over all the slaves they became very discontented and made plans to kill him so he ran away into the bushhaving nothing to eat he lived for several days on the nuts which fell from the palm trees he was too young to kill any large animals and only had his small bow and arrows with which he killed a few squirrels bush rats and small birds and so managed to livenow once at night when he was sleeping in the hollow of a tree he had a dream in which his father appeared and told him where there was plenty of treasure buried in the earth but being a small boy he was frightened and did not go to the placeone day some time after the dream having walked far and being very thirsty he went to a lake and was just going to drink when he heard a hissing sound and heard a voice tell him not to drink not seeing any one he was afraid and ran away without drinkingearly next morning when he was out with his bow trying to shoot some small animal he met an old woman with quite long hair she was so ugly that he thought she must be a witch so he tried to run but she told him not to fear as she wanted to help him and assist him to rule over his late father’s house | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
effiong edem was a native of cobham town he had a very fine daughter whose name was afiong all the young men in the country wanted to marry her on account of her beauty but she refused all offers of marriage in spite of repeated entreaties from her parents as she was very vain and said she would only marry the best looking man in the country who would have to be young and strong and capable of loving her properly most of the men her parents wanted her to marry although they were rich were old men and ugly so the girl continued to disobey her parents at which they were very much grieved the skull who lived in the spirit land heard of the beauty of this calabar virgin and thought he would like to possess her so he went about amongst his friends and borrowed different parts of the body from them all of the best from one he got a good head another lent him a body a third gave him strong arms and a fourth lent him a fine pair of legs at last he was complete and was a very perfect specimen of manhoodhe then left the spirit land and went to cobham market where he saw afiong and admired her very muchabout this time afiong heard that a very fine man had been seen in the market who was better looking than any of the natives she therefore went to the market at once and directly she saw the skull in his borrowed beauty she fell in love with him and invited him to her house | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
chief oborri lived at a town called adiagor which is on the right bank of the calabar river he was a wealthy chief and belonged to the egbo society he had many large canoes and plenty of slaves to paddle them these canoes he used to fill up with new yams—each canoe being under one head slave and containing eight paddles the canoes were capable of holding three puncheons of palm oil and cost eight hundred rods each when they were full about ten of them used to start off together and paddle to rio del rey they went through creeks all the way which run through mangrove swamps with palm oil trees here and there sometimes in the tornado season it was very dangerous crossing the creeks as the canoes were so heavily laden having only a few inches above the water that quite a small wave would fill the canoe and cause it to sink to the bottom although most of the boys could swim it often happened that some of them were lost as there are many large alligators in these waters after four days’ hard paddling they would arrive at rio del rey where they had very little difficulty in exchanging their new yams for bags of dried shrimps and sticks with smoked fish on themchief oborri had two sons named eyo i and essido their mother having died when they were babies the children were brought up by their father as they grew up they developed entirely different characters the eldest was very hard working and led a solitary life but the younger son was fond of gaiety and was very lazy in fact he spent most of his time in the neighbouring towns playing and dancing | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
when ambo was king of calabar the elephant was not only a very big animal but he had eyes in proportion to his immense bulk in those days men and animals were friends and all mixed together quite freely at regular intervals king ambo used to give a feast and the elephant used to eat more than any one although the hippopotamus used to do his best however not being as big as the elephant although he was very fat he was left a long way behindas the elephant ate so much at these feasts the tortoise who was small but very cunning made up his mind to put a stop to the elephant eating more than a fair share of the food provided he therefore placed some dry kernels and shrimps of which the elephant was very fond in his bag and went to the elephant’s house to make an afternoon callwhen the tortoise arrived the elephant told him to sit down so he made himself comfortable and having shut one eye took one palm kernel and a shrimp out of his bag and commenced to eat them with much relish“the elephant” illustration by joseph martin kronheim published in aunt louisa’s zoological gardens by laura valentine 1876 frederick warne and cowhen the elephant saw the tortoise eating he said as he was always hungry himself “you seem to have some good food there what are you eating”the tortoise replied that the food was “sweet too much” but was rather painful to him as he was eating one of his own eyeballs and he lifted up his head showing one eye closedthe elephant then said “if the food is so good take out one of my eyes and give me the same food”the tortoise who was waiting for this knowing how greedy the elephant was had brought a sharp knife with him for that very purpose and said to the elephant “i cannot reach your eye as you are so big”the elephant then took the tortoise up in his trunk and lifted him up | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
in the olden days the thunder and lightning lived on the earth amongst all the other people but the king made them live at the far end of the town as far as possible from other people’s housesthe thunder was an old mother sheep and the lightning was her son a ram whenever the ram got angry he used to go about and burn houses and knock down trees he even did damage on the farms and sometimes killed people | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was once a very fat woman who was made of oil she was very beautiful and many young men applied to the parents for permission to marry their daughter and offered dowry but the mother always refused as she said it was impossible for her daughter to work on a farm as she would melt in the sun at last a stranger came from a far distant country and fell in love with the fat woman and he promised if her mother would hand her to him that he would keep her in the shade | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
a man called akpan who was a native of oku a town in the ibibio country admired a girl called emme very much who lived at ibibio and wished to marry her as she was the finest girl in her company it was the custom in those days for the parents to demand such a large amount for their daughters as dowry that if after they were married they failed to get on with their husbands as they could not redeem themselves they were sold as slaves akpan paid a very large sum as dowry for emme and she was put in the fatting house until the proper time arrived for her to marryakpan told the parents that when their daughter was ready they must send her over to him this they promised to do emme’s father was a rich man and after seven years had elapsed and it became time for her to go to her husband he saw a very fine girl who had also just come out of the fatting house and whom the parents wished to sell as a slave emme’s father therefore bought her and gave her to his daughter as her handmaidenthe next day emme’s little sister being very anxious to go with her obtained the consent of her mother and they started off together the slave girl carrying a large bundle containing clothes and presents from emme’s father akpan’s house was a long day’s march from where they lived when they arrived just outside the town they came to a spring where the people used to get their drinking water from but no one was allowed to bathe there emme however knew nothing about this | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
at the time of the great famine all the animals were very thin and weak from want of food but there was one exception and that was the tortoise and all his family who were quite fat and did not seem to suffer at all even the leopard was very thin in spite of the arrangement he had made with the animals to bring him their old grandmothers and mothers for foodin the early days of the famine as you will remember the leopard had killed the mother of the tortoise in consequence of which the tortoise was very angry with the leopard and determined if possible to be revenged upon him the tortoise who was very clever had discovered a shallow lake full of fish in the middle of the forest and every morning he used to go to the lake and without much trouble bring back enough food for himself and his family one day the leopard met the tortoise and noticed how fat he was as he was very thin himself he decided to watch the tortoise so the next morning he hid himself in the long grass near the tortoise’s house and waited very patiently until at last the tortoise came along quite slowly carrying a basket which appeared to be very heavy then the leopard sprang out and said to the tortoise“what have you got in that basket”the tortoise as he did not want to lose his breakfast replied that he was carrying firewood back to his home unfortunately for the tortoise the leopard had a very acute sense of smell and knew at once that there was fish in the basket so he said“i know there is fish in there and i am going to eat it”the tortoise not being in a position to refuse as he was such a poor creature said“very well | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
a bush rat called oyot was a great friend of emiong the bat they always fed together but the bat was jealous of the bush rat when the bat cooked the food it was always very good and the bush rat said “how is it that when you make the soup it is so tasty”the bat replied “i always boil myself in the water and my flesh is so sweet that the soup is good”he then told the bush rat that he would show him how it was done so he got a pot of warm water which he told the bush rat was boiling water and jumped into it and very shortly afterwards came out again | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
in the olden days when effiong was king of calabar it was customary at that time for rulers to give big feasts to which all the subjects and all the birds of the air and animals of the forest also the fish and other things that lived in the water were invited all the people birds animals and fish were under the king and had to obey him his favourite messenger was the hawk as he could travel so quicklythe hawk served the king faithfully for several years and when he wanted to retire he asked what the king proposed to do for him as very soon he would be too old to work any more so the king told the hawk to bring any living creature bird or animal to him and he would allow the hawk for the future to live on that particular species without any trouble | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
ansa was king of calabar for fifty years he had a very faithful cat as a housekeeper and a rat was his house boy | 0 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
the prince shot the bird with his bow and arrow and it dropped inside the fence so the prince sent his servant to gather it while the servant was looking for the bird he came across the little girl and was so struck with her form that he immediately returned to his master and told him what he had seen the prince then broke down the fence and found the child and fell in love with her at once he stayed and talked with her for a long time until at last she agreed to become his wife he then went home but concealed from his father the fact that he had fallen in love with the beautiful daughter of the tortoisebut the next morning he sent for the treasurer and got sixty pieces of cloth and three hundred rods and sent them to the tortoise then in the early afternoon he went down to the tortoise’s house and told him that he wished to marry his daughter the tortoise saw at once that what he had dreaded had come to pass and that his life was in danger so he told the prince that if the king knew he would kill not only himself the tortoise but also his wife and daughter the prince replied that he would be killed himself before he allowed the tortoise and his wife and daughter to be killed eventually after much argument the tortoise consented and agreed to hand his daughter to the prince as his wife when she arrived at the proper age then the prince went home and told his mother what he had done she was in great distress at the thought that she would lose her son of whom she was very proud as she knew that when the king heard of his son’s disobedience he would kill him however the queen although she knew how angry her husband would be wanted her son to marry the girl he had fallen in love with so she went to the tortoise and gave him some money clothes yams and palm oil as further dowry on her son’s behalf in order that the tortoise should not give his daughter to another man for the next five years the prince was constantly with the tortoise’s daughter whose name was adet and when she was about to be put in the fatting house the prince told his father that he was going to take adet as his wife on hearing this the king was very angry and sent word all round his kingdom that all people should come on a certain day to the market place to hear the palaver when the appointed day arrived the market place was quite full of people and the stones belonging to the king and queen were placed in the middle of the market placewhen the king and queen arrived all the people stood up and greeted them and they then sat down on their stones the king then told his attendants to bring the girl adet before him when she arrived the king was quite astonished at her beauty he then told the people that he had sent for them to tell them that he was angry with his son for disobeying him and taking adet as his wife without his knowledge but that now he had seen her himself he had to acknowledge that she was very beautiful and that his son had made a good choice | 1 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
if you cannot tell my name you shall all of you go away without your dinner”image from pixabayorgas they could not guess his name they had to go away and leave all the good food and tombo behind them but before they left the tortoise stood up and asked the hippopotamus what he would do if he told him his name at the next feast so the hippo replied that he would be so ashamed of himself that he and his whole family would leave the land and for the future would dwell in the waternow it was the custom for the hippo and his seven wives to go down every morning and evening to the river to wash and have a drink of this custom the tortoise was aware the hippo used to walk first and the seven wives followed one day when they had gone down to the river to bathe the tortoise made a small hole in the middle of the path and then waited when the hippo and his wives returned two of the wives were some distance behind so the tortoise came out from where he had been hiding and half buried himself in the hole he had dug leaving the greater part of his shell exposed | 1 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |
there was a hunter named edem effiong who had for a long time been in love with nkoyo and had made advances to her but she would have nothing to do with him as she was very fond of her husband when she had her little child effiong edem was very jealous and meeting her one day on the farm without her baby he said “where is your baby”and she replied that a big ape had taken it up a tree and was looking after it for her when effiong edem saw that the ape was a big one he made up his mind to tell nkoyo’s husband the very next day he told okun archibong that he had seen his wife in the forest with a big ape at first okun would not believe this but the hunter told him to come with him and he could see it with his own eyes okun archibong therefore made up his mind to kill the ape the next day he went with the other hunter to the farm and saw the ape up a tree playing with his son so he took very careful aim and shot the ape but it was not quite killed it was so angry and its strength was so great that it tore the child limb from limb and threw it to the ground this so enraged okun archibong that seeing his wife standing near he shot her also he then ran home and told king archibong what had taken place this king was very brave and fond of fighting so as he knew that king duke would be certain to make war upon him he immediately called in all his fighting men when he was quite prepared he sent a messenger to tell king duke what had happened duke was very angry and sent the messenger back to king archibong to say that he must send the hunter to him so that he could kill him in any way he pleased this archibong refused to do and said he would rather fight duke then got his men together and both sides met and fought in the market square thirty men were killed of duke’s men and twenty were killed on archibong’s side there were also many wounded on the whole king archibong had the best of the fighting and drove king duke back | 1 | nigerian folktale | folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling |