Tis’ the season of blessing, joy, happiness, and merry-ness. I would like to share with you a book which will make you all laugh to tears. A king, a beautiful princess, and a pot of hot chili sauce… the combination is bound to make you laugh. Enjoy this book, an African Children’s book, for young and young at heart, perfect for Christmas and to spice it up the African way! It is on kindle e-book. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
A strong-willed girl became so angry when her mother would not give her any of a delicious roasted root, that, she grabbed the roasting roots from the fire and threw the roots and ashes into the sky, where the red and white roots now glow as red and white stars, and the ashes are the Milky Way. And there the road is to this day. Some people call it the Milky Way; some call it the Stars’ Road, but no matter what you call it, it is the path made by a young girl many, many years ago, who threw the bright sparks of her fire high up into the sky to make a road in the darkness.
This is a South African tale about the origin of the Milky Way, from the Road Travel Africa.
Il y a longtemps très longtemps hyène et lièvre étaient de très bons amis. Mais la hyène, plus rusée trompait toujours le lièvre.
Chaque fois que ce dernier pêchait un superbe poisson bien dodu, c’était la hyène qui se régalait. Elle inventait des jeux étranges et sournois qu’elle “gagnait” toujours, puis dévorait le gros poisson cuit par le pauvre lièvre. Un jour le lièvre prit un si gros poisson que son amie hyène faillit s’étrangler de gourmandise quand elle le vit ! Mais ce jour-là, le lièvre dit:
– “Aujourd’hui est mon jour ! Je mangerai tout seul ce gros poisson !“
– “Il est bien trop gros pour ton petit ventre ” rétorqua la hyène; ” il pourrira avant que tu ne finisses de le déguster.“
– “C’est vrai, mais je le mettrai à fumer dès ce soir pour le manger par petits morceaux ensuite. Ce sera délicieux ! ”
La hyène faillit s’évanouir d’envie. Elle voulait ce poisson. Elle devait le manger. Et seule ! Elle convoita tant le poisson qu’elle réfléchit à une nouvelle façon de satisfaire son égoïsme et sa gourmandise aux dépends du lièvre. Elle agirait discrètement.
La nuit venue, la hyène traversa doucement la rivière tout près de laquelle dormait le lièvre. Le poisson cuisait tout doucement, embroché au dessus du feu et parfumant la nuit. La hyène gloussa de joie devant le mauvais tour qu’elle jouerait à son amie et s’approcha. Le lièvre faisait mine de dormir. Lorsque la hyène s’empara du poisson, le lièvre bondit, attrapa la broche chauffée à blanc et rossa la hyène qui s’enfuit en hurlant de douleur, de honte, mais surtout de rage !
C’est depuis ce temps que la hyène porte des rayures sur son pelage. Et qu’elle hait le lièvre.
Hunger and want forced Monkey one day to forsake his land and to seek elsewhere among strangers for much-needed work. Bulbs, earth beans, scorpions, insects, and such things were completely exhausted in his own land. But fortunately he received, for the time being, shelter with a great uncle of his, Orangutan, who lived in another part of the country.
When he had worked for quite a while he wanted to return home, and as recompense his great uncle gave him a fiddle and a bow and arrow and told him that with the bow and arrow he could hit and kill anything he desired, and with the fiddle he could force anything to dance.
The first he met upon his return to his own land was Brer Wolf. This old fellow told him all the news and also that he had since early morning been attempting to stalk a deer, but all in vain. Then Monkey laid before him all the wonders of the bow and arrow that he carried on his back and assured him if he could but see the deer he would bring it down for him. When Wolf showed him the deer, Monkey was ready and down fell the deer. They made a good meal together, but instead of Wolf being thankful, jealousy overmastered him and he begged for the bow and arrow.
When Monkey refused to give it to him, he thereupon began to threaten him with his greater strength, and so when Jackal passed by, Wolf told him that Monkey had stolen his bow and arrow. After Jackal had heard both of them, he declared himself unqualified to settle the case alone, and he proposed that they bring the matter to the court of Lion, Tiger, and the other animals. In the meantime he declared he would take possession of what had been the cause of their quarrel, so that it would be safe, as he said. But he immediately brought to earth all that was eatable, so there was a long time of slaughter before Monkey and Wolf agreed to have the affair in court.
Monkey’s evidence was weak, and to make it worse, Jackal’s testimony was against him. Jackal thought that in this way it would be easier to obtain the bow and arrow from Wolf for himself. And so fell the sentence against Monkey. Theft was looked upon as a great wrong; he must hang. The fiddle was still at his side, and he received as a last favor from the court the right to play a tune on it.
He was a master player of his time, and in addition to this came the wonderful power of his charmed fiddle. Thus, when he struck the first note of “Cockcrow” upon it, the court began at once to show an unusual and spontaneous liveliness, and before he came to the first waltzing turn of the old tune the whole court was dancing like a whirlwind. Over and over, quicker and quicker, sounded the tune of “Cockcrow” on the charmed fiddle, until some of the dancers, exhausted, fell down, although still keeping their feet in motion. But Monkey, musician as he was, heard and saw nothing of what had happened around him. With his head placed lovingly against the instrument, and his eyes half closed, he played on, keeping time ever with his foot.
Wolf was the first to cry out in pleading tones breathlessly, “Please stop, Cousin Monkey! For love’s sake, please stop!”
But Monkey did not even hear him. Over and over sounded the resistless waltz of “Cockcrow.”
After a while Lion showed signs of fatigue, and when he had gone the round once more with his young lion wife, he growled as he passed Monkey, “My whole kingdom is yours, ape, if you just stop playing.”
“I do not want it,” answered Monkey, “but withdraw the sentence and give me my bow and arrow, and you, Wolf, acknowledge that you stole it from me.”
“I acknowledge, I acknowledge!” cried Wolf, while Lion cried, at the same instant, that he withdrew the sentence.
Monkey gave them just a few more turns of the “Cockcrow,” gathered up his bow and arrow, and seated himself high up in the nearest camel thorn tree.
The court and other animals were so afraid that he might begin again that they hastily disbanded to new parts of the world.
South African Folk Tales, by James A. Honey, 1910, Baker & Taylor Company.
Jackal and Hyena were together, it is said, when a white cloud rose. Jackal descended upon it, and ate of the cloud as if it were fat.
When he wanted to come down, he said to Hyena, “My sister, as I am going to divide with thee, catch me well.” So she caught him, and broke his fall. Then she also went up and ate there, high up on the top of the cloud.
When she was satisfied, she said, “My greyish brother, now catch me. well.” The greyish rogue said to his friend, “My sister, I shall catch thee well. Come therefore down.”
He held up his hands, and she came down from the cloud, and when she was near, Jackal cried out (painfully jumping to one side), “My sister, do not take it ill. Oh me! Oh me! A thorn has pricked me and sticks in me.” Thus she fell down from above, and was sadly hurt.
Since that day, it is said that Hyena’s hind feet have been shorter and smaller than the front ones.
South African Folk Tales, by James A. Honey, 1910, Baker & Taylor Company.
THE ant has had from time immemorial many enemies, and because he is small and destructive, there have been a great many slaughters among them. Not only were most of the birds their enemies, but Anteater lived almost wholly from them, and Centipede beset them every time and at all places when he had the chance. So now there were a few among them who thought it would be well to hold council together and see if they could not come to some arrangement whereby they could retreat to some place of safety when attacked by robber birds and aninials. But at the gathering their opinions were most discordant, and they could come to no decision.
There was Red-ant, Rice-ant, Black-ant, Wagtail-ant, Gray-ant, Shining-ant, and many other varieties. The discussion was a true babel of diversity, which continued for a long time and came to nothing. A part desired that they should all go into a small hole in the ground, and live there; another part wanted to have a large and strong dwelling built on the ground, where nobody could enter but an ant; still another wanted to dwell in trees, so as to get rid of Anteater, forgetting entirely that there they would be the prey of birds; another part seemed inclined to have wings and fly. And, as has already been said, this deliberation amounted to nothing, and each party resolved to go to work in its own way, and on its own responsibility.
Greater unity than that which existed in each separate faction could be seen nowhere in the world; each had his appointed task, each did his work regularly and well. And all worked together in the same way. From among them they chose a king-that is to say some of the groups did-and they divided the labor so that all went as smoothly as it possibly could. But each group did it in its own way, and not one of them thought of protecting themselves against the onslaught of birds or Anteater.
The Red-ants built their house on the ground and lived under it, but Anteater leveled to the ground in a minute what had cost them many days of precious labor. The Rice-ants lived under the ground, and with them it went no better. For whenever they came out, Anteater visited them and took them out sack and pack. The Wagtail-ants fled to the trees, but there on many occasions sat Centipede waiting for them, or the birds gobbled them up. The Gray-ants had intended to save themselves from extermination by taking to flight, but this also availed them nothing, because the Lizard, the Hunting-spider, and the birds went a great deal faster than they.
When the Insect-king heard that they could come to no agreement he sent them the secret of unity, and the message of Work-together. But unfortunately he chose for his messenger the Beetle, and he has never yet arrived at the Ants, so that they are still to-day the embodiment of discord and consequently the prey of enemies.
South African Folk Tales, by James A. Honey, 1910, Baker & Taylor Company.
Malgré son odeur vraiment désagréable, le bouc est respecté par les autres animaux. Il passe pour un sage et on écoute ses conseils : d’ailleurs n’est-ce pas lui qui porte la barbiche comme un vieillard ? Mais le bouc n’a pas toujours eu cette réputation, et je vais vous dire comment il l’a acquise.
Autrefois, tous les animaux vivaient en paix. L’éléphant, la panthère, le bouc et l’hyène étaient alors de bons amis. Ils travaillaient tous quatre sur une grande plantation qui leur appartenait collectivement. A l’heure des repas, ils partaient, chacun de leur coté, chercher la nourriture. Ils faisaient la cuisine, chacun pour soi. Cela leur prenait beaucoup de temps.
Un jour, ils décident de mieux s’arranger entre eux. C’est l’hyène qui a cette idée. C’est elle aussi qui propose un règlement fort simple que les trois autres acceptent aussitôt. Voici ce règlement qui tient en une seule phrase : Chacun à notre tour, nous fournirons la viande pour nous quatre, pendant toute une semaine.
Le lendemain l’hyène propose d’ajouter une deuxième phrase. Voici ce qu’elle veut faire ajouter : Celui qui n’arrivera pas à rassasier les trois autres sera mangé par eux.
Cette règle est acceptée aussitôt par les quatre amis. Sans réfléchir, le bouc a donné son accord.
La première semaine est celle de l’éléphant. Il va dans la forêt frappant tout ce qui passe à portée de sa trompe. Il rapporte du gibier en grande quantité. Il prépare des repas si copieux que les quatre amis ne peuvent en venir à bout. Les charognards qui viennent mangé les restes ne peuvent plus s’envoler, tellement leur ventre est plein.
La deuxième semaine, c’est la panthère qui reçoit les autres. Elle leur sert d’énormes quartiers de viande. Le soir, elle se cache près du marigot, les hautes herbes, et elle attrape les animaux qui viennent boire : singes, antilopes, phacochères … Les ventres des quatre amis sont si pleins qu’ils peuvent à peine travailler sur leur plantation. La terre parait basse quand on n’arrive plus à se plier.
La troisième semaine est celle de l’hyène. La nuit, elle va voler des morceaux de viande aux autres animaux et elle les traîne chez elle. Cette viande laissée par les lions et les charronnages n’est pas toujours très fraîche. Elle sent parfois mauvais, mais il y en a beaucoup. En se bouchant le nez, chacun peut manger à sa faim.
Enfin arrive le tour du bouc. Jusqu’à maintenant il n’y a pas songé et il a mené joyeuse vie. Quand il s’aperçoit que l’hyène le regarde souvent en se léchant les babines, il commence à comprendre, et il commence à avoir à peur. Elle est sûre qu’il n’arrivera pas à attraper du gibier : est-ce que vous connaissez un seul bouc capable de chasser ? Continue reading “L’Eléphant, la Panthère, l’Hyène et le Bouc”
Il était une fois un homme et une femme qui, malgré de longues années de mariage, n’avaient pas d’enfants. L’épouse s’en désolait et se désespérait. Un matin, elle parti puiser de l’eau au marigot. Tout le long du chemin, elle avait pensé au bébé qu’elle n’aurait jamais et son visage était couvert de larmes. Seigneur Crocodile l’entend pleurer et s’approche : Femme, qu’as-tu ? Pourquoi sanglotes-tu si fort que tu troubles la paix de ma retraite ?
En tremblant, elle lui répond : Seigneur crocodile, je suis mariée depuis seize ans et je n’ai jamais pu donner d’enfant à mon époux. Quand je vois les bébés des autres femmes, je sens mon cœur se briser et mes entrailles se déchirer. Epris de compassion, Seigneur Crocodile déclare : Femme, si tu désires vraiment un enfant, je puis t’aider ! Mais tu dois d’abord me jurer que tu exécuteras tous mes ordres.
Pleine d’espoir, la pauvre créature essuie ses larmes et donne sa promesse qu’elle obéira en tout à son bienfaiteur. Parlez ! Je ferai tout ce que vous direz. Alors seigneur crocodile lui dit : Retourne chez toi. Prends trois œufs et apporte-les-moi.
La femme part aussitôt. Quelques instants plus tard, elle est de retour avec les œufs et les offre au seigneur crocodile. Celui-ci les prend gravement et continue : Ecoute-moi bien maintenant! dans neuf lunes, ton enfant naîtra. Si c’est un garçon, élève-le dans le respect de ceux de mon espèce. Il faut qu’il devienne notre ami, et ne nous fasse jamais la guerre en souvenir de moi. Si c’est une fille, alors, prépare-la à devenir mon épouse dès qu’elle aura éteint l’âge oublie.
– C’est promis ! seigneur crocodile, grand merci de votre bonté. Je raconterai à mon mari ce que vous avez fait pour nous et nous tiendrons parole, s’écrie la femme transportée de joie. Continue reading “Seigneur Crocodile et Jeune Fille”
Jackal, it is said, came once to Dove, who lived on the top of a rock, and said, “Give me one of your little ones.”
Dove answered, “I shall not do anything of the kind.”
Jackal said, “Give me it at once! Otherwise, I shall fly up to you.” Then she threw one down to him.
He came back another day and demanded another little one, and she gave it to him. After Jackal had gone, Heron came, and asked, “Dove, why do you cry? “
Dove answered him, “Jackal has taken away my little ones; it is for this that I cry.” He asked her, “In what manner did he take them?” She answered him, “When he asked me I refused him; but when he said, ‘I shall at once fly up, therefore give me it,’ I threw it down to him.“
Heron said, “Are you such a fool as to give your young ones to Jackal, who cannot fly?” Then, with the admonition to give no more, he went away.
Jackal came again, and said, “Dove, give me a little one.” Dove refused, and told him that Heron had told her that he could not fly up.
Jackal said, “I shall catch him.”
So when Heron came to the banks of the water, Jackal asked him: “Brother Heron, when the wind comes from this side, how will you stand?” He turned his neck towards him and said, “I stand thus, bending my neck on one side.” Jackal asked him again, “When a storm comes and when it rains, how do you stand?” He said to him: “I stand thus, indeed, bending my neck down.”
Then Jackal beat him on his neck, and broke his neck in the middle. Since that day Heron’s neck is bent.
South African Folktales, J.A. Honey, 1910, Baker and Taylor Company.
Il était une fois une araignée qui s’appelait Kakou Ananzè. Il habitait dans un village complètement ruiné par la sécheresse qui sévissait dans le pays. La famine était atroce et les gens mouraient comme des mouches.
Kakou à moitié mort de faim, décide de se traîner jusqu’à la rivière pour pecher. Il n’y avait plus qu’un petit filet d’eau. Araignée s’assied sur une grosse pierre et surveille sa ligne. Le flotteur ne bouge pas. Les heures passent sans qu’il attrape le moindre petit poisson. La faim le dechire. Il va abandonner cette vaine recherche de nourriture quand tout d’un coup, la ligne bouge, le flotter s’enfonce. Fort ! Kakou Ananzè d’un coup sec, tire et sort de l’eau un petit silure gros comme le doigt d’un nouveau-né. Au moment ou il allait l’avaler tout cru, le poisson se, met à parler : Compère Araignée, laisse-moi la vie sauve ! aie pitié de, moi ! si tu à l’eau, je te donnerai un bon conseil et tu ne te repentiras pas de m’avoir écouté.
Araignée hésite. Mais le silure est si petit qu’il n’apaisera pas sa faim. Alors il le libère et le remet à l’eau. Avant de s’en aller en frétillant, le silure remercie Kakou Ananzè en ces termes : Grand merci, comprend Araignée ! Maintenant, grimpe jusqu’à la troisième branche de ce gros fromager. Quand tu seras là haut, ferme les yeux et saute. Tu verras que tu ne regretteras pas de m’avoir obéi.
Kakou fait tout ce que le silure lui a conseillé. Une fois sur la branche, il ferme les yeux et saute dans le vide. Quand il touche le sol, il regarde vite autour de lui et sa surprise est grande. Il se trouve dans une ville magnifique aux maisons luxueuses, aux jardins pleins de fleurs et de fruits. Les habitants, qui sont tous riches l’emmènent au palais de la reine de ce pays magique qui lui dit alors : Ici tu peux faire tout ce que tu veux et vivre comme tu l’entends. Une seule chose t’est interdite. Ne te regarde pas dans le miroir qui est accroché à ce mur. Si tu respectes cet ordre ; tu seras désormais des nôtres.
Kakou Ananzè obéit pendant plusieurs mois et vit heureux dans le luxe et l’abondance. Cependant la curiosité le tenaille et il pense toujours au miroir. Pourrquoi ne puis-je me contempler dans cette glace, se dit-il. Pourquoi me le défend-on ? Je voudrais bien essayer, une fois seulement pour savoir.
Un beau jour, il n’y tient plus. Il va dans la grande salle, s’approche du mur ou est accroché le miroir et lève les yeux. Frrrt ! Il se retrouve aussitôt sur les bords de la rivière de son pays natal, exactement à l’endroit ou il avait péché le petit silure. Alors, dans son chagrin, il appelle : Poisson ! compère Poisson ! Reviens ! cher petit Silure ! aide-moi !
L’eau frémit et la tête du petit silure apparaît. Il ouvre la bouche et lui dit : Je veux bien t’aider, araignée ! Alors kakou Ananzè se précipite vers le fromager, grimpe jusqu’à la troisième branche, ferme les yeux et sans hésiter une seconde, saute … Et son corps s’écrase sur le sol au pied de l’arbre.
C’est pourquoi l’on dit chez nous qu’il ne faut pas être curieux car la curiosité est souvent punie.
Conte tiré de “Contes des Lagunes et Savanes,” Collection ‘Fleuve et Flamme,’ édition Edicef, 1975
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