African Folktales for the Young at Heart

The Mosquito, the Hand, and the Ear

A long, long time ago, in the time of our ancestors, when animals and body parts could talk and live together like people, there lived three good friends: Mosquito, Hand, and Ear. The three friends lived together in a large compound, but each had their own little house.

The three friends worked in the village. The Mosquito worked at the meat shop, the Ear worked as a spy for Sarki, the village head, and the Hand worked in the funeral home. All three went to their different jobs every day and returned in the evenings.

They went to work as usual one day, but Hand returned early. He had not eaten anything all day and was very hungry. When he got home, he looked everywhere in his kitchen but

found no food. Worse still, he had no money, not even to buy a small bowl of tuwo or even one masara.

“Kai,” Hand exclaimed as his stomach growled and rumbled. When he could no longer bear the hunger, he decided to go and get some from his neighbors. “Ear always has plenty of food,” he said to himself. “I will go ask him for some.”

When Hand reached Ear’s door, he remembered that Ear had not returned from work. None of his two neighbors were back yet. Hand sighed as his stomach growled even louder. He could not bear the hunger anymore.

He looked around the compound carefully, making sure that nobody was there. Quietly, like a cat stalking a mouse, Hand pushed the window open and climbed into Ear’s House.

In the kitchen, he found a pot of food and quickly began to eat. He ate and ate and ate until he was full. Just as he was about to leave the house, he remembered that he had no food back home. He decided to carry the entire pot of Ear’s food to his own house to eat later when he got hungry again.

As soon as Hand came out of Ear’s apartment with the stolen pot of food, he saw the Mosquito, who had just entered the compound. Hand froze with the pot of soup still in his hands as they stared at each other.

“Ya! Hand, what are you doing? Ear is not home…Are you... Are you stealing?” Mosquito asked in surprise.

Hand began to stammer. “I was hungry...I didn’t have any food. Hunger was beating me like a ganga. Please don’t tell Ear.”

Mosquito crossed his arms. “But stealing from our friend? That is not right, Hand!”

“I know. I know. Please don’t tell him. It won’t happen again, I swear.”

After some back and forth, Mosquito agreed and promised not to tell Ear.

Many moons passed, and all was well in the compound. But then one day, Hand and Mosquito quarreled over something they couldn’t resolve.

“Okay then,” Mosquito threatened in anger, “I am going straight to Ear to tell him who stole his food that other day!”

But as Mosquito flew to reach the Ear, Hand reached out like lightning and slapped Mosquito away. Again and again, each time Mosquito tried to get to Ear, Hand would swat him away.

And so, it continues to this very day.

End of sample. From African Folktales for the Young at Heart.