The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RIDDLES

MANY CHILDREN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN AND
TO TELL RIDDLES. HOWEVER, IN A GROUP IN WHICH MANY MALES
WERE PRESENT, THE MALE WOULD ENTHUSIASTICALLY TAKE OVER
THE RIDDLE SESSION. THUS, MOST AFRICAN RIDDLES HAVE
BEEN TOLD BY MALES. RIDDLES OFTEN BEGIN AFTER THE MALES
HAVE RETURNED FROM THEIR DINNER. THEY WOULD THEN HUDDLE
INTO A GROUP IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD TO TELL RIDDLES.
THE PERSON WHO ASK THE RIDDLE IS ASSUMED SMART. THE PERSON WHO
GUESS THE CORRECT ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE IS THOUGHT OF AS
VERY BRIGHT. THESE PEOPLE ARE HIGHLY RESPECTED AND COMMANDED.
MANY RIDDLES ARE SIMILAR TO PROVERBS. THEY'RE PROVERBS
FROM WHICH QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED BY ANOTHER SUCH AS:
WHEN A PALM TREE IS AWAY FROM THE PALM, IT IS AWAY BECAUSE
OF LACK OF WATER. WHAT ABOUT A PLANT WHICH HAS DIED
BECAUSE OF LACK OF WATER?
ANS. WHEN A BABY DIES, IT IS SAID THAT THE CHILD WAS
POISON BY THE WITCH. WHAT'S ABOUT A WITCH'S BABY?
WHEN IT DIES, WHO KILLS IT? NATURALLY, THE WITCH'S MEDICINES.
THESE WERE SOME OF THE RIDDLES THAT WE WERE EXPOSED TO
AS CHILDREN GROWING UP IN MARYLAND COUNTY, LIBERIA.
WE HAD TO INTELLECTUALLY FIGURE OUT THE CORRECT ANSWER.
WHAT CREATES THE RAINBOW?
ANS. SNAKES ARE COLD BLOODY REPTILES. SNAKES USUALLY
WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN IN A WARM PLACE. SNAKES BECOME
TOO UPSET WHEN THEY ARE IN A COLD PLACE. A SNAKE EXPLODED
ONE DAY WHEN HE WAS REMOVED. WHEN HIS MOUTH WAS OPENED,
OUT CAME SEVERAL COLORS. THE COLORS WERE TO BE KNOWN
AS THE RAINBOW COLORS.
YOU HAVE A BOAT, GOAT, LEOPARD AND FIFTY POUNDS OF
CASSAVA LEAVES. YOU WOULD LIKE TO CROSS THEM ALL.
BUT, YOU CAN'T CROSS THEM ALL TOGETHER. WHAT DO YOU DO?
ANS. IF YOU SHOULD TAKE THE LEOPARD FIRST, THE GOAT WILL
EAT THE LEAVES. GOATS ARE VERY FOND OF CASSAVA LEAVES.
IF YOU SHOULD TAKE THE LEAVES FIRST, THE GOAT AND THE
LEOPARD WILL GET INTO A FIGHT AND THE LEOPARD WILL EAT
THE GOAT. THEREFORE, THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOAT IS CARRIED FIRST.
LEOPARD DOESN'T EAT CASSAVA LEAVES.

Submitter comment: MALES TEND TO HAVE A DOMINANT GRIP ON BOTH FEMALES AND CHILDREN
IN OUR TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETY.

Where learned: LIBERIA ; HARPER CITY ; MARYLAND COUNTY

Date learned: 00-00-1971

View just this record