The singing bird

Ugandan children at HUG House love to listen to stories. Imagine you are there, sitting in a group before going to bed. It is dark with forest noises outside, but inside light is provided by candles and oil lamps. Ugandan stories are usually about animals and are used to teach children the difference between right and wrong. The moral of this story is don’t touch things that do not belong to you.

• It has an animal but it just behaves like an animal and does not speak or do some of the things that humans do. It is quite a short story.
• Is it a myth, a legend or a fable ?
• What is the difference between these three types of story ?
• Make a list of myths and legends that you know.
• See how many other ones you can find to add to your list.
• Working in a group, make up an animal story and act it out.

The singing bird

Once upon a time in a village called Laeni there was a chief called Ojubi. There were many people who worked for him in his palace.

One day, six women were told to go and fetch fire wood. When they were in the forest about to collect it a beautiful bird flew over them and perched on a nearby tree.

It began to sing beautiful songs in a rhythm that made the women want to dance.

The birdsong lasted for nearly four hours and the women danced all the time, really enjoying themselves. When they returned to the palace the chief asked them why they took so long to get back and they told him about the beautiful bird and how wonderful its singing was.

The following day the Chief sent a different group of women to the forest. They, too, encountered the singing bird and danced for hours.

The Chief was very interested and decided to go and find the bird. He and his bodyguards soon arrived at the place where the bird was and heard it singing wonderful songs. The chief was amazed and asked the bird to come and live in his palace. The bird agreed.

Once inside the palace the Chief instructed one of his guards to look after the bird carefully.

One day the daughter of the guard who was looking after the bird took it from its cage and asked it to sing for her. Realising that it was free the bird flew out of the window and straight back to the forest.

When the girl realised what had happened she started crying and went and told her father. He was very angry.

When the Chief learnt that his bird had flown away he ordered the guard to go and find it and return it to the palace. If not, then he would lose his job.

The guard set off into the forest hoping that he would find the bird. Fortunately he managed to catch it and the Chief was delighted to have it safely back in his palace.

Information between UK schools and HUG in Uganda will be monitored: Education Officer: Michael O'Kane
email: islandsschools@yahoo.co.uk