Beninese Folktales — 45 Stories

• The Princess and the Dangerous Lion
• The Orphan Girl and Her Stepmother
• The Truth Behind the King’s First Wife
• Turtle’s Revenge on the Lion
• The King and the Magic Stone
• The Message That Went Wrong
• The Talking Drum’s Warning
• The Test of Generosity
• Sakpata and the Punishment of Pride
• The Disobedient Servant
• The Greedy Man and the Magical Gift
• The Man Who Tried to Escape Death
• The Hidden Spirit in the Village
• The Boxing Contest: Bird Outwits Elephant
• The Dove That Sacrificed and the One That Failed
• Why One Does Not Displease the Diviner
• The Rule of Sky and Earth: Sagbata and Hevioso’s Boundaries
• How the Vodun Came to Dahomey: Agadja and Hwandjelè
• Sagbata Stabilizes the Earth: Rain Restored and Balance Ensured
• Sun God Brings Iron to Man: Lisa and the Gift of Gu
• The First Human Family: Dahomey’s Sky-Born Ancestors
• Sun God Brings Iron to Man: Lisa and the Gift of Gu
• Sagbata and the Battle for Rain: A Dahomean Fon Folktale
• Sogbo Becomes Master of the Universe: Water and Fire Over All
• Kakpo and the Promise to Loko: A Vodun Tale from Tendjñ
• Sogbo Becomes Master of the Universe: A Beninese Folktale of Fire and Water
• The Boundaries of Sagbata and Hevioso in Dahomean Folklore
• To Each Is Given His Dominion A Beninese Folktale of Mawu-Lisa
• Sewanla and the Talking Tail: A Thunder-God Origin from Beninese Folklore
• The Dahomean Creation Story of Mawu-Lisa and Their Children
• Two Beninese Tales That Teach Lessons on Humility and Creation
• Stealing Fire from the Creator: The Wisdom of Chameleon and Tortoise in Beninese Folklore
• Three Beninese Folktales That Teach Wisdom and Caution
• Three Beninese Folktales That Teach Lessons on Life, Loss, and Companionship
• Two Beninese Folktales That Teach Lessons on Life and Wisdom
• The Ways of Mawu Are Just: The Messenger’s Deeds
• Aido-Hwedo, the Cosmic Serpent
• Mawu\’s Divine Justice
• The First Humans: Dahomey Creation Story
• Why Monkeys Can\’t Walk Upright
• How Legba Tricked the Creator
• Why Legba May Take All Women
• The Son Who Surpassed His Father
• How Legba Became Guardian of Men and Gods
• Four Beninese Folktales of Creation, Magic, and the Gods