Why the Snake can Shed its Skin

Why the Snake can Shed its Skin, an African folklore tale

In The Beginning, Man struck a deal with The Creator that he would never die. Instead, when he got old, The Creator would send down a new skin for Man to put on, which would make him young again

One day, Man asked The Creator to prepare many new skins so that he could give them to his friends and family. The Creator agreed, although making special skins was hard work, even for one such as Him

Man was very impatient, however, and kept demanding that The Creator work quicker to complete the daunting task. At last, The Creator finished the skins and put them in a basket for safe keeping

He then asked Jackal to deliver the basket of skins to Man. Of course, Jackal was anything but reliable and on the way to the village, Jackal felt hungry and stopped to have a meal

He ate so much he felt very tired afterwards. “There’s no harm in laying down to rest for a while”, thought Jackal, before continuing on his journey to Man’s village

As Jackal dozed, Snake slithered past. Snake stopped and asked Jackal what was in the basket. Jackal told her about the special skins and that The Creator had entrusted him with delivering them to Man

Snake liked the idea of living forever and wanted the skins for herself, so she offered to guard the basket while Jackal had a little nap. Jackal thanked Snake, and promptly fell into a deep sleep

When Snake was sure that Jackal was sleeping soundly, she snatched the basket of skins and disappeared into the bush. When Jackal awoke, he was distraught to realize that he had been betrayed!

He ran to the village and told Man what had happened. Man was annoyed with Jackal for being so careless but was not overly concerned, thinking “The Creator will simply make me another batch of skins”

The Creator, angry at Man’s presumptuousness, refused to make any more skins. Man, therefore, had to die when he became old. Man blamed Jackal for this calamity and chased him away from the village

The Creator was also angry with Snake for being so greedy and cunning, so He took away the magical power from the skins, leaving them just as ordinary skins with no power to prolong life

To this day, Man still distrusts Jackals and Snakes, but Snakes still have the basket of skins so they can change their old skins for new ones whenever they want

(adapted, via Travel Butlers)

(images via Nathan Shepard, Africa is Woke, and Royal Road)