Sunday, July 29, 2012

ghanaian folk stories

Why Hippo-po-ta-mus Sleep in the Water


Long, long ago, all the animals were living together in one place.  Every year Hippopotamus organize a feast for all the animals. During one of the feasts Hippopotamus ask all the animals his name. But none of the animals was able to tell Hippopotamus his real name.  So nobody knows Hippopotamuses name except his six wives.  So Hippopotamus told all animals to leave without eating their food.  They were very sad.  But when they were about to leave, the ant asked Hippopotamus what he would do to them if he mention his name.  Hippopotamus promise to leave the land and go live in the sea with his six wives.  So when all the animals leave, the ant climb on Hippopotamus’s wife and bite her on her ear. The moment the ant bit her she shouted “Hippo-po-ta-mus, I am bit!” So the ant was very happy and run quietly to his house.

At the next feast, Hippopotamus ask the same question, and ant shout “Hippo-po-ta-mus!” with joy.  So Hippopotamus went together with all of his six wives to live in the bottom of the sea.

That is why Hippopotamuses all live in the water up to this time.  (Ama)

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