Do not find fault with what you do not understand.

Why the Sea is Salty Tall Tale

Unbelievable But True African Tall Tale

Some tall tale stories are exaggerations of actual events but why the sea is salty African tall tale is true.

The African tall tale folklore story why the sea is salty explains the age-old question of how salt made its way into the seven seas.

Why the Sea is Salty Tall Tale

Why the sea is salty African folktale of the greedy Queen Fuma
Salty Sea

Fuma, queen of the sea, stole two magic millstones from her brother Prince Noka of the lakes and rivers.

Ordinary millstones grind corn into flour, but the Queens would grind out whatever the owner wished. However, Queen Fuma did not know how to make the magic millstones work.  She tried and tried, but they would not stir.

"Oh, if I could only move the millstones," she cried, "I would grind out

so many good things for my people. They should all be happy and rich."

One day Queen Fuma was told that two strange women were begging at the shore to see her.

"Let them come in," she said, and they were brought before her.

"We have come from a land that is far away," said the stranger.

"What can I do for you?" asked the queen.

"We have come to do something for you," answered the stranger.

"There is only one thing that I wish for," said the queen, "and that is

to make the magic millstones grind, but you cannot do that."

"Why not?" asked the stranger. "That is just what we have come to do. That is why we stood at your shore and begged to speak to you."

Then the queen was a happy indeed. "Bring in the millstones," she called. "Quick, quick!"

Old woman grinding salt at the bottom of the sea is why the sea is salty African folklore. "Rest? No. Grind on, grind on. Grind salt, if you can grind nothing else."
Fuma is a wicked Queen

The millstones were brought in, and the stranger asked, "What shall we grind for you?"

"Grind gold and happiness and rest for my people," cried the queen.

The women touched the magic millstones, and how they did grind!

"Gold and happiness and rest for the people," said the stranger "Those are good wishes."

The gold was so bright and yellow that Queen Fuma could not bear to let it go out of her sight. "Grind more," she said to the stranger. "Grind faster! Why did you come to my shore if you did not wish to grind?"

"I am so weary," said the stranger. "Will you not let me rest?"

"You may rest for a little while but not too long!” cried the Queen, "and I mean no longer!

Queen Fuma said “Now you have rested. Grind away. You should be weary who is grinding out yellow gold!"

"She is a wicked queen," said the stranger. "I will grind for her no more! The stranger then began to grind out hundreds and hundreds of strong warriors to fight Queen Fuma and punish her for her cruel ways."

The millstones ground faster and faster. Hundreds of warriors sprang out, and they killed Fuma and all her men.

"Now I shall be queen," cried the strongest of the warriors. She put the stranger and the magic millstones on a ship to go to a far-away land.

"Grind, grind," he called to the stranger.

"But I am so weary. Please let me rest," she begged.

"Rest? No. Grind on, grind on. Grind salt, if you can grind nothing else."

Night came and the weary stranger was still grinding. "Will you not let me rest?" she asked.

There at the bottom of the sea are the two millstones still grinding salt, for there is no one to say that they must grind no longer. That is why the sea is salt.

Shipwreck

"No," cried the cruel warrior. "Keep grinding, even if the ship goes to the bottom of the sea."

The stranger ground and it was not long before the ship sank to the bottom of the sea, and carried the cruel warrior with it.

There at the bottom of the sea are the two millstones still grinding salt, for there is no one to say that they must grind no longer. That is why the sea is salt.


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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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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