The Hunter’s Wife and Hèdagorli
Once upon a time, in a secluded village, a hunter and his wife lived in harmony. The man, valiant and experienced in the demands of the bush, sank into the forest depths each day and invariably returned with his game bag full.
One day, he brought back a unique specimen of prey: a live bird he had captured.
Surprised, his wife asked whether this bird could be prepared for a meal. But the hunter, in a firm voice, said she would do nothing of the sort.
“Beware of touching it,” he said. “Don’t kill it or eat it. Keep it alive.”
The woman accepted, though troubled by the order she did not understand.
A few days later, her husband left for another hunt. Taking advantage of his absence and yielding to her curiosity and desire, the woman took a knife and killed the bird.
The moment the blade touched it, the bird, in its final breath, began a strange chant.
Gorgounoulé, gorgounoulé, tɔkpozin,
Yɛhwé si tɔba jɛ xa jɛ,
Kɔja lɔlé, kɔja lɔlé,
Tɔkpozin kɔja lɔlé,
Tɔba jɛ xa gbɛ…
Shaken but undeterred, the woman prepared the animal’s meat. As she made her meal, the chant continued. It seemed the bird’s voice had permeated the food itself.
When she had finished eating, she returned to the house to rest. Only a few moments had passed when her stomach began to swell excessively. It tensed, grew heavy, and pain settled in with growing violence, like that of an unnatural pregnancy. Soon, her screams carried over to the villagers, who rushed to aid her.
They tried to cut open her stomach with a machete, but the blade had no effect. They then tried with an ax; nonetheless, no blow managed to cut into the inexplicable swelling.
Meanwhile, a bird like the one she had slain landed on the roof of the house.
“What ill is consuming you so?” he asked.
In a weak voice, the woman responded, “I ate a bird... and since then, my stomach won’t stop growing.”
Overwhelmed by suffering, she begged the bird for help, promising a just reward in return.
Moved by her distress, the bird took flight. It flew to a great height, then came down suddenly and, with its long beak, struck the swollen belly.
The first time, nothing changed. The second time, the pain persisted. On the third attempt, having gained even more momentum, it charged with great intensity and delivered a final blow.
Immediately, the swelling subsided. The stomach returned to its original form, and the woman, delivered from her torment, regained her health.
As a token of her gratitude, she showered the bird—named Hèdagorli—with gifts.
From then on, she understood the following truth: not everything that exists is meant to be consumed, and every prohibition contains wisdom that should not be ignored.