African folktale
The Man Who Never Lied is a wonderful African folktale. African folktales are stories forming part of an oral storytelling tradition shaped by the tongues of African elders passed down from one generation to the next.
The Man Who Never Lied African Folktale
Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
5-31-2013
Folktales reflect the morals, superstitions and customs of the African people. Explore the vast collection of folktales, myths, legends with Chic African Culture.
The Man Who Never Lied African Folktale
The
king heard about Mamad and ordered his subjects to bring him to the palace. He
looked at the wise man and asked Mamad, is it true, that you have never lied?
Mamad said it's true.
The King asked Mamad again “you will never lie in your life?" Mamad said I'm very sure! The King then said “okay, tell the truth, but be careful! The lie is cunning and it gets on your tongue easily."
The King asked Mamad again “you will never lie in your life?" Mamad said I'm very sure! The King then said “okay, tell the truth, but be careful! The lie is cunning and it gets on your tongue easily."
Several
days passed and the king called Mamad once again. There was a big crowd because
the king was about to go hunting. The king held his horse by the mane; his left
foot was already on the stirrup. He ordered Mamad to go to his palace and tell
the queen he will be with her for lunch and to prepare a big feast for us to
eat.
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| Family photo |
Mamad
bowed down to the King and rushed to give the Queen the message. The king
laughed after Mamad left and said "We won't go hunting and now Mamad will
lie to the queen and tomorrow we will call him a liar and ruin his good name.
However
the clever Mamad went to the palace and said to the Queen “maybe you should
prepare a big feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you shouldn't. Maybe the King
will come for lunch, and maybe he won't.” Frustrated the Queen said “tell me
will the King come, or won't he! Mamad said “I don't know, the last I saw of
the King he had his right foot in the stirrup, and his left foot on the ground.”
The King came the next day to the palace and said to the Queen “the wise Mamad, who never lies, lied to you yesterday!” But the Queen told him Mamad said to her “maybe you should prepare a big feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you shouldn't.
Maybe the King will come for lunch, and maybe he won't. I don't know, the last I saw of the King he had his right foot in the stirrup, and his left foot on the ground.” The King realized that the wise Mamad did not lie, and says only that, which he sees with his own eyes.
The King came the next day to the palace and said to the Queen “the wise Mamad, who never lies, lied to you yesterday!” But the Queen told him Mamad said to her “maybe you should prepare a big feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you shouldn't.
Maybe the King will come for lunch, and maybe he won't. I don't know, the last I saw of the King he had his right foot in the stirrup, and his left foot on the ground.” The King realized that the wise Mamad did not lie, and says only that, which he sees with his own eyes.
