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 angry that it refused to send rain to Earth.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Without rain, the rivers dried up, and the crops withered. People and animals suffered greatly from hunger and thirst.
Seeing this suffering, the vulture, who was known for flying the highest, decided to help. He spread his great wings and soared into the sky, carrying a message from the people and animals. As he flew, he sang a sorrowful song, begging Sky to forgive Earth and send rain once again.
Hearing the vulture’s song, Sky was moved to pity. Sky decided to send rain but wrapped it in cocoyam leaves so the vulture could carry it safely back to Earth. However, as the vulture flew down, his sharp claws accidentally tore the leaves, and the rain poured down over a distant land instead of where it was needed most.
Since then, the rain no longer falls as it once did, and droughts still happen when Earth and Sky are not in harmony.
Moral:
This tale teaches the importance of peace, forgiveness, and responsibility. Even with good intentions, careless actions can have serious consequences.
Reference
Achebe, C. (1958). Things Fall Apart. Heinemann.
