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I have a book called "when hippo was hairy" it's a lovely book full of african tales, all about animals.
The book also has a tale why the hippo stays in the water all day and only comes out to feed at night.
It's great story.

will copy it from book and send mail the story if you want me to.

That would be great ngala. I really enjoy reading (and learning) all the different interesting facts from everyone.

I did not find the full story, but I did stumble over this site. Myths and legends of the Bantu by Alice Werner [1933].
Happy reading.

Here is a hippo story from the book I have :

No fish for the hippo
(A bushman story)

This is a story why Hippo scatters his dung about. The story is common to most tribes in Africa, although it started with the Bushmen.

When the creator was giving each animal a place in the world, the pair of hippos begged to be allowed to live in the cool water which they so dearly loved.

The Creator looked at them, and was doubtful about letting them live in the water. Their mouths were so large, their teeth so long and sharp and their seize and their appetites were so big, He was afraid that they would eat up all the fish. Besides, He had already granted the place to another predator – the crocodile. He couldn’t have two kinds of large, hungry animals living in the rivers. So the Creator refused the hippos’ request, and told them that they could live out on the open plains.
At this news, the two hippos began to weep and wail, making the most awful noise. They pleaded and pleaded with the Creator, who finally gave in. But He mad the hippos promise that if they lived in the rivers, they must never harm a single fish. They were to eat grass instead. The Hippos promised solemnly, and rushed to the river, grunting with delight.
And to this day, hippos always scatter their dung on the river bank, so the Creator can see that it contains no fish bones. And you can still hear them laughing with joy that they were allowed to live in the rivers after all.

Thanx for that interesting story Ngala.
I searched the web but just cant find storys like that.

Do you have the ISBN???
Please pm the isbn to me.

grtz jaapvd.

Awesome story, thanks Ngala

Thanks Ngala, enjoyed the story. It's always nice to be able to tell children and visitors from overseas stories like these when you go to the park.

Here is the story about rhino and the porcupine quill.

[size=75]The lost quill
(A ndebele story)

Once, in ancient times, Elephant and Rhino had a little argument which led to a big fight. Rhino fought bravely and wounded Elephant several times with his sharp horn, but his bad temper and rage made him fight rather blindly.
Elephant, however, kept his temper under control and, because he was much bigger and stronger, and could use his long tusks, he was soon winning. Eventually Rhino had to give in. Bruised and torn, with a great many gashes in his thick hide, he limped away.

Rhino was in great pain and bleeding badly. He sought out Porcupine whom he thought might be able to help him. He begged her to give him one of her longest and strongest quills so that he could use it as a needle and sew up the great tears in his skin.

Porcupine who was not too happy about being awakened from her daytime sleep, was anxious to get back to bed and so to get rid of Rhino she agreed to lend him her best quill on one condition : that rhino would return it when he had finished with it.
My quillsâ€Â

Tops Ngala!
That was indeed the story I was looking for.

I love those old African animal tales!

I just love this story! They are so clever. Brilliant Ngala, thanks for posting.

bwana

Ngala, what is the name of the book and who wrote it? I would love to see if I could buy it.

Hi Hornbill,
The name of the book is "When hippo was hairy",
written by Nick Greaves.

Thanks Ngala - will look for it.

I have seen that book in many bookshops in South Africa.
Here is a link to more info on it: When Hippo was Hairy

There are a few similar books with tales from Africa:
When Lion could Fly
When Elephant was King
When Bat was a Bird
The Zebra's Stripes and other African Animal Tales