This week, on Myths and Legends, it's a story from Ghana about what happens when a ruler

flirts with tyranny. They get plagued by a snarky talking baby. The creature this week has a deal

with St. Patrick. It's a giant bird with an all-you-can-tortment buffet of sinners, and also maybe

lost tourists.

This is Myths and Legends, episode 407, Wiser.

This is a podcast where we tell stories from mythology and folklore.

Some are incredibly popular tales you might think you know, but with surprising origins. Others are stories that

might be new to you, but are definitely worth a listen. Today's story comes to us from West Africa,

from the Dagara people in northern Ghana. It's closer to a fairy tale, since there's nothing

of religious significance and no historical

connection, but it's a story of what happens when a chief takes his power too far. He goes up against

a snarky talking baby. The woman was not yet a mother.

All that was going to change momentarily, she realized unexpectedly, on her walk back home from the field where she was farming.

Her water broke. Then the contractions.

I'm honestly amazed by anyone giving birth ever, but she did it alone. No servants, no husband there.

She knew the basics and had a knife on hand and she pushed. And soon, but not soon enough, the baby was born. She scooped

him up from the floor, severed the umbilical cord, and lay there with the baby in her arms, unable

to move. Her husband was off in the trees cutting wood. How would she get to him and tell him

that she had given birth, alone in their house? How would she tell them that she needed help?

Oh, no worries, Mom.

I can go get him, she heard.

She looked down to the smiling baby.

...