ANCESTRAL-LAND FOLKLORE

       A Short Story by Babayo U. Kabir Narrated by the old man as he played Dara with his friend under the baobab tree, while the little children sat around watching the elders play the ancient game. One faithful day , after it had rained abundantly the previous night, the air smelled fresh and the earth was soft and moist — perfect for planting. The old man, moving one of his white stones on the Dara board, paused and looked at the curious faces of the children watching. He smiled and began his tale. “The chief priest began telling his stories as usual when there were children around him. ‘I rushed to my farm to plant corn seeds as the earth was still damp that fateful morning. On reaching my farm, I realized my neighbor had arrived much earlier and had already done a little work. But to my surprise, there he was — lying comfortably on his stick-bed under a tree, resting as though there was nothing left to do in the world.’ I called out to ...

THE CRICKET’S WISDOM A Short Tale by Babayo U. Kabir Aku the parrot fluttered his bright feathers, tilted his head, and said in his cheerful tone, “Children, tonight I will tell you about a noisy little creature whose foolishness led to its own end — the cricket! ” The children drew closer under the wide shade of the ancient baobab, their eyes wide with curiosity. “The cricket,” Aku began, “is a very funny insect indeed. Its loud noise fills the entire home like a persistent alarm bell, disturbing the peace and tranquility of the household. It roams freely through every corner — the kitchen, the courtyard, and even the bedroom — without the slightest care in the world.” He paused for effect, ruffling his wings. “Sometimes,” he continued, “the cricket wanders into the kitchen and jumps straight into the open sack of corn flour. There, it finds a paradise of plenty — food so abundant it forgets every caution. It begins to eat greedily, stuffing itself with the sweet powder until its...

            ANCESTRAL LAND FOLKLORE presents: ANCIENT FABLES These are the stories told by the Moyi of Pira Village and his grey parrot, Aku , to the little children who always gather eagerly at the village square — beneath the ancient shade of the great Baobab Tree. These timeless tales are an extension of the book BAMBUKA by the same author, which tells the story of the people of Pira — a small village deep within the rainforest of Central Africa — and their sacred connection to the mythical forest of Bambuka, the mighty jungle that stands like a living spirit behind their village. The Baobab Tree in the Village Square Here, beneath her sprawling branches, laughter echoes, wisdom flows, and the whispers of ancestors blend with the songs of the living. The Baobab Tree in the village square This book is a collection of thirty (30) fables , each a testament to Africa’s rich tradition of oral storytelling , preserved through generations by word,...