Calabash on the shoulder
Hope Habu
Meta Ai

In the heart of a green valley, surrounded by tall trees and shining rivers , stood a peaceful community called Apyiwoyi. It was quiet, peaceful, filled with love and laughter.

1

Every morning, the villagers wake up early. Farmers walked to their farmlands, children walk to school, women take their farm products to the market, hunters walked to the forest with their guns and hunting dogs.

2

What made Apyiwoyi beautiful was not it's green fields and high mountains, it was its people. They were loving, kind and hospitable to visitors just like Clinton the young tourist. Clinton loves adventures.

3

Clinton loves to explore and experience different culture and traditions, asides his own culture. Clinton stepped in to Apyiwoyi, and the first place he saw was the market square. Women and men buying and selling. It was a beautiful sight.

4

He saw a group of elderly men sitting under a tree discussing, he asked a passerby; "who are these men?" The passerby answered, "they are elders of the community, they sit like this to discuss the way forward for our community."

5

Clinton spent days in the village, observing, asking questions and making new friends. But their was something he noticed that he couldn't explain. Women in the community do not carry their water, farm products, firewood on their head.

6

Unlike other villages he has been to where they carry heavy loads on their head to ease the stress. Apyiwoyi was different, he knew that he needed someone to explain so he went to the kings palace to ask questions.

7

The king sent for his elders in council, when they came, they welcomed Clinton the tourist warmly and then sat down to listen to the questions he has for them. Clinton appreciated the king and elders and proceeded with his questions.

8

"I have noticed that women and men do not carry heavy loads on their head, instead they carry it on their shoulder. I have never seen such a way of life throughout my tourism." The king and chiefs smiled. And then the king replied;

9

"We the people of Apyiwoyi are special people, we see the head as the king of the body, the way you treat the head determines how the body will function. The head also houses the brain, it is the warehouse of knowledge, so we respect it."

10

An elder also added, "we do not stress our head that is why you see that we have the most brilliant children and youth amongst other communities around us. When you honour your body, it will also honour you.

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Calabash on the shoulder
Author - Hope Habu
Illustration - Meta Ai
Language - English
Level - First paragraphs