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 to impress, he saw Ear resting on the side of a man’s head. Ear looked calm and wise, and Mosquito thought, “What a beautiful Ear! I should ask her to be my wife.”
So Mosquito buzzed closer and said, “Lovely Ear, I have come to ask for your hand in marriage. Let us be together forever.”
Ear turned slightly and looked at Mosquito. She could not believe what she was hearing. Then, she burst into loud laughter.
“You? Marry me? That is the funniest thing I have ever heard!” Ear said. “How much longer do you think you will live? You are already a skeleton! Look at yourself—thin, weak, and fragile. By tomorrow, you might be dead! Why would I marry someone who will not last?”
Mosquito felt deeply humiliated, but he did not say a word. He simply flew away, feeling ashamed. But inside, he was angry. He could not forget Ear’s words.
From that day on, Mosquito made it his mission to remind Ear that he was still alive. Every time he saw Ear, he would fly close and whisper, “I am still here! I am not dead yet!”
Ear, annoyed by this constant buzzing, would always try to slap Mosquito away, but Mosquito was too fast and always escaped.
And that is why, to this day, mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears before biting them—reminding Ear of the insult and asking again for marriage.
Reference
- Achebe, C. (1958). Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann.
