Tales by moonlight

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One special thing about African parents, is that they all have that special stories they told their children when they were still kids. Unlike now that the Internet has taken over where both the parents and children have no time again to either tell or listen to tales by moon light. it's tales by moon light because it's usually by evening that these stories are shared when the moon is shining. Growing up as a child I and my siblings enjoyed tales from my dad, one of such stories include why the tortoise 🐢 has a broken shell and I think it is the most common folk tale among all.

We were told that their was a time when the birds were going to have a big party in the sky and all the feathered animals were happy about it because the party was held once in a year and there would be lots of food and drink. Mr Tortoise who made friends with some birds wanted to go but could not fly. The birds had compassion on him and they promised to give tortoise their feathers each. When the day for the party came, they all donated their feathers to tortoise and he was looking so colorful but before they went on the journey tortoise told them to give their selves a new name so they would use it to identify their selves and they all agreed. They gave their selves beautiful names but Mr Tortoise the clever guy named himself All Of You. When they arrived the party, they were entertained by the music and dance and it was time to eat food. When the waitress served the food and drink, she said this food is For All Of You. Tortoise collected all the drinks and food meant for him and friends and ate everything saying the food is for all of you which was his name. The birds got angry and couldn't say a word because all of you is his name.

After the end of the party and they were to come back to earth those that volunteered their feathers to tortoise collected it back but he pleaded with his friend that when he reached home he should tell his wife to gather all the soft materials and beds in the house that he was going to jump down so when he land his going to land on the bed but his friend went home and told his wife the opposite. His wife went and gathered all the iron and stones and packed it at the spot he was going to jump down. When he saw that there was a heap of items on earth, he was happy and then he jumped down. lo and behold as he landed all his shells got broken and the little pieces they picked from the ground they had to stitch it for him and that's why the tortoise has a broken shell. In as much it is just fiction it has a moral lesson never to be greedy.

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Another of such stories is why the cat and rat are enemies. We were told that From the beginning the cat and rat were best of friends, they both live and do things together. But one day the cat and rat prepared a delicious food and the cat stepped out to get a chilled drink but before he came back the rat had eaten all the food. So he began to chase him and from that day till date when ever cat see rat thats why his always chasing him because of the evil the rat did to him. Again the moral lesson for this is that we should not be selfish and always learn to share with others.

I could go on and on about myth and thanks to @hivenaija for bringing up this interesting prompt for discuss.

thank you for your time, peace 🕊️.

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