Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Listen to Lies Folklore Story

Listen to Lies Folklore Story


 Civet and Tortoise lost their friendship because they listen to lies tall tale story. When you listen to lies sour feelings hurt the character and reputation of others. The Listen to Lies African Folklore story is a sure way to wreck a true friendship.


Listen to Lies Tall Tale Story



The Tortoise and the Civet, although they lived in separate towns, had a good friendship. All the neighbors knew their kindness to one another, for they never refused to help one another in sickness and trouble.


One day the Civet heard that her friend the Tortoise had given birth to a child, so at once she got ready to pay the usual visit. On arriving at the crossroad leading to her friend's town, she met a Monkey, who asked her where she was going.


The Civet said, “I am going to visit my friend the Tortoise, who has given birth to a child." Monkey said, “Don’t you go, her child is very ill, and the doctor says that he must have the tip of your tail with which to make a charm to cure the child, and it will not be better until he has it. Of course, if you go it is your own affair."


When the Civet heard this, she became very angry at the insult, and returned at once to her own house. The Tortoise was very indignant at the neglect of her friend the Civet, because from the start of her illness she never received a visit from her. For a very long time they never visited each other.


By and by the Tortoise heard that her friend the Civet had given birth to a child. The Tortoise said, "Although the Civet never visited me, I will not treat her in the same way, for I will go to see her."
She started on her journey, and on reaching the crossroads, she met Monkey there, who asked her where she was going. On hearing, she was on the way to visit the Civet, Monkey said, "You are truly very stupid. The Civet's baby is very ill, and she has sent for the doctor who says he cannot possibly cure the child unless he has the shell of the Tortoise for a charm."


On hearing this, the Tortoise was dumbfounded and filled with fear, so she returned home at once. After a very long time the Civet and the Tortoise met at the funeral of a mutual friend, and they frowned at each other and would not speak. Towards the end of the funeral, the Civet and the Tortoise told the chief and the elders all about their former love for one another, and how the friendship had been broken by each hearing what the other wanted as a charm to cure her child.


The elders listened, admonished them and told them both how foolish they were. This restored the love they had for each other, and the elders told the Civet and the Tortoise that in future they were not to listen to any tales, but if one did hear anything against the other she was to go and ask her friend about it, and not keeps it in their heart. From that time, they remained true friends.



Did you know?

 What is a Civet

 The African Civet inhabits the savannas and the forests of southern and central Africa. The African Civet is a mammal and has short, dense fur that is a grayish color, with black spots arranged in rows along their bodies. The color is black with white or yellowish spots, stripes, and bands. The long and coarse hair is thick on the tail.

Quotes African Proverb

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Cuban Military Presence in Angola

Image
The Cuban military had a long-lasting presence in Angola, with thousands of troops stationed there during a political conflict. The Cuban intervention in Angola had significant international implications and was seen as part of the broader Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.  Angola, a former Portuguese colony in southern Africa, was in the midst of a struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. This war for independence lasted from the early 1960s until 1974, when the Portuguese Carnation Revolution led to the decolonization of Portuguese Africa. When Portugal withdrew from Angola in 1975, it left a significant hole in the political landscape in the country. This withdrawal marked the end of decades of colonial rule and set the stage for the country's transition to independence. However, it also created a political void, as there was no clear, unified government to take control. In the absence of Portuguese colonial rule, many Angolan polit
Read the Article

Sand Traveling from the Shores of Ghana to New England

Image
The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, is an important reminder of the interconnectedness of all existence.  It serves as a reminder that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant elements of our world are subject to the grand tapestry of natural processes and the relentless passage of time.  It also invites us to reflect on the intricate web of relationships that underlie our existence and the profound implications of our actions on the global scale. The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, shows how interconnected our world is despite vast distances. Sand grains on the shores of Ghana, like those on coastlines worldwide, are constantly subject to natural processes such as erosion. Waves, tides, and weathering gradually break down rocks and minerals, producing sand. The Atlantic Ocean separates Ghana from the eastern United States. Ocean currents, including the North Atlantic Drift and the Gulf Stream, are c
Read the Article

Sofala: A Key Stop on Covilhã's African Odyssey

Image
Sofala, historically known as a significant trading town, holds a special place in the history of Eastern Africa. Located on the eastern coast of Africa, in what is modern-day Mozambique, Sofala was a bustling and strategic port during the late medieval period and the Age of Exploration. Navigating the waters around Sofala was no small feat. The Indian Ocean currents and shifting sandbars made the approach to the Sofala coast treacherous. Pêro de Covilhã's successful navigation of these waters demonstrated his seafaring prowess and furthered Portugal's ambitions to dominate maritime trade routes. To Portuguese explorers, Sofala was not merely a geographical destination but a vibrant crossroads of cultures and trade during the late 15th century. The Age of Exploration in the late 15th century was a transformative era in African human history. It was a time when intrepid European explorers set out on perilous journeys to chart unknown territories, establish trade routes, and unco
Read the Article

The Historical Context of Ubangi-Shari

Image
Ubangi-Shari is named after two major rivers in the region, the Ubangi River and the Shari River. In the early 20th century, as European colonial powers expanded their imperial influence in Africa, the region now known as the Central African Republic and Chad was part of a French administrative territory called Ubangi-Shari. This territory was named after two major rivers in the region, the Ubangi River and the Shari River. The Ubangi River flows through what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, while the Shari River flows through Chad and the Central African Republic. Ubangi-Shari was one of several colonial entities established by the French in Africa during this period. Ubangi-Shari encompassed a vast area in Central Africa, including the basins of the Ubangi and Shari Rivers and the surrounding regions. This territory was known for its geographical diversity, ranging from dense rainforests along the Ubangi River to savannas and desert areas furt
Read the Article