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 t…

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 f…

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 an…

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 tens…

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 dest…

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…

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…

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…

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 resilien…

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,…

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…

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 clev…

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 y…

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 pi…

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 an…

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. Si…

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…

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,…

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…

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 Rela…