Stories Mother Told: African Folktales

Today's story is a special one from Sudan. Hana Baba, from the podcast " Folktales from Sudan ", tells us a story of how a clever girl named Fatna finds herself face-to-face with a terrifying ghoul, it’s not strength or speed that saves her - it’s her wit. Every night, Mohamed returns home from work singing a special tune - one only his sister, Fatna, would recognize. It’s their routine, their saf...

When hunger swept through the jungle, it wasn’t the fastest or the loudest who saved the day — it was the tortoise. In this Gabonese folktale, we follow a quiet hero on a journey for a word that could unlock a forest’s last hope. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymea...

Step into the vibrant world of the Asante Kingdom and discover the origins of the iconic Kente cloth. In this episode, we recount the legendary tale of two brothers, Nana Koragu and Nana Ameyaw, whose chance encounter with the clever spider Ananse forever changed their craft—and their village. From weaving simple fabrics to creating royal treasures, this is a story of ingenuity, tradition, and a l...

In King Ansa’s palace, trust is everything—until a crafty rat and a loyal cat find themselves at odds over a secret. This Nigerian folktale unravels the origins of the age-old tension between cats and rats.  I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthr...

In this episode , we dive into one of ancient Egypt’s most mysterious tales, where fate and prophecy weigh heavily on a young prince. Born under a dark prediction, the prince’s destiny is marked by three creatures: a dog, a snake, and a crocodile, each lying in wait to bring about his demise. Despite his royal parents' efforts to protect him, the prince embarks on a journey of freedom and adventur...

 In this classic Zimbabwean folktale, The Midnight Goat Thief , we dive into the mischievous world of Hare and Baboon. Hare invites his loyal friend Baboon on a journey to a distant village for a feast, but things don’t go as planned. Through clever tricks and sly schemes, Hare’s true intentions come to light, leaving Baboon to learn a valuable lesson about trust and friendship. Join us for a stor...

Journey deep into the heart of Cameroon with this age-old folktale, as we unravel the mysterious tale of a lone skull with an eerie voice and a profound message. This story weaves lessons of fate, consequence, and the ageless traditions of Cameroonian lore. Tune in for a mesmerizing tale that bridges the realms of the living and the unknown, revealing timeless truths that resonate across cultures....

Today's story is one from Uganda. Dive into this Ugandan folktale that weaves a captivating narrative around a cunning, insatiable dog and his relentless pursuits. Journey with us through the lush Ugandan landscapes, as we unravel the timeless lessons of desire, consequence, and the profound wisdom inherent in the African storytelling tradition. Prepare to be enchanted and perhaps, just a bit more...

Today's story is one from Angola. Dive into a tale of bravery, strategy, and compassion as we journey through the life of Angola's most revered queen, a beacon of hope and resilience for all ages. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Black History For Kids: https://tuntimo.com/ Instagram: @storiesmothertold If there are any stories you wou...

Today's story is one from The Congo. Dive into a tale of fate, family, and the whispers of a magical river. Join Clement, Charles, and Michael on a journey of discovery, survival, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood. From being left in the wilds of Congo to building a thriving community, their story is a testament to the enduring power of family ties and the guiding voice of nature." I hope yo...

Immerse yourself in the tale of Hassan, a humble Moroccan fisherman whose encounter with a magical golden fish changes his life and the lives of those around him. This captivating story of wisdom, selflessness, and kindness underscores the true essence of wealth - not material possessions, but the well-being of the community. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me t...

In this story, a small but cunning Tortoise and a powerful but prideful Elephant come head to head. The Elephant, feeling overshadowed by the Tortoise's growing reputation for cleverness, challenges him, only to be offered a seemingly simple task. What follows is a humbling lesson about strength, wisdom, and the dangers of underestimating others. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit bac...

Today's story might sound a bit familiar as we have told a version of this story in the past. This story explains why jealousy and selfishness are widespread in the world. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold B...

Today's story takes us back to Zambia and is a story about the consequences of being selfish. Let me know any other lessons you learn by leaving a review. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For...

Today's story is from Nigeria. This story explains why there are tortoise that live on land and tortoise that live in water. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For Kids: https://tuntimo.com/ If...

Today's story takes us back to Zambia and is the story is about why till this day, you can still hear the Jackal howling at the moon. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For Kids: https://tuntimo...

Today's story focuses on the theme of ingratitude. In this story we see how the eagle's kindness was repaid by humans. This story teaches us to do onto others as we would like them to do to us. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram...

Today's story teaches us three important rules to live a happy life according to the people of Marrakech in Morocco. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa.\ Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For Kids: https://tuntimo.com/ Kindle Uni...

Today's story is from the Nuer people of Sudan. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For Kids: https://tuntimo.com/ If there are any stories you would like to hear, please send an email to stories...

Today's story is from the Efik-Ibibio people of Nigeria. This is a story of why thunder and lightning live in the sky. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For Kids: https://tuntimo.com/ If there...

Today's story takes us back to Zambia and is from the Baila people. This story is about the first murder and also tells about the curse placed on humans to continue killing each other. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Places to read: Af...

Today's story is a Togolese one that touches on themes of Jealousy, Love and selflessness. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Places to read: African folktales by Ceni, A; Chiuppi, Lorena Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For Ki...

Today's story is one that follows the wicked Shark and clever Monkey. It shows that we should never judge anyone by their looks, beautiful people can do horrible things. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Places to read: East African folktales : from the voice of Mukamba by Kĩtukũ, Vincent Mũli wa Want to support the podcast? You can...

Today's story is from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. This is an origin story on how Yorubaland came to be. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Places to read: African myths by Husain, Shahrukh Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesmothertold Black History For...

Today's story takes us back to the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. In this story we follow Anansi whose greed is discovered by his family. We also see how they decided to teach him a lesson. I hope you enjoy this piece of our history. Sit back and Relax, let me take you back to Africa. Want to support the podcast? You can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storiesmthrtold Instagram: @storiesm...