LEGEND AND WONDERS

Here are some intriguing questions that highlight the wonders of our natural world:

• Did you know that certain birds can mimic human speech? For example, the African Grey Parrot is renowned for its ability to imitate human voices and sounds.

• Are you aware that some fish can produce light in the deep sea? Species like the Flashlight Fish have specialized organs containing bioluminescent bacteria, allowing them to glow in the dark depths of the ocean.

• Did you know that certain animals can change the color of their skin to blend into their surroundings? For instance, chameleons are famous for their ability to alter their skin color for camouflage.

• Are you aware that some plants can move to follow sunlight? This phenomenon, known as phototropism, allows plants to optimize light absorption for photosynthesis.

• Did you know that there are microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, where humans cannot? These extremophiles thrive in environments such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents and Antarctic ice.

These questions remind us of the astonishing and diverse phenomena present in our world.

Here is a folktale titled "Gizo and the Cow":

A long time ago, there was a cow who had three calves. Every day, before leaving for grazing, she would sing a special song to call her children to come out and eat:

"Sari’atul-ma come and eat, mazariƙi-mazandamu come and eat, maza-dandama come and eat, but you in the water, you cannot come."

Whenever the calves heard their mother’s song, they would come out, eat, drink water, and then hide again.

One day, Gizo (the trickster spider) hid nearby and listened carefully to the cow’s song. After the cow had left for grazing, Gizo attempted to sing the song, but he couldn’t get it right. Because of this, the calves didn’t come out.

After practicing for some time, Gizo finally learned how to sing the song correctly. When he sang it again, the calves believed it was their mother calling them, so they came out. Gizo quickly caught them and ate them.

When the cow returned from grazing, she sang her song as usual, but none of her children came out. That was when she realized she had been deceived and that her calves had been eaten.

This folktale teaches the importance of protecting one's children and being cautious of deception.