Series
17 records
In the heart of almost every traditional Igbo community lies a verdant sanctuary known as the Ihu Ala or Ohia Nso (Sacred Grove). These are patches of primary forest preserved for centuries, serving as the “spiritual lungs” of the community and the physical dwelling place of the Earth Goddess, Ala. In Igbo cosmology, the…
Among the Igbo people, stories are not merely told; they are lived, breathed, and remembered. Around the flickering fires of the evening compound, elders once gathered the young to pass on akụkọ ifo (folktales). These stories were more than entertainment; they were schools of wisdom where truth danced in the garments of imagination. Each tale…
A long time ago, in a beautiful forest, there lived a wise kite and her young daughter. Mother Kite was known for being strong and smart. Many animals in the forest would come to her for advice. Her daughter looked up to her and wanted to learn everything her mother knew. One day, the daughter…
A long time ago, a leopard and a goat were best friends. They lived in a village and both had children. The leopard had two cubs, and the goat had two kids. Over time, the goat’s kids grew fat and healthy, while the leopard’s cubs became thin. The leopard became jealous and planned something bad.…
Once upon a time, in a land brimming with life and laughter, there lived a wise old Tortoise with his children. One day, Tortoise sat his children down and said, “My dear ones, remember two things in life—never take what isn’t yours, and always tell the truth.” His children nodded earnestly, replying, “We understand, Father.”…
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young maiden in a village. She was known far and wide for her incredible beauty, and many suitors came from different corners of the world to ask for her hand in marriage. Despite the many wonderful offers, the maiden was very picky. No matter how handsome, rich,…
Once upon a time, in a great kingdom deep in the heart of the land, there lived a mighty and wealthy king. This king owned a magical drum that was the source of his wealth and prosperity. Whenever he beat the drum, food of all kinds would appear before him, and riches would pour forth…
A long time ago, Earth and Sky were close friends. They worked together to keep the world in balance—Earth provided a home for people and animals, while Sky sent down rain to help crops grow. But one day, they had a terrible quarrel. No one knows exactly what caused the fight, but Sky became so…
In Igbo mythology, Asele is a famous designer from Nimo, a town in the north-central Igbo region. She was the most skilled uli artist. Uli is a traditional Igbo graphic art used to decorate objects for social and religious purposes. Asele’s artistic talent came from Ala, the Earth Mother, who is the source of creativity…
A long time ago, in a peaceful village, Mosquito was known as a restless and boastful insect. He loved to talk about himself, telling anyone who would listen how important and strong he was. He would fly from place to place, making noise, never staying quiet. One day, as Mosquito flew around looking for someone…
A long time ago, in a small village, there lived a young Snake-Lizard and his mother. They were poor but hardworking. Every day, Snake-Lizard helped his mother with chores and brought food for them to eat. One day, Snake-Lizard went to the farm and harvested seven baskets of vegetables. He carried them home happily and…
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Obaledo, known throughout her village for her charm. During a time when monsters roamed the land at night, taking what they wanted, everyone knew to follow the rules to stay safe. One day, while her parents were away, they left her yam and snail for…
A long time ago, in the land of the chickens, there was a beautiful hen. One day, a powerful hawk saw her and decided he wanted to marry her. He went to the hen’s parents and paid the bride price. Knowing the hawk’s strength, the parents accepted, and the hen married him. The hawk took…
One day, the tortoise was walking through the forest when he saw a tall palm tree full of ripe palm kernels. He was very hungry and wanted to eat them, but they were too high to reach. So, he picked up a long stick and shook the tree until some palm kernels fell to the…
A long time ago, all the birds were invited to a big feast in the sky. They were very happy and got ready for the special day. They painted their feathers in bright colors and made themselves look beautiful. Tortoise saw the birds preparing and soon understood what was happening. He was very clever and…
Once, there was an old mother sheep who had seven lambs. One day, a bat wanted to visit his father-in-law, who lived far away. He went to the mother sheep and asked her to lend him one of her lambs to carry his load. At first, the mother sheep refused, but the young lamb was…
Once upon a time, there was a powerful king who ruled over both people and wild animals. Among all creatures, the tortoise was known as the wisest. The king had a son named Ekpenyon, and he gave him fifty young girls as wives. However, the prince did not like any of them. This made the…
Ozikoro