Mythology· Folktale & Narrative Retelling
Gizzo and the Birds
Gizzo knew how to obtain what he wanted but he did not know when enough was enough
By Bilkisu Sabiu· 5 min
Articles
Articles, essays and retellings on mythology, folklore and cultural memory from Nigeria and across Africa.
254 articles
Mythology· Folktale & Narrative Retelling
Gizzo and the Half-Man
There is more waiting for Gizzo on Half-Man’s farm than he expects
By Bilkisu Sabiu· 6 min
Mythology· Folktale & Narrative Retelling
Clever Not Wise: The Story of Alom The Hare
Alom is clever enough to outwit others. He is not wise enough to know when to stop.
By Gloria Anefu· 5 min
Mythology· Long-Form Article
Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice
Finally, someone the spider fears.
By Akunna Danugwu· 8 min
Mythology· Essay
Do We Live Once, Twice, or Forever?
The distance between the grave and the cradle is not always as wide as it seems in Igbo folklore
By Gospel Okoro· 9 min
Tradition· Editorial
The Oriire Journal: Call for Submissions
We're opening a call for original, deeply researched work on mythology, folklore and cultural memory for the first issue of The Oriire Journal. Submissions close on 1 December 2026.
By Oriire· 5 min
Mythology· Folktale & Narrative Retelling
Gizzo and the Two Giants
Gizzo the Spider cannot overpower the Elephant or the Hippopotamus. So he turns their pride against them
By Bilkisu Sabiu· 8 min
Mythology· Encounter
Àkúdàáyà
Five years after her husband’s closest friend was buried, Ujunwa hears a terrifying claim: he has been seen alive in a crowded market
By Chidera Dickson Oji· 11 min
Mythology· Heritage Review
And they tricked ever after…
Sometimes the only way for a powerless person to fight back is to be clever
By Shalom Kasim· 5 min
Tradition· Long-Form Article
Ten Nigerian Traditions Quietly Slipping Away
A look at ten Nigerian traditions that are still around, but not quite the way they used to be
By Star Gurl· 5 min
Tradition· Essay
Beyond Currency: The Enduring Lives of the Cowrie Shell in Igbo Cosmology
A shell once carried from hand to hand as currency, became a vessel through which history, spirituality, and identity continue to speak
By Akunna Danugwu· 6 min
Tradition· Long-Form Article
Eight Ways a Dead Twin Becomes a Bird in Ga Ritual
When a Ga twin dies, the story does not end with burial.
By Benjamin neil Ibrahim· 5 min
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