African-Inspired Creation Story

By Aoife Murphy, aged 12

In the beginning there were only three gods: Neke, Xea and Sanvi. Sanvi and Xea had a son called Fussa who later was the king of the gods – he was the god of courage and wisdom. However, there was nothing on the earth that could be brave or wise. In fact, there was nothing on the earth at all; just a barren wasteland.

He wondered how to change this. First he decided to ask his mother Xea to plant many, many seeds. Then he asked the rain goddess Neke to create a powerful storm. It lasted three days and three nights. After, he asked Sanvi the sun god (and his father) to warm the earth. By the end, there were plants everywhere in all shapes, sizes and colours. It was a sea of jade green leaves, pastel blossoms and bright ripening fruit. Yet there was some-thing missing.

“Creatures!” he thought. “We must create some!”

All the gods went to work making life. Xea made antelope and giraffes and okapi to wander on her earth. Neke made birds to fly in the wind – some were delicate and colourful while others were strong and vicious. Sanvi made powerful animals like elephants and hippos to fight against the cunning predators Fussa made. The gods were content with the world they created, so settled down to sleep. When they awoke, the world looked once more like utter desolation for, while they slept, the god of chaos Sho had been making mischief by completely destroying everything. There was no more of the gods’ hard work.

They were livid.

Sanvi was furious; he made huge deserts with the sun’s harsh heat. Neke cried so much her tears created expanses of sea and winding paths of rivers. Xea pummelled and pushed the ground, making mountains and valleys. Fussa thought of a justly awful way to punish him. Finally, he had an idea.

He was taken to mountain – the tallest mountain around – and had to push it down. The top was so pointed that if he were distracted, even for a moment, he would be skewered. Permanently. It was precarious work. Sho managed to push it ever so slightly down each day, but during the night it would stubbornly rise back up. Mean-while the gods remade the world with all the plants and animals, but thought they should make something to keep it in check. First they made monkeys but they were too mischievous. Next they made primates, but they were too involved in themselves. Eventually they found the perfect combination of strength, wits and kindness to make the first men and women. They did their job well (most of the time).

The world was complete.