The Cause of Thunder: From the Hausa People of West Africa, Part 1 of 2

Since ancient times, the Hausa people have revered nature deeply, believing that the trees, the rivers, the stones and all of the natural environment had spirits also known as Iskoki or Bori residing in them. They also have Tatsunya, or stories with a moral lesson, which have been passed down for generations. These stories included proverbs and riddles involving humans as well as animal-people. When Islam arrived in the 11th century, the Iskoki or Bori were accepted as creations of Allah, and the rendition of traditional folk stories included references to Allah.

Today, we are pleased to present a Hausa folklore on the importance of humility from the book “Hausa Folk-lore,” retold by Maalam Shaihua and translated by R. Sutherland Rattray.

A story about a giant, and the cause of thunder.

“This story is about a forest giant, about him and a man called, A-Man-among-Men. A story, a story. Let it go, let it come.

There was a certain man by name, A-Man-among-Men, always when he came from the bush he used to lift up a tree (and) come, (and) throw (it down), and say, ‘I am A-Man-among-Men.’ His wife said, ‘Come now, leave off saying you are A-Man-among-Men; if you saw A-Man-among-Men you would run.’ But he said, ‘It is a lie.’ Now it was always so, if he has brought in wood, then he would throw it down with force, (and) say, ‘I am A-Man-among-Men.’ […]

Now one day his wife went to the stream. She came to a certain well; the well bucket, ten men were (necessary to) draw it up. She came, (but) had to do without the water, so she turned back. She was going home, when she met another woman (who) said, ‘Where are you going with a calabash, with no water?’ She said, ‘I have come and seen a bucket there. I could not draw it; that is what caused me to turn back home.’ And this (second) woman, who had (a) son, said, ‘Let us return that you may find (water).’ She said, ‘All right.’ So they returned together to the well. This woman, who had the son, told the boy to lift the bucket and draw water. Now the boy was small, not past the age when he was carried on his mother’s back. Then he lifted the bucket then and there, and put it in the well, (and) drew up the water. […]”