Tag: folklore

Why Fairytales Matter – Slides

Once upon a time—around the corner from Neverland, two bus stops past Narnia, and slightly to the left of your imagination—there lay a kingdom so peaceful that even the dragons practiced yoga. The king was wise, the queen was kind, and the royal accountant was deeply concerned about the rising price of magic beans. In… Continue reading Why Fairytales Matter – Slides

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Two Sides of a Coin

Stories have a significant impact. They can inform or misinform, create opportunities or impose limitations. Ultimately, stories shape our understanding of the world. Those who tell these stories play a crucial role in what we recognize as history or facts. However, it’s important to remember that there are often multiple sides to a story. The… Continue reading Two Sides of a Coin

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Nature’s Creepiest Nun

Let’s talk about the praying mantis. Sounds holy, right? With a name like that, you’d think it spends its days in quiet meditation, sipping herbal tea and whispering affirmations to butterflies; however, if “preying mantis” could have been a better name. Just saying. This bug is a straight-up ninja assassin in a leaf-green or sometimes… Continue reading Nature’s Creepiest Nun

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Indigenous Knowledge and Ecology

I invite you to read an article in Romanian (which can be translated into other languages) about the importance of incorporating indigenous practices into our ecological efforts. The article provides examples of environmental initiatives from communities in France, Vanuatu, Nigeria, Kenya, and Chad. How can we sustainably resolve conflicts between humans and wildlife in rural… Continue reading Indigenous Knowledge and Ecology

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Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 12 (Tales by Moonlight 2)

I stood up and tried to follow the figure. The wind began to blow, and I felt it was calling to me for some reason. Navigating through the crowd was difficult. Some kids were bothering me by tugging at my feet, while teenagers watched me with disdain nearby because I was blocking their view. The… Continue reading Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 12 (Tales by Moonlight 2)

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Podcast: Oke’s Folklore Corner

Yo friends! I hope everyone is doing great. I just started my folklore podcast channel. The intention is to discuss cultural forms such as proverbs, folktales, songs, and folklore. I would love your thoughts on the intro. Click here to listen. Thank you, and stay tuned for more. Warmly.

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Reflection: Evening Walk

Birds tweeting, squirrel foraging, and Berkeley’s hilly and beautiful landscapes, coupled with the scent of fresh grass – of mints possibly, remind me of home. The roadside is littered with green grass, and up the steps, wild turkeys pick the ground for worms. I saw a tiny bird circling the foot of a tree, which… Continue reading Reflection: Evening Walk

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Shepherd lore: Sunset

I wonder why she hides behind the hills and cloudsShying away from the approaching breezy eveningOn clouds where birds fly in echelon, calling a farewell as they wentOn casted tree shadows hanging on the springs like rags on the railBored frogs may resume their croaky ballads;Hundreds of bass voices singing, in harmonyThe coloured clouds melt… Continue reading Shepherd lore: Sunset

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Folklore: The Goats and The Tortoise

Two goats fought over a loaf of bread. The tortoise saw them and offers to resolve the issue. He tore the bread unevenly and because it’s uneven he takes a bite from one half. But the bread remained uneven. So he took another bite and continued until there was no more bread left. The goats… Continue reading Folklore: The Goats and The Tortoise

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Tale Of A Moonless Night

there’s no moon tonight,just littering galaxies,there’s pitch darknesson the path leading homeshadows grip the passerbywe are told night is no friend this night of unusual aura,thoroughly cold and dreamy,of hills surrounded by mists,and a village amidst a relic,dreams are not far awaythe night sounds are lullaby flickering lights come aliveunnatural solar lamps glintgreen forest and… Continue reading Tale Of A Moonless Night

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Dialogue 7: Laziness Vs Hardwork

Storyteller: Ifochakpi! Audience: Waa!! Storyteller: Good evening, my friends! Today we will consider two characters. I wrote about this short rhyme for kids and teens. It came back to me when I remembered the story I read as a school kid—the tale of lazy hoppers and busy ants. The ants were seen as losers because… Continue reading Dialogue 7: Laziness Vs Hardwork

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Folklore: The Tortoise and the Rabbit

The Mischievous Tortoise Do you ever wonder why Nnabe, the Tortoise, is always portrayed as a mischievous personality in tales? You are not alone. Sometimes I try to understand the nature of this fictitious character, how he reasons, and why he acts the way he does. I even ask why this animal was picked to… Continue reading Folklore: The Tortoise and the Rabbit

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Folklore: Tortoise and The Spirits 1

Growing up Growing up was fun. School holidays took me to the countryside, where I was acquainted with folklore life. I have done strange but funny things like wearing a girl’s skirt to play with other children (that’s a story for another day), returning to the stream to bury a dead crab I killed, attempted… Continue reading Folklore: Tortoise and The Spirits 1

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I stand beautiful – Poetry

Memories fade, distanced more Yet apart we wade, off Tears are part of the roles And distrust has become one too Your words still cut through I’m assured that love went wrong I was rock but you made me gold So I offer this little flower token In appreciation to your absentia love I always… Continue reading I stand beautiful – Poetry

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The Devoted Friend from Project Gutenberg

One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole. He had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber. The little ducks were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure… Continue reading The Devoted Friend from Project Gutenberg

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Folklore: The Hippo and His Seven Wives

I heard the Wind tell this story Storyteller: Ifochakpii! Audience: Waa!!! Storyteller: Gather my friends. It’s time to tell a story. It’s time also to hear a tale. Gather by the fireside, warm yourselves. Bring the little ones to the center. Keep them more hospitable for the night, and her cold hands are nigh. Sit… Continue reading Folklore: The Hippo and His Seven Wives

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Another Tale from the Wild Woods

There’s a land behind those ancient hills Hidden in the thick greened forest, One of mighty foliage, brushes & roots Dark green shrubs gather by the riverside Ripe fruits plunge into the quiet waters And fish schools scatter in excitement Brown and black crabs meet to get drunk Squirrels watch them, amused from treetops The… Continue reading Another Tale from the Wild Woods

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The Traveling Musicians

Gather around the fire and read this story with me. It’s a long bedtime tale. An honest farmer had once a donkey that had been a faithful servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work. His master therefore was tired of keeping… Continue reading The Traveling Musicians

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Lullaby: Tale of the young Shepherdess

I will tell you a rhyme of the shepherdess who loved her sheep, She lives in the country and could sing her community to sleep Twinkle went stars nested far up the pregnant black sky, When black clouds float, the gathering rain storm sigh, “It will rain, but it might wait a little,” the young… Continue reading Lullaby: Tale of the young Shepherdess

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Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 9 (The White Man)

Papa came back looking exhausted and defeated. He hung a tied piece of wrapper across his left shoulder and chewed slowly on bitter cola. He held a yellow palm frond in his left palm as he walked into our compound. From my room I watched him march straight to his hut without speaking to anyone.… Continue reading Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 9 (The White Man)

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Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 8 (Stubborn Nene)

That morning before the early hunters left their homes for the forest, Papa was already on his way to Ndi-Ikele to welcome the priest, newly arrived from Trinidad and Tobago. It was breezy and cloudy that morning, it seemed it would rain any moment. Trees, especially the palm took to joyful procession when I stepped… Continue reading Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 8 (Stubborn Nene)

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Another Tale of the WildWoods

There’s a land behind those hills Hidden in the forest, One mighty foliage; of brushes & roots At all times, Cloud is blue And King of the Forest Do fall in love with it When the Cloud blush It rains softly; mildly And little creatures Which live in the land Look up to the smiling… Continue reading Another Tale of the WildWoods

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Amuse: Singina likes my tales

“I remember your funny and lovely tales,” she yawned “You complete my day with those poems of yours!” At first I wasn’t sure of what I did right exactly, But as a shepherd I find pleasure writing about life, Telling of my travel, of my long days and how it ends Now, tomorrow I shall… Continue reading Amuse: Singina likes my tales

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Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 7 (Crocodile at the Stream)

Papa said I had to be strong to attend the next Tales by Moonlight night. He also promised I could play and hunt with other children if I got well fast. So I took my medication and exercise seriously. The moonlight night tales come once in a fortnight, sometimes it may be delayed especially during… Continue reading Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 7 (Crocodile at the Stream)

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Folklore: The Straw, the Coal and the Bean from Gutenberg Project

In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them. So she made a fire on her hearth and that it might burn the quicker, she lighted it with a handful of straw. When she was emptying the beans into the pan, one dropped… Continue reading Folklore: The Straw, the Coal and the Bean from Gutenberg Project

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Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 6 (Another Attack)

That night I had another attack. It was midnight and everybody was settled for some sleep. The moon was white, there were no stars and the evening brought mild breezes. Wild dogs and wolves howled from the hilly distance and the night was deafened in their terrifying noise. Night was nobody’s friend those days. Travelers… Continue reading Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 6 (Another Attack)

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The Rainmaker’s Tales: Beginning

When I am not making the rain fall To flood the village and farms And to make the river banks overflow Then I will be watching the glittering stars And talking to her, the night and moon Well, the night is never complete without a tale And this is for the sleepy little ones, I… Continue reading The Rainmaker’s Tales: Beginning

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African morning

In the morning the mild golden sun rise above the huts and hills Painting the corn fields yellow and making the streams shimmer Upon flowing rivers it glitters, till the dead end below a tree root Big fishes stay ready to strafe up to pick insects off tree barks In the hamlets, dogs chased cats,… Continue reading African morning

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Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors

It is breezy here and I have a tale for the evening. Gather around, sit with me under this mango tree, warm yourself by the fire and enjoy this poetale… Ifochakpi! Waa!! Once in the animal kingdom There lived a Hen and a Cock and Their neighbors, the Rat and the Lizard One day the… Continue reading Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors

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Folklore: Old Sultan from project Gutenberg

A shepherd had a faithful dog, called Sultan, who was grown very old, and had lost all his teeth. And one day when the shepherd and his wife were standing together before the house the shepherd said, “I will shoot old Sultan tomorrow morning, for he is of no use now.” But his wife said,… Continue reading Folklore: Old Sultan from project Gutenberg

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Shepherd’s Tale

Sweet are memories of the fields- Valley greens and blue clouds, The frolicsome rabbits and slow worms, All shades of flowers and singing birds Replay on the shepherd’s mind In the morning, was a light shower The path wet with dew- Heaven’s water But the sheep went happy, through the misty path When evening came,… Continue reading Shepherd’s Tale

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The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”

This is one of Aesop’s most famous fable. It’s old but not rusty. As you read through note that the fastest way to lose what we call our good character is to lose our honesty. There was once a shepherd boy who kept his flock at a little distance from the village. Once he thought… Continue reading The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”

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African myths

Do you know that in Africa there are many ridiculous myths and beliefs? This is not Voodoo or any kind of mystery. Myths do exist. Most times, they are used to scare children, to refrain children and young adults from being rude, behaving wildly or disobeying their parents or elders. So let’s define a myth… Continue reading African myths

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Ina murna (I’m excited) 

The snaky road twisted, here and there Passing pockets of forests tucked away, And when it ended at the foot of Ugwu Uwaoma I saw the palm trees lead a welcome song At the foot of the hill a banner hung Bearing Mama’s poster and details… *** Now I stand before thee, oh great hill… Continue reading Ina murna (I’m excited) 

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