African Food and Art

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Angry Moon African Folktale

Rabbit learned the hard way in this African folktale to never to make the moon angry and most importantly never interfere with a messenger.
Angry Moon

Angry Moon African Folktale
The moon summoned a bee to give a message to humankind, saying, "Fly to Men, and tell them, 'As I die, and dying live, so ye shall also die, and dying live.'"

The bee started off with the message, but while on her way was swiped at by a rabbit, who asked, "On what errand are you flying so quickly?"

The frightened bee answered, "I am sent by the Moon to Men, to tell them that as she dies, and dying lives, they also shall die, and dying live."

The rabbit said, "As you are an awkward messenger, let me go to take the message to Men”. With these words, he ran off, and when he reached Men, he said, "I am sent by the Moon to tell you, 'As I die, and dying perish, in the same manner ye shall also die and come wholly to an end.”

Then rabbit returned to the Moon thinking he will be in her good graces for delivering the message to humankind and repeated to her what he told to people not knowing he got the message wrong.

The Moon scolded rabbit angrily, saying, "You dare come in my presence and tell the people a thing which I have not said! You dare, on your own accord replace the messenger I sent to the people! You usurper of my throne!"

With these words, she took up a piece of wood, and struck the rabbit on the nose. Since that day, the rabbit's nose is slit because he angered the moon.

The Moon 
Did you Know?
The Moon is slowly drifting away from the Earth. The Moon is moving approximately 1.5 inches away from earth every year. In 50 million years the Moon will take around 47 days to orbit the Earth instead of the current 27.3 days.

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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