Abstract

This paper examines folklore as a robust framework for ecological ethics by drawing on narratives from the Jataka tales of India, Igbo rituals of Nigeria, and Tsavo legends of East Africa. These traditional stories, often dismissed as myths or superstitions, provide profound insights into human-nature relationships grounded in values of kinship, reciprocity, and reverence for the natural world. In contrast to modernity’s extractive ethos, folklore emphasizes stewardship, moral responsibility, and interconnectedness—principles central to ecological justice. The Jataka tales, particularly as retold in The Hungry Tigress, depict the Buddha in his past lives navigating complex ethical dilemmas that involve compassion, non-harming, and sacrifice, all of which resonate with sustainable ecological values. Similarly, Igbo cosmology views the land as sacred, personified by the Earth goddess, with rituals reinforcing communal responsibility and environmental harmony. The film The Ghost and the Darkness further illustrates the folkloric perspective by portraying man-eating lions as spiritual agents resisting colonial exploitation, invoking African cosmologies that blur the lines between nature and spirit. Across these diverse cultural contexts, folklore emerges not as outdated lore but as a dynamic reservoir of ecological wisdom that challenges dominant paradigms of control and consumption. By revisiting these narratives, we can reclaim traditional environmental knowledge that informs more ethical, sustainable, and culturally grounded responses to climate change and ecological degradation. Ultimately, the paper argues that folklore should be recognized as cultural heritage and a vital resource for reimagining environmental justice in the 21st century.

Keywords: folklore, ecological ethics, Tsavo, Igbo, Jataka, culture

Presentation

The International Society for Folk Narrative Research conference 2026, held at the University of Reykjavik, Iceland

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6939-2789