Somali Folk Tales and Stories
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A Doctor for the Bush
Once upon a time in the African bush, the animals needed a doctor, because infections caused by the arrows of hunters and other epidemics were ravaging the wildlife world. Then his majesty the Lion had an idea and called his subjects at his court declaring :
"My dear compatriots, I have called this meeting to inform you that we need a doctor in the bush to treat the injuries caused by hunters, so I would like some of you to volonteer as a future doctor and each candidate will present his qualifications before his majesty, that is to say, me and myself, but also his shortcomings."
Candidates were numerous.
The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Monkey.
The Elephant began : "Your majesty, I consider myself fit to be the doctor of the jungle because I am tall and strong, I also have a trunk, which serves not only to collect gallons of water but it can be used to grab the weakest patients and put them on my back ..."
- Your defects, Mr Elephant, asked the impatient king.
- Your majesty, since I am heavy, I walk slowly.
- Next ! Patients may die before you arrive.
The Tiger introduced himself in his turn: "Your majesty, I can be the doctor of the bush because I am certainly in the best position. I can run at 100 MPH, I can also take patients in my mouth and climb a tree if necessary..."
- We understand but we are waiting for your defects Mr. Tigre, interrupted the king.
- Well, since I am a carnivore, I'll find it difficult to restrain myself when seeing a weakened animal.
- Next ! All patients are at risk of being eaten by you !
Then the Monkey introduced himself, smoothing the little hair on his head :
"Your majesty, I am certainly the ideal physician for the bush because I am the only person among us who is not only able to walk on all fours but I can also stand up like a man, I can even understand their words and serve you as a spy to warn you of hunters' conspiracies who run after you with their poisoned arrows."
- Let's come to your defects, if you please, Mr. Monkey ! Started the king.
- I don't have any, your majesty ! Replied the Monkey.
- Not any ! Emphasized the king.
- No I assure you, repeated the Monkey.
- Well there we are ! What we need is a doctor without defects ! You are hired, let it be known !
A few days later, his majesty had a sore eye. The doctor was called, he arrived badly dressed and growing bald like all the doctors, with a stone tied to his neck to listen to the heart. He examined the eye and declared that all was well.
The King insisted :
- Damn, My eye still hurts and you're the doctor, find what's wrong with my eye !
The Monkey plunged his hand into the eye of the king, plucked it out at once, put it before the king's nose and said : "Since you don't believe me, look at it yourself !"
Lesson : in the world of men as in the world of animals, Mr. Monkey is certainly not the only one to do "monkey business" to get a position beyond one's means.
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A House for Two
Once upon a time in the jungle there was a lion looking for a building plot for his family. He toured the jungle, found a place that suited him and said : Inch'allah tomorrow, I will plant the first pole for the foundation then meanwhile he went to sleep in the grass there next to his family.
At the same time a tigress was looking for a nice little spot to build a small nest for her young, toured the jungle and found a place that suited her perfectly, planted the first pole for the foundation because it was an emergency for her and said : I will continue tomorrow Inch'allah and went to hunt meat for her young. The next day the lion came back, found a pole planted on his land, knelt with his paws up to heaven and made his prayers. Oh! My God, I thank you for the strong hand you lent me to build more quickly my house, me and my family will always be grateful to you. My mane, my courage, my health. Amen. He planted another stake next to the first one and went home.
The tigress coming in her turn found another post next to hers, thanked God in her turn to have helped, added another pole and returned to her cubs. So they built the whole house until it was completed without ever meeting. Then they moved in the same day and came face to face in front of the door. Each family being sure to be the one legitimate owner and feeling offended by the other, pushed their little ones inside, unfurled their claws, curled their moustaches showing their sharp canines and grunted furiously. But the tigress realized that the battle was not going to be equal. Because before her she found a couple, while she is alone. She returned her claws, let loose her nose and softened by requesting an arrangement because despite everything she built the house with them. The King was generous and did not hesitate to decide. Each family will live in one room and the lounge and the garden will be for everyone and no more. But the tigress did not intend to stop there, because she decided to have the house for her and her cubs alone, especially since there was another problem, going hunting she was forced to leave her children unattended and there was always one parent lion in the area and she did not trust them. One night around midnight she awoke her young by scratching them with her claws so strong that they were mewing aloud, and at the same time she shouted at them to shut up. The incessant crying of course disturbed the lion family sleeping nearby. The lion awoke yawning, addressed the tigress and said : Madam, are you sure that you fed properly ?
Yes sir Lion, I assure you, I brought them game as usual, because I never give them the same carcass twice. She answered his mildest way.
But since they have had enough fresh meat of doe and stag, they now refuse to eat and require lion's liver tonight. The lions raised their ears in alarm. But the next day she started again scratching them at the same hour.
One night the lions, fed up with the idea that the tigress might extract their livers during their sleep to give to her young, because, as we all know, a mother is capable of anything to satisfy her children, moved noiselessly away.
Lesson : if you can't afford to confront your enemies, try to overthrow them by trick.
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The three Oxen
Once upon a time there were three oxen of three different colours living together to help each other against possible attacks from flesh eaters. There was one black, one red and one white.
The lion who wanted to eat them but dared not attack all three at the same time, watched them from afar plotting plans.
One day he approached the white ox and said : Are not you ashamed to live with two very ugly oxen ? In your place I would proudly graze in the forest alone.
The white bull pondered the words of the lion all night and the next morning went in the opposite direction from his buddies. Immediately after he was alone the lion jumped on him and ate him. Once digested, the lion returned to the charge and told the same thing to the red ox who let himself be convinced and was devoured in turn.
Some time later the lion stood before the black ox and said : I've just come to eat you as I have already done to your friends and since you have no chance against me alone, it is better to prepare yourself to die. The black ox replied, "anyway I died the day the white bull died" and he let himself be eaten opposing any resistance.
Lesson : Unity is strength, division causes loss.
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Igal Shidal and the Enemy
Once there was a man named Igal Shidal. While Igal Shidal was asleep, his wife heard that enemies from a neighboring town would soon attack them. Igal Shidal's wife quickly ran home to wake her husband, to tell him about the attack. Igal Shidal didn't believe his wife. He said, "You always make things up, and tell stories to frighten me."
His wife said, "I didn't make this up. It's true. All the women and children are talking about the attack. The men are already gathered to get ready for the attack. You are a man. You must help them now."
While they were talking, the enemy arrived. The people in town shouted, "Here they come."
Igal Shidal wondered what he should do. Then he said to his wife, "We can't escape now. The enemy will kill all the men. I am going to sleep in front of our house. Roll me in a rug, and cry, 'Oh, my husband is dead.'"
Igal Shidal's wife wrapped him in a rug, and she cried and cried. Igal Shidal didn't trust her to cry as much as he wanted her to cry. So he said to her, "Cry louder! Cry until tears come from your eyes."
While she was crying, the enemy came. They asked her when her husband had died. Before she could answer, Igal Shidal said from inside the rug, "Say that he died yesterday."
His wife said, "He died yesterday."
The enemy was shocked to hear Igal Shidal speak. They said, "This is not a real man. He is such a coward that he cannot hurt us. Let him live with the women and the children. Let's go."
Lesson : People don't respect a coward.
Igal Shidal and the Lion Stump
Once upon a time there was a man called Igal Shidal. It was night and Igal Shidal was traveling in the countryside. He saw what looked like a lion sitting in the middle of the path. He was a coward. He thought, "Oh, this is a lion." Igal Shidal stood where he was. He took his shield and spear, and got ready to fight the lion. He yelled loudly, trying to scare the lion away. But he was not able to scare it away. It just stood there. Igal Shidal was too scared to pass.
In the morning he saw the tree stump. He went closer to the stump, and he said, "Stump, you are one thing, and what I saw was something very different. What will I do ? I thought you were a lion about to attack me, but you are only a stump. I will never travel at night again."
Lesson: Don't be afraid of everything you don't recognize.
The Hyena and the Fox
Once upon a time a fox became a problem to a nomadic settlement. This fox attacked and ate their goats and sheep. One day the people gathered together to plan how they could kill this troublesome fox. The people decided to set a trap.
The fox fell into the trap that was set for her. After awhile, the people came and tied her to a tree. The people decided to throw the fox into the fire.
They dug a hole near the tree where the fox was tied, and they gathered wood and they put the wood into the hole. They lit a fire, and said, "Let's come back when the fire is ready. Then we will throw this troublesome fox into the hole."
Soon after the people left, a very hungry hyena came by. He heard the fox whining. He came closer, thinking he could steal the fox's meal. He was very surprised to see that the fox was tied up to a tree. "What happened?" he asked.
The fox answered, "My uncle tied me here. My uncle really loves me. He tied me to this tree because he saw how thin and weak I am. He went out to kill a goat to cook in this fire so I can eat to get fat again. But I am not hungry now because I've been eating so much meat lately. Every time I try to escape, my uncle catches me, ties me to a tree, and he makes me eat more meat. Every time I eat, I get a stomach ache. I'm afraid that my uncle will kill me if I can't eat the meat."
The hyena opened her mouth very wide because fat juicy meat was her favorite food. The fox said, "Untie me from this tree so I can then tie you up. Then you can eat the meat, and I won't have a stomach ache." The hyena agreed to the plan. He untied the fox, and the fox tied the hyena to the tree.
When the people returned to where they had tied the fox to the tree, they found the hyena tied to the tree instead. They were surprised, and said, "Hyena, where is the fox?"
Then the hyena said, "I untied her. Now she is gone. The fox said that she was not hungry. I'll eat the meat you brought for her."
Then the people threw the hyena into the fire. The greedy and foolish hyena died in the fire.
The lesson: You will be punished if you are too greedy.
Ina Hagadare
There was once a man named Ina Hagadare who had many sheep. The animals began to die every day. He wondered why his sheep were dying. He decided to divide the animals into two equal parts separated by a fence. One part was for Allah and the other was for him. He spoke to God, saying, "These animals are for you. You can kill them if you want. But please, do not touch my animals."The next day the animals began again to die. Whenever one of his animals died, he went to the animals of Allah, and killed one. However, the animals did not stop dying. He said to himself, "Every time I talk to Allah, I am punished. Whenever I stop to talk to Allah, I am punished. My animals continue to die, no matter what I do."
Moral: Allah does not need animals. Try to help yourself to solve your problems.
Do you have the one about the female cannibal who was chasing kids or something along those lines? It's the one as @Umm-al-Dhegdheeriyaa profile pic I think lol
The Bird and the Fire
A long time ago two birds were neighbors. They built neighboring nests on the same tree. Their nests were cozy and safe for all their chicks. However, an eagle discovered their nests. The eagle came and ate their chicks and eggs every time they flew to fetch food.
One bird thought, "How can I protect my young from the eagle? The eagle is stronger than me. We're small and we don't like to fight. Let's light a fire in one of the nests. The eagle will smell the smoke, and never come back."
However, the nests were close to each another, and the fire ravaged both nests and everything around.
Moral: Be careful. If you do not know how you do it, you can hurt yourself and others.
A long time ago two birds were neighbors. They built neighboring nests on the same tree. Their nests were cozy and safe for all their chicks. However, an eagle discovered their nests. The eagle came and ate their chicks and eggs every time they flew to fetch food.
One bird thought, "How can I protect my young from the eagle? The eagle is stronger than me. We're small and we don't like to fight. Let's light a fire in one of the nests. The eagle will smell the smoke, and never come back."
However, the nests were close to each another, and the fire ravaged both nests and everything around.
Moral: Be careful. If you do not know how you do it, you can hurt yourself and others.
@Kanini
The Story of Dhegdheer, A Scary Somali Folktale
Once upon a time a man married a beautiful woman. They had a son together. After a while the husband married another woman. He divided his animals into two different parts for each of his wives. He built a big house for his new wife. The house was next to the house of his first wife.When the first wife saw the beautiful young wife and the new house, she got jealous. She got so jealous that she was almost crazy. Jealousy took over her. The next night she left the house with her baby. Her husband was with the new wife so he didn’t know that the first wife had left with their child.In the morning, everyone found out that she had gone. They went to find her, but they couldn’t.She tried to find where her family lived, but she got lost. She traveled many days and nights. She finally got to the Nugal Valley. The Nugal Valley was known as a place where a woman named Dagdare hunts for people.While the first wife was walking, she sensed that someone was running after her. But the running she heard was different than the running she knew. The running created all kinds of dust and wind. She knew that the person running after her was Dagdare. She kept running faster and faster and Dagdare kept running after her too.The mother and her son were both fat. Dagdare loved fat people. She was very hungry for them. Dagdare was use to running fast, and no one she chased ever got away from her. Dagdare was running faster and faster, but the mother was running too. While they were running, they came to some hargega holes (deep holes) in the ground. When the mother saw these deep holes that she couldn’t cross, she said, “Allah, save me.” Then she jumped across safely with her son.Dagdare stopped, and didn’t want to take the risk of jumping over these holes. When she couldn’t jump, she said,“Oh hargega holes, They can stop a man running at full speed. They can stop a man that is flying.Oh, look at the woman’s body. Oh, look at the deliciousness of her skin. Oh, look at her body shake. Look at her cute baby. Oh, hargega holes. Oh, they can stop a flying man.” She wailed and screamed and sounded like the winds of the night.
@Kanini
The Story of Dhegdheer, A Scary Somali FolktaleOnce upon a time a man married a beautiful woman. They had a son together. After a while the husband married another woman. He divided his animals into two different parts for each of his wives. He built a big house for his new wife. The house was next to the house of his first wife.When the first wife saw the beautiful young wife and the new house, she got jealous. She got so jealous that she was almost crazy. Jealousy took over her. The next night she left the house with her baby. Her husband was with the new wife so he didn’t know that the first wife had left with their child.In the morning, everyone found out that she had gone. They went to find her, but they couldn’t.She tried to find where her family lived, but she got lost. She traveled many days and nights. She finally got to the Nugal Valley. The Nugal Valley was known as a place where a woman named Dagdare hunts for people.While the first wife was walking, she sensed that someone was running after her. But the running she heard was different than the running she knew. The running created all kinds of dust and wind. She knew that the person running after her was Dagdare. She kept running faster and faster and Dagdare kept running after her too.The mother and her son were both fat. Dagdare loved fat people. She was very hungry for them. Dagdare was use to running fast, and no one she chased ever got away from her. Dagdare was running faster and faster, but the mother was running too. While they were running, they came to some hargega holes (deep holes) in the ground. When the mother saw these deep holes that she couldn’t cross, she said, “Allah, save me.” Then she jumped across safely with her son.Dagdare stopped, and didn’t want to take the risk of jumping over these holes. When she couldn’t jump, she said,“Oh hargega holes, They can stop a man running at full speed. They can stop a man that is flying.Oh, look at the woman’s body. Oh, look at the deliciousness of her skin. Oh, look at her body shake. Look at her cute baby. Oh, hargega holes. Oh, they can stop a flying man.” She wailed and screamed and sounded like the winds of the night.
Thank you so much! I've been meaning to find the full story for this, you made life easier walaal.
It was a hassle to find since Somalis usually share stories orally, I am glad you enjoyed it though.
@Kanini
Here's the analysis.
Here's the analysis.
- The name, Dhegdheer, means “the one with the long ear.” Her long ear stands up allowing her to hear sounds from far away and folds down when she is sleeping.
- Pronounce the title: Deg / dare
- Dhegdheer is a widely known figure in Somali folklore. Different versions of this tale can befound throughout the regions of Somalia.
- This story is often used as a cautionary tale. Children are warned to “watch out or Dhegdheer isgoing to get you” if they stray too far from home, especially after dark.
- Much like the threat in Hansel and Gretel, Baba Yaga, or Jack and the Beanstalk, Dhegdheer isknown to gobble up children. While the premise of the story is scary, Dhegdheer does not eatanyone in this tale.
- Tales of witches, ogres, or other cannibals are found throughout world folklore. These tales allowus to experience and deal with various fears. For children, giving voice to fears that they have ofmonsters and dangers can help them cope with such fears.
- The power of prayer and belief in Allah is taken for granted in this tale. This demonstrates theinfluence of Islam in Somali life. As the woman runs from Dhegdheer, she knows she cannot get far before Dhegdheer will catch her and her child, but she keeps praying. And as result, her prayers are answered.
- This retelling of Dhegdheer includes a lesser known ending. In most oral versions of this tale, Dhegdheer’s daughter (assisted by other girls) kills her mother by pouring hot water into Dhegdheer’s long ear as she sleeps. This version incorporates an adaptation of a lesser known ending that allows “greater forces” to end Dhegdheer’s life.
- Characters: Dhegdheer (the witch), village children,
- Themes: Rewards and punishment, good vs. evil, fear.
- Motif: The ending of this tale presents the folktale motif of unsuccessful repetition and also rewards and punishment. Noting how the fleeing woman crossed the valley, Dhegdheer tries to imitate her, hoping to cross the valley the same way. The valley repeats the same words it said to the woman. Dhegdheer is not free of sin and is therefore swallowed up. Peace returns to the land, the rains fall, and bushes and grasses flourish.
- Similar oral tales from other cultures: The Bogeyman, La Llorona from Mexico, El Coco or El Cuycuy from Latin America, Baba Yaga from Russia, Hansel and Gretel from Germany
I appreciate the effort of you finding them, I enjoyed reading it especially since I forgot the details.
Faahiye
Male Male Male Male
@Sharmaarke,
Ina Sanweyne
Justice only knows Allah
One day a certain man saw his lost she-camel in someone else’s herd. The herd’s owner, a respectable man famous for generosity, eloquence and military valour, said: ‘There’s nothing of yours here - be off while the going’s good!’
The she-camel’s owner went to the elders and asked them to settle the dispute, but the elders were afraid of the she-camel’s abductor and took his side. The owner did not accept their judgement and another group of elders was chosen to decide the case. Again a biased verdict was returned, and after the man had thus twice lost the action people asked whether he was going to demand a new hearing.
‘I’ve decided to put my trust in a Ina Sanweyne,’ he answered. The matter was handed over to Ina Sanweyne whose sister, as everybody knew, was the abductor’s wife. After the plaintiff and the defendant had been listened to and the witnesses questioned, Ina Sanweyne stood up and told his relative by marriage: ‘Justice doesn’t know a father-in-law and a brother in law, a relative by blood and a relative by marriage, a son and a daughter, a brother and a sister, a father and a mother, a maternal uncle and a paternal uncle, a distant relation and a close relation. Justice knows only Allah. Man, Return the she-camel!’
Having heard this, the man had been deprived of his she-camel sprang to his feet, shook hands with Ina Sanweyne and the other judges and said: ‘oh, Ina Sanweyne, I’ll speak about you everywhere!’
Then he returned to his encampment and to his dying day, whatever dispute arose, would say: ‘You should turn to Ina Sanweyne.’
Thus the fame of Ina Sanweyne spread all over the world.
Seeking Advice
A certain man came to Ina Sanweyne and said:
‘Uncle, I need your advice,’
‘What do you need it about?’
‘About divorcing my wife - advise me how to do it!’
Ina Sanweyne looked at him disapprovingly.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ Asked the man. ‘Are you angry with me?’
‘Yes I am,’ answered Ina Sanweyne.
‘Why?’
‘Because people seek my advice when they building a family, not when they are destroying it’, replied Ina sanweyne
Ina Sanweyne And His Daughter’s Suitors
Ina Sanweyne was not only a just but also a very wise man. It happened once that two men were wooing his daughter at the same time. One came from the land of Nugaal, the other was Ina Sanweyne’s neighbour named Nuur Cabdi Shacabi. In accordance with tradition each appeared with his cousins and a part of the bride wealth payment. The man from Nugaal brought a horse, and Nuur five or six rams. In the evening Ina Sanweyne called his sons who were riding the horse, and said:
‘You saw what the men who want to marry your sister brought. Now we have to decide to which of the two we’d better give her. What’s your opinion?’
‘She should marry the man who brought the horse,’ said the boys, ‘ Can you have any doubts on the matter?’
‘Yes,’ answered Ina Sanweyne. ‘I prefer the other man. His gift will bring you prosperity, while the gift of the man to whom you wish to give your sister would bring you enmity!’
Best,
Faahiye
Faahiye
Male Male Male Male
@Kanini,I appreciate the effort of you finding them, I enjoyed reading it especially since I forgot the details.
https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/5/1926/files/2018/04/DHEGDHEER_pdf-2n9oq1z.pdf
Best,
Faahiye
The Cat and the Mouse
A long time ago there was a cat and a mouse that agreed to travel together. As they walked along, the cat's mouth began to water because she was so hungry. The cat began to yawn and to stare at the mouse. The cat's eyes got bigger and bigger.
The mouse was surprised to see the cat's big eyes staring at him. The mouse said, "I can't travel with you today. Your staring eyes scare me. You travel on your own today, and I'll do the same." The cat asked, "What did I do wrong ? Whenever I see a mouse, I always yawn, and my mouth always waters."
But the mouse went his own way. He said, "I'm not traveling with you any more. From now on you are on your own."
Lesson: Don't trust someone you really don't know.
The Power of Education
Once upon a time, two men were travelling together. They were cousins. They were on their way to a special school that taught religion. While they were traveling, they stopped at a town that was ruled by an uneducated king. Since it was a Friday, they prayed at the mosque where the king talked nonsense. They slept in this town at night. In the morning they continued their travels. Finally, they reached their destination and they started to learn about the Islam religion. After they finished their religious education, one of the men said, "Let's go back home."The other one said, "I will not go back home until I learn about politics." The first man said okay, and he started travelling back home.
He returned to the town where the uneducated king lived. When he was in this town, the king was leading Friday's prayer again. The man prayed with them. After they had finished the prayers, the king gave a speech. He said anything he wanted because he was not educated. No one dared to say that the king was wrong. However, the man who learned religion took over the speech. He changed everything that the king said. He made the king look like a fool. The king ordered his soldiers to put the man in prison. They took the man from the mosque, and took him to jail. They put him in a dungeon.
After two years, the prisoner's cousin returned to the town after he finished his political education. He didn't know his cousin was in jail. It was another Friday (Prayer day for Muslims). When they finished prayers, the king started to give his same old speech. After the king finished the speech, the man who learned politics raised his hand. The king let him talk. The man said, "Your king is so intelligent." He kept praising the king. Then he said, "The luckiest person in this world is the person who prays with this king for four Fridays, but you would be luckier to cut one hair from his head. Everyone started running to get a hair from the King's head. A mosque full of people tried to grab the King's hair. They climbed all over the King, trying to get his hair. The King died. Then the people who lived in the town chose the man who learned politics to be their King. He let his cousin out of jail. He had very tangled and matted hair after being in jail for two years.
Lesson : Any education you gain will help you one day.
The Traveler
A long time ago a man was traveling. On the way he met a family. He said, "I'm going very far away. Would you let me stay with you for the night? I need to rest before I continue in the morning." The family welcomed him into their home. They brought him pillows and blankets and food to eat.Later that evening, the family's animals came home. They killed a sheep. They gave the meat and some milk to the traveler. The traveler was so hungry that he ate it all up without sharing any of it with the family.
The owner of the house asked the traveler, "Where are you going, and why are you going there?"
The traveler answered, "I am going to see a doctor because I have stomach problems. I have such a bad appetite. I can't eat very much."
The owner of the house was so surprised. Then he said, "You say that your appetite is bad. I beg you not to return this way after you get medicine for your bad appetite." Then the owner said to his family, "What will he eat after he gets the medicine? Now he eats only one sheep. When he returns from the doctor, he will eat ten sheep."
Lesson : The egoist thinks only of himself, but he must know he is not alone in the world.
