Yoruba TalesWest African Folklore
Why the Sky is Far Away
A Yoruba tale of how human wastefulness turned a life of ease into a life of labor.
The SkyAdese
Yoruba TalesRead Story →
Fables and Folklore
West African Folklore
Explore stories from the Fables and Folklore collection
9Stories
Showing 1-9 of 9 stories
Yoruba TalesWest African Folklore
Oluronbi and the Magic Iroko Tree
A mother’s reckless vow to a forest spirit leads to a heartbreaking sacrifice in this Yoruba tale.
OluronbiThe Iroko Spirit
Yoruba TalesRead Story →
Yoruba TalesWest African Folklore
The Tortoise and the Birds
A greedy tortoise tricks birds for a sky feast but learns a painful, shell-shattering lesson.
Ijapa the TortoiseThe Birds
Yoruba TalesRead Story →
Yoruba TalesWest African Folklore
How Ijapa the Tortoise Got His Shell
A greedy tortoise's sky-high trickery results in a crashing landing and a shattered back.
Ijapa (The Tortoise)The Birds
Yoruba TalesRead Story →
Ashanti TalesWest African Folklore
The Magic Drum
A king's magical drum feeds a nation until a single careless step turns plenty into pain.
The Ashanti KingThe Village Subjects
Ashanti TalesRead Story →
Ashanti TalesWest African Folklore
The Porcupine's Quills
A vulnerable creature receives divine armor to become the indomitable symbol of a nation.
PorcupineNyame (Sky God)
Ashanti TalesRead Story →
Ashanti TalesWest African Folklore
The Leopard's Spots
A plain leopard is rewarded with magical spots to become the master of forest camouflage.
Osebo the LeopardThe Wise Medicine Man
Ashanti TalesRead Story →
Hausa TalesWest African Folklore
The Hunter and the Elephant
A hunter's triumph over a great elephant brings an unexpected and thirsty curse upon his home.
The HunterThe Great Elephant
Hausa TalesRead Story →
Hausa TalesWest African Folklore
The Greedy Spider
A gluttonous spider's plan to attend two feasts backfires, leaving him stretched and hungry.
Gizo the SpiderGizo's Sons
Hausa TalesRead Story →