Story Summary
Discover The Separation of God and Man, an African folktale explaining why the sky is high and how a woman's pestle pushed the divine Nyame away from Earth.
In the beginning, the Sky God, Nyame, lived very close to the Earth. The sky was so low that humans could reach up and touch it, and they lived in a state of constant peace and plenty. However, there was an old woman who spent her days pounding fufu in a large wooden mortar. Every time she lifted her long pestle to strike the grain, it bumped against the sky. Nyame, whose belly was the very clouds, grew annoyed and asked the woman to be careful. But the woman was stubborn and continued her work, her pestle striking the heavens harder with every beat. Eventually, Nyame had enough of being poked and prodded by the mortal woman. He retreated high into the heavens, far beyond the reach of any human tool. Since that day, the sky has remained distant, and man has had to work the land and pray for the blessings that once fell freely from the sky.
The Moral
Reverence and mindfulness are essential; thoughtless or selfish actions can distance us from divine grace and peace.
“With every strike of her pestle, the heavens drifted further from the reach of man.”
Fun Fact
This story is a famous 'aetiological' myth from the Akan people of Ghana, used to explain both the height of the sky and the origins of human toil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Separation of God and Man?
The moral is that selfishness and a lack of respect for the divine lead to the loss of a golden age. It teaches that our mundane actions can have profound spiritual consequences.
Why did God leave the Earth in this story?
Nyame left because an old woman repeatedly hit the sky with her pestle while pounding food. He grew tired of being disturbed by human activities and retreated to the high heavens for peace.
Who is Nyame in African mythology?
Nyame is the supreme Sky God of the Akan people of Ghana. He represents the creator who is both distant in his height and omnipresent in his power.
What does the sky represent in this folktale?
The sky represents the presence and protection of God. Its proximity symbolizes a time when the divine and the mortal lived in perfect harmony and abundance.
What is fufu in the context of this story?
Fufu is a traditional West African staple food made by pounding starchy vegetables. In the story, it represents the daily labor and physical needs of humanity that eventually distracted them from the divine.
How does this myth explain the human condition?
It serves as an origin story for why life is difficult and why humans must work for food. It explains the physical distance between heaven and earth as a result of human error.
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