West
African Folk-Tales
by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair
How
We Got the Name "Spider Tales"
How
Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race
Why
the Lizard Moves His Head Up and Down
Why
White Ants Always Harm Man's Property
Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves
Why Spiders Are Always Found in Corners of Ceilings
Anansi
and the Blind Fisherman
The
Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour By Itself
Why the Sea-turtle When Caught Beats Its Breast With Its Forelegs
How
Beasts and Serpents Came into the World
Honourable
Minu
Why the Moon and the Stars Receive Their Light From the Sun
How
the Tortoise Got Its Shell
Why the Leopard Can Only Catch Prey On Its Left Side
King
Chameleon and the Animals
To Lose an Elephant For the Sake of a Wren Is a Very Foolish Thing To Do
Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked
Honourable Minu
IT happened one day that a poor Akim-man had to travel from his own little village to Accra—one of the big towns on the coast. This man could only speak the language of his own village—which was not understood by the men of the town. As he approached Accra he met a great herd of cows. He was surprised at the number of them, and wondered to whom they could belong. Seeing a man with them he asked him, "To whom do these cows belong?" The man did not know the language of the Akim-man, so he replied, "Minu"[I do not understand]. The traveller, however, thought that Minu was the name of the owner of the cows and exclaimed, "Mr. Minu must be very rich."
He then entered the town. Very soon he saw a fine large building, and wondered to whom it might belong. The man he asked could not understand his question, so he also answered, "Minu." "Dear me! What a rich fellow Mr. Minu must be!" cried the Akim-man.
Coming to a still finer building with beautiful gardens round it, he again asked the owner's name. Again came the answer, "Minu." "How wealthy Mr. Minu is!" said our wondering traveller.
Next he came to the beach. There he saw a magnificent steamer being loaded in the harbour. He was surprised at the great cargo which was being put on board and inquired of a bystander, "To whom does this fine vessel belong?"
"Minu," replied the man. "To the Honourable Minu also! He is the richest man I ever heard of!" cried the Akim-man.
Having finished his business, the Akim-man set out for home. As he passed down one of the streets of the town he met men carrying a coffin, and followed by a long procession, all dressed in black. He asked the name of the dead person, and received the usual reply, "Minu." "Poor Mr. Minu!" cried the Akim-man. "So he has had to leave all his wealth and beautiful houses and die just as a poor person would do! Well, well—in future I will be content with my tiny house and little money." And the Akim-man went home quite pleased to his own hut.
The text came from:
Barker,
William H.
and Cecilia Sinclair. West African Folk-tales. Lagos, Africa: Bookshop, 1917.
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©Heidi
Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
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Page last updated September 5, 2006
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