African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

African Folktale Story of the First Banana Tree on Earth

African Folktale Story of Earths first banana tree

African folktales are mythical true stories handed down through generations through oral tradition explaining the existence of the unknown. Below is the African folktale of how the banana tree was the first fruit tree on earth.

African Folktale Story of the First Banana Tree on Earth
African Folktale Story of the First Banana Tree on Earth
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African Folktale Story of Earths first banana tree.

As the Ancestors say, Okown was wandering the forest in search of food for his family when he came across a bag of golden seeds shaped like the sliver of the moon.

Uke, the God of seeds, was engaged in planting trees and did not notice he was missing a bag of seeds. Despite being hungry, instead of stealing the golden seeds, Okown returned them to Uke.

Uke rewarded him for his honesty with a handful of golden seeds. Okown went home and planted the seeds in his garden that grew into a beautiful, tall banana tree with shapes resembling the sliver of the moon and the color of the sun.

Links to more African Folklore


More short folklore stories from Africa to make you fall in love with myths and legends again from the motherland.

  1. Why the bunny rabbit has wiggly slits for a nose
  2. Love Takes No Less Than Everything Marriage Folklore
  3. Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story
  4. One Do Wrong All Get Punished
  5. Mighty Little Hedgehog

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