WHY THE TORTOISE HAS A CRACKED SHELL
(As told by Nimobi Sagnan on 4th November 2019 in Chamba, Ghana)
Introduction
The following is a Konkomba folktale that relates how and why the tortoise has a rough, cracked shell. The story is situated in an imaginary, nameless animal kingdom where animals assume human qualities and relate to one another. In this tale, the tortoise (the second wisest animal next to the rabbit or hare or bunny in Konkomba folklore) is characterized as wise but greedy; and his greed at a social function where he is a guest results in a dire consequence—an accident that badly damages his shell.
Story
Do you know why the tortoise has a badly cracked shell?, Nimobi asks.
Tell us!
We don't know!
No!)
Nimobi continues:
"How am I supposed to get to your house on top of that tall tree? You know I don't have wings like you, my friend?"
"Don't worry, my friend. Some of my colleagues and I will lend you some feathers to fly," replied the partridge.
Nimɔmɔk?
quizzes one of Nimobi’s audience.)You heard me right,
Nimobi replies and continues his narration.Whose is this?
All-of-You!
The tortoise would immediately empty all the food into the haversack he had taken with him to the festival. Why? Because his new name at the festival was All-of-You! As a result, the other guests and friends of the partridge who were at the same table with Mr. Tortoise had nothing to eat. This infuriated them and the birds immediately hatched a plan to punish the tortoise for his greed.
After the feast, all the birds who had lent the tortoise feathers decided to take back their feathers so the tortoise had no wings to fly back home. The tortoise then sent word to his wife through the rabbit (who was also a guest at the festival) to bring out all their clothes and everything soft enough and pile them under the tree so that he could fall onto the pile of clothes without hurting himself. However, the wittier rabbit and his angry bird buddies told Mrs. Tortoise on arrival that her husband had asked that she heap rocks and every hard thing she could find under the tree. So Mrs. Tortoise did exactly as she had been told. When the tortoise looked down and saw the mountain of rocks under the tree, he thought it was a heap of clothes so he tossed himself off the tree and landed on the rocks, only to realise that they were not as soft as he had expected. Fortunately for him, he survived the fall but damaged his shell badly.
Note
1. This is one of the numerous ways in which a Konkomba storyteller can end his or her story. This particular type of ending suggests that Konkombas believe that storytelling (or entertainment in the broader sense) has a health benefit, especially healthy physical growth. The association of storytelling with physical growth is so entrenched in Konkomba belief system that it is even believed that when a child engages in storytelling at daytime—for Konkomba storytelling sessions are held normally in the evenings after supper/dinner—he or she will have stunted growth. Also, the reference to the grandfather’s male Kapok tree in this type of ending points to the patriarchal nature of traditional Konkomba society.
A glossary of Likpakpaln words and phrases
Alasima Koofɛ:
Ndipoandaan:
Pito: