Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky: A Southern Nigerian Folktale

Long ago, the Sun and the Water were good friends. In those days, they both lived on the earth, and the Sun often visited the Water at his home. Yet, no matter how many times the Sun came to see him, the Water never returned the visits.

Eventually, the Sun could no longer ignore this one-sided friendship.

“My friend,” he asked the Water one day, “I visit you often, but you have never come to my house. Why do you never visit me?”

The Water considered the question before answering.

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“I would gladly visit you,” he said, “but your house is too small for me and my people. If we all came together, we would fill your home and push you out. My people are many, and they need a great deal of space.”

The Sun had not considered this problem before. He wanted his friend to feel welcome, and he did not want the Water to think he was being deliberately excluded.

“Then I shall build a much larger compound,” the Sun promised. “There will be enough room for you and your people.”

The Water reminded him that the space would have to be enormous. His people were not few, and there would be many of them coming along.

The Sun remained confident that he could make it work.

When he returned home, his wife, the Moon, welcomed him warmly. He told her about his conversation with the Water and explained the promise he had made.

“We shall need a very large compound,” he said. “The Water has many people, and I want them all to have room when they visit.”

The Moon listened as her husband described his plans. The next day, the Sun began building. He worked until he had constructed a huge compound, far larger than the home they had occupied before.

At last, the compound was ready.

Pleased with what he had accomplished, the Sun sent word to the Water, inviting him to visit the following day.

The Water arrived as promised. Before entering, however, he called out to his friend.

“Sun, is it safe for me to come inside?”

“Of course!” the Sun replied. “Come in, my friend. You are welcome.”

The Water began to flow into the compound, bringing his people with him. Fish and all kinds of water creatures moved in alongside him, filling the space the Sun had carefully prepared.

At first, everything seemed fine. The water spread across the compound until it reached the Sun’s knees.

The Water paused and called out again.

“Sun, is it still safe for me to bring in more of my people?”

“Yes!” the Sun answered without hesitation.

The Water continued to flow in, and more of his people entered the compound. The level kept rising, covering more and more of the space the Sun had believed would be sufficient.

Before long, the water had risen to the height of a man’s head.

Once again, the Water called to his host.

“Do you want me to bring in more of my people?”

The Sun and the Moon answered together.

“Yes, bring them in!”

They did not understand how many more creatures the Water had waiting outside. They had welcomed him as a friend, and they had no idea that their enormous compound would soon be unable to contain his people.

So the Water continued to pour in.

The Sun and the Moon could no longer remain on the ground. With the water rising around them, they climbed onto the roof of their house, hoping that the higher position would keep them safe.

But the Water was not finished bringing in his people.

He called out to the Sun once more, asking whether more could enter. The Sun gave the same answer as before.

“Yes!”

More water rushed into the compound. It rose above the roof, covering the very place where the Sun and the Moon had taken refuge.

There was nowhere else for them to go.

Driven from their home by the rising water, the Sun and the Moon were forced to escape upwards into the sky.

And that was where they remained.

From that day onwards, the Sun and the Moon lived in the sky rather than on the earth, while the Water and his countless people continued to occupy the world below.

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Moral

Good intentions should be accompanied by good judgement. Before making a promise, consider its consequences and understand what you are agreeing to. Being generous is valuable, but generosity also requires knowing your limits.

Knowledge Check

1. Who were the two friends in the beginning of the story?

Answer: The Sun and the Water.

2. Why did the Water refuse to visit the Sun at first?

Answer: He believed the Sun’s house was too small to accommodate him and all his people.

3. What did the Sun do to prepare for the visit?

Answer: He built a huge compound to provide enough room for the Water and his many people.

4. What caused the Sun and the Moon to leave their home?

Answer: The Water continued bringing in more of his people until the rising water covered the roof, forcing the Sun and the Moon to escape into the sky.

5. What kind of folktale is this?

Answer: It is a pourquoi, or origin, tale that explains why the Sun and the Moon live in the sky.

Source

Adapted from “Why the Sun and the Moon live in the Sky,” Story XVI, pages 64–65, in Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa, collected by Elphinstone Dayrell, with an introduction by Andrew Lang, and published by Longmans, Green and Co. in 1910.

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