EP 157: How the Tortoise Got Its Shell, The Hunter and The Tortoise (Barker 1917)

Listen Here Watch Here How the Tortoise Got its Shell A few hundred years ago, the chief Mauri (God) determined to have a splendid yam festival. He therefore sent his messengers to invite all his chiefs and people to the gathering, which was to take place on Fida (Friday). On the morning of that day

EP 154: The Evil Eye of Sani (Lal Behari Day 1912)

Listen Here Watch Here The Evil Eye of Sani Once upon a time Sani, or Saturn, the god of bad luck, and Lakshmi, the goddess of good luck, fell out with each other in heaven. Sani said he was higher in rank than Lakshmi, and Lakshmi said she was higher in rank than Sani. As

EP 133: Ghana- Morning Sunrise, Honourable Minu, Why The Moon and The Stars Receive Their Light From The Sun (W. H. Barker 1917)

Listen Here Watch Here MORNING SUNRISE A MAN in one of the villages had a very beautiful daughter. She was so lovely that people called her “Morning Sunrise.” Every young man who saw her wanted to marry her. Three, in particular, were very anxious to have her for their wife. Her father found it difficult

EP 130:The Fish Peri (Ignacz Kunos 1914)

Listen Here Watch Here The Fish Peri THERE was once a fisherman of the name of Mahomet, who made a living by catching fish and selling them. One day, being seriously ill and having no hope of recovery, he requested that, after his death, his wife should never reveal to their son that their livelihood

EP 123: The Leopard man and other Yoruba Legends (M.I. Ogumefu 1929)

Listen Here Watch Here THE LEOPARD-MAN A handsome stranger once came into a certain village and strolled about among the people in mysterious silence. All the maidens admired him and wished that he would choose one of them for his bride. But he said nothing, and at last walked away into the forest and disappeared

EP 73: Thunder and Anansi + bonus

Collected by W.H. Barker (1917) There had been a long and severe famine in the land where Anansi lived. He had been quite unable to obtain food for his poor wife and family. One day, gazing desperately out to sea, he saw, rising from the midst of the water, a tiny island with a tall

EP 63: The Three Orange Peris

Retold by Ignác Kúnos updated by Dustin Steichmann In olden time, when there was abundance of all things, we ate and drank the whole day long, yet went hungry to bed. At this time there lived a Sultan whose days were joyless, for he had no son. Sorrowfully he set out with his lala, and

EP 57: Merchant Strong-Tooth

Translated from the Panchatantra by Arthur A Ryder MERCHANT STRONG-TOOTH There is a city called Growing City on the earth’s surface. In it lived a merchant named Strong-Tooth who directed the whole administration. So long as he handled city business and royal business, all the inhabitants were satisfied. Why spin it out? Nobody ever saw

EP 56: The Princes Fire-Flash and Fire-Fade

By Mrs T.H. James His Highness Fire-flash was a  Prince who was fond of fishing;  and so great was his luck, that big fishes, and little fishes, and all kinds of fishes came to his line. His younger brother, Prince Fire-fade, was fond of hunting, and all his luck was on the hills, and in

EP 50: The Loss of Friends part 3- The Jackal and the War Drum (पञ्चतन्त्र)

Translated by Arthur Ryder THE JACKAL AND THE WAR-DRUM  In a certain region was a jackal whose throat was pinched by hunger. While wandering in search of food, he came upon a king’s battle ground in the midst of a forest. And as he lingered a moment there he heard a great sound.  This sound