Ethiopian Folktales

Narrated by Akwai Gora

When the animals and human beings were all assembled, God told them that when the morning star appears and the cock crows, anyone who comes first will get a good share. First, God expected the buffalo to come, but the man came first and he disguised himself and said he had been brought up by dogs. The dogs had overheard God talking to the buffalo and saying, “You come first, when you see the morning star and I’ll give you the best share.”

The dog heard and he went and told the man, “Get up early and get the best share.”

So he did, and God said, “Who are you?”

And he said, “I am the foster-son of dogs. I am a man brought up by dogs,” and he was given spears.

Then the buffalo came.

God said to him, “Who came before? All the weapons are taken. There are only horns for you and other herbivorous animals who don’t have protective organs.”

They were given horns against man.

So from then on, all the cattle became servants to man.