Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Bird King of Africa African Folklore

Short African Folklore Story

Bird King of Africa African Folklore tells the story of the first and only meeting of African birds to choose their king.

Bird King of Africa African Folklore
Tink is a tricky bird
The birds of Africa wanted a king. Men have a king, so have animals, and why shouldn't they? All had assembled to choose a bird king to rule all of Africa.

"The Ostrich, because he is the largest bid in Africa," one called out.

They replied "No, he can't fly."

"Eagle, on account of his strength."

They replied "Not he, he cannot sing."

"Vulture, because he can fly the highest."

They replied "No, Vulture is too dirty, his odor is terrible."

"Peacock, he is so beautiful."

They replied "His feet are too ugly, and also his voice."

"Owl, because he can see well."

They replied "Not Owl, he is scared of the light."

And so they got no further. Then one shouted aloud, "He who can fly the highest will be king." "Yes, yes," they all screamed, and at a given signal they all ascended straight up into the sky.

Vulture flew for three whole days without stopping, straight toward the sun. Then he cried aloud, "I am the highest, I am king."

"Ha-Ha-Ha," he heard above him. There the smallest bird in Africa, the penduline-tit whose name was Tink, was flying next to him. Tink had held fast to one of the great wing feathers of Vulture, and had never been felt, he was so light. "Ha-a-ha-ha, I am the highest, I am king," piped Tink.

Vulture flew for another day still ascending. "I am highest, I am king."

"Ha-Ha-Ha, I am the highest, I am king," Tink mocked. There he was again, having crept out from under the wing of Vulture.

Vulture flew on the fifth day straight up in the air. "I am the highest, I am king," he called.

"Ha-Ha-Ha," piped the little fellow above him. "I am the highest, I am king."

Vulture was tired and now flew direct to earth. The other birds were mad and decided Tink must be punished because he had taken advantage of Vulture's feathers and there hidden himself. All the birds flew after Tink and he had to take refuge in a mouse hole. But how were they to get him out? The birds decided someone must stand guard to seize Tink the moment he pokes his head out of the mouse hole.

"Owl must keep guard; he has the largest eyes; he can see well," they exclaimed.

That night owl went and took up his position before the hole but in the morning the sun was warm and soon owl became sleepy and fell fast asleep.

Tink peeped his head out of the hole, saw that Owl was asleep, and zip away up into the trees. Shortly afterward the other birds came to see if Tink was still in the hole.  "Ha-Ha-Ha," they heard in a tree; and there sat the little cheating Tink. Still, to this day Tink’s can be heard singing and laughing at the funny trick he pulled on the other birds.

African Folklore Three Facts

African folktales usually have sly animals and spirits as the main characters.

Anansi is one of the most beloved African folktale characters. He often takes the shape of a spider and is considered to be the spirit of all knowledge of stories.

Reading African folktales will help kids make connections to their cultural heritage.


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

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Wise African Proverb

Wise African Proverb

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Chad Steamed Honey Cassava Buns

Image
Chadian Steamed Honey Cassava Buns African Recipes by African Gourmet   The Chadian steamed honey cassava bun recipe has as many variations as to the fillings and the preparations. Our recipe offers a tasty filling of sweet honey to compliment the delicate soft steamed buns. Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 25 min Total time: 35 min Ingredients 2 cups cassava flour ½ cup water ¼ cup honey ½ teaspoon salt Honey for drizzling Directions Mix together cassava flour, water, and salt. Knead until dough is formed then divide into 10 equal balls. Using your thumb make a deep indication in the center of each ball, fill with honey, and smooth the dough back over the filling. Place squares of parchment paper under each ball so the dough does not stick to the steamer, and steam in a bamboo steamer for 25 minutes. Drizzle with honey and serve warm as a snack, appetizer, or with a meal. Chad Food Recipes Chad's iconic steamed cassava buns are a tradition
Continue Reading

The Serenity Prayer translated into the 10 most popular African languages

Image
Prayer in Africa Serenity Prayer translated into the 10 most popular African languages Christianity Serenity Prayer in Africa Serenity Prayer is a popular verse in Africa. Christianity has deep roots in Africa and infuses itself into many sectors of African life. Serenity Prayer in Zulu, Swahili, Yoruba, French, Portuguese, English, Igbo, Arabic, Hausa and Afrikaans, Africa 10 most popular languages. The Serenity Prayer translated into the 10 most popular African languages Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 7-16-2014 The Serenity Prayer is brilliant in its simplicity. Just as it is on every continent, there is passion and tension about religious life. There are thousands of languages spoken in Africa; over 2,000 in fact. The top 10 most spoken languages in Africa in order are; Arabic, Kiswahili (Swahili), Hausa, English, Amharic, French, Oromo, Yoruba, Igbo and Zulu. Below is the Serenity Prayer
Continue Reading

Chura Dance Twerking on the Beach in Africa

Image
Chura Dance Twerking on the Beach in Africa African singer Snura Mushi Hawashi, Frog Dance or Chura twerking music video is claimed to be immoral and against the African country of Tanzania moral beliefs. Chura Dance Twerking in Africa  with Tanzania African singer Snura Chura Dance Twerking in Africa The thick plus sized twerking on the beach in Africa, bouncing, throwing one leg up and grinding, female African singer Snura Mushi's music video Chura is a hit among her fans, but not for the government of Tanzania.  The government declares the Chura song breaches the moral fabric of the public being crude and vulgar video for ages 18 and older. The ministry's Head of Information and Communication, Zawadi Msalla, said that the ban was imposed due to immoral acts in the video.  According to Msalla, the ban will be withdrawn if the artist makes amend of her Chura video and completing the procedures of registering her artistic work at the National Arts Council, BASATA.
Continue Reading

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Image
How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali and
Continue Reading