HOW THE TORTOISE GOT ITS SHELL

“How the Tortoise Got His Shell: A West African Origin Story”

Long ago, the tortoise was not the slow, shell-bearing creature we know today. In this enchanting tale from West Africa, Klo the tortoise was once a tall, handsome, and powerful traveler who served the great chief Mauri. When tasked with buying palm wine for a magnificent yam festival, Klo’s journey leads him to an unexpected battle with Koklovi the chicken, who refuses to sell his precious wine.

Victory comes at a price when Klo’s celebration turns to catastrophe. After drinking too much of the very wine he was meant to deliver, he finds himself caught in a terrible storm, struggling under the weight of an enormous load of palm trees. As the rains fall for two long months, Klo waits outside the locked palace gates, unable to shed his burden.

What follows is a transformation story that explains not only how the tortoise acquired his distinctive shell, but also teaches timeless lessons about duty, excess, and the consequences of our choices. Through Klo’s misfortune, we discover how even the mightiest can be humbled, and how sometimes our greatest strengths can become our greatest weaknesses.

A delightful blend of humor and wisdom that reveals the origins of one of nature’s most recognizable creatures.