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.

ℛooster and the Hen Became Friends Short Story African Folklore

Fierce Sworn Enemies Rooster and Hen Became Friends Short Story African Folklore


ℛooster and the Hen Became Friends Short Story African Folklore

Short folktale story of how enemies become friends as Rooster and Hen were fierce sworn enemies.

Rooster and the Hen Became Friends African Folklore Tall Tale explore how enemies can transform hostility into harmony.

The animals one day said to the Rooster, "Why don't you build a house for yourself?" "The audacity!" haughtily answered the Rooster. "To talk of me building a house when the trees are bare and without leaves! I did build a house at one time, but it fell down in a heap. It will be a long while before I build another!"

One day he was very hungry, and he seated himself on top of a banana stalk. Looking down from his lofty perch, he happened to see some tempting red berries in the brambles below. They looked altogether too tempting! So, without further thought, he made a dive for the tempting morsel and presently found himself caught in a snare, which some of the naughty village-boys—his sworn enemies—had laid.

It so happened that about this time the Hen came along, in search of food for her little ones. She found the Rooster held tight.in the snare, screaming, and vainly trying to free himself.

The Hen, on seeing the sorry plight the rooster was in, was moved with compassion and pity. Therefore, spreading her wings, she swung herself aloft and perched on the snare. This tore from the force of her weight, and the Rooster was freed.

Sometime after, while the Hen was busily engaged looking for worms, a hawk suddenly appeared, intent on carrying off her little chicks that were basking in the sun in front of the hut.

The Rooster, who was sitting nearby, saw the danger the little chicks were in and led them to a place of safety. After a while, the Hen returned. Then the Rooster told her what had happened, and how he had saved her children from certain death. On that day the Hen and the Rooster became intimate friends, and their friendship has not ceased even to the present day


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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