Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Calabash Child

Gourd transforming into toddler
Inspired by, but not claiming to be an authentic representation of, the Igbo/Ibo folktale The Calabash Child, retold by Buchi Offodile in "The Orphan Girl and Other Stories, West African Folk Tales".
 
Synopsis:
The diligent wife of a childless Igbo king (Eze) managed a farm. One day, she met a little girl among the calabashes that she cultivated. Before the queen's eyes, the child changed into a calabash and reverted back into human form. Delighted that her prayers for a child had been answered, the queen asked the child to accompany her back home. The child agreed on one condition: no one should ever call her a calabash child.