The Aroma of Africa Traditional Folk Tales (Volume 1)
By Awuol Gabriel Arok, Juba, South Sudan
January 18, 2017 (SSB) — The current economic hardship in the Republic of South Sudan needs outstanding wisdom, brotherly care and critical analysis; it should not be abused as the following story narrates.
Once upon a time three men were traveling through the desert when they discovered that they only had one loaf of bread left. It would not be enough for the three of them, so they agreed that one man would have all the bread. They discussed the matter, and decided that the one to have the best dream that night should have the bread.
They settled down for the night, and two of them went to sleep at once. The third one was so hungry that he could not sleep. So he got up and ate the bread-all of it. The next morning his friends rose early, and he asked them at once what dreams they had had.
The first one said, ‘‘I dreamed that I saw a golden ladder rising up into the sky, I climbed it, up and up and up, until I reached the gate of Heaven itself. The gate was opened by a beautiful angel, who took me by the hand and led me to a hall where there was music, dancing and feasting. I was told that I could stay there forever, but alas, it was only a dream!’’
The second one said, ‘‘I dreamed that an ugly devil arrived, seized me, and dragged me down into hell through a hole in the ground. There I was locked in chains, and beaten with iron rods. Oh, it was terrible! Thank God it was only a dream. The worst thing about that I was told I could stay there forever!’’
Then the man who had eaten the bread told his friends, ‘‘I dreamed that an angel came to me and asked me, ‘Have you seen what has happened to your friends?’ I said, No I have not. So the angel took me by hand and flew with me towards the stars and into Heaven.
There we entered a hall where musicians were playing and where people were dancing and feasting, and there I saw you, my friend sitting on a golden throne and surrounded by beautiful angels. I was told that you would be staying there until the end of the time.
Next the angel took me down, down, past the stars and the clouds and into the ground through a narrow passage, until we arrived in Hell. There I saw you, hanging in chains, and being beaten by ugly devils. And I was told that you would stay there and never get out. So when I came back here, knowing that neither of you would return, I ate the bread.’’
Its aroma and meaning is for the citizens of South Sudan to utilize and benefit from, we must all be the best dreamers by exposing our positive roles and patriotic stands in the Republic of South Sudan.
God Bless South Sudan
The author is Reachable at jjmkamzeearokson@yahoo.com
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