08/01/2026
Deep inside the thick forest, where the moonlight touches the water like silver, there lived Nne, the river goddess. Her river was calm in the morning but powerful at night, and people believed every ripple carried her voice. Those who listened well could hear her laughter in the flowing water.
One dry season, when the land cracked and the crops began to die, the villagers forgot their respect and fetched water carelessly, throwing dirt into her sacred river. One evening, the river suddenly went silent. No frogs, no breeze, only still water like glass.
Then she rose.
Nne appeared from the river wearing white like morning mist, her hair flowing like the current. Her eyes were kind but strong. The ground trembled as she spoke softly, “I give life, but I can also take it back. Honor the river that feeds you.”
Fear caught their throats, and they knelt. The oldest woman stepped forward and begged for forgiveness. They cleaned the banks, brought kola nut and palm oil, and promised respect.
The next morning, rain fell — slow at first, then plenty. The river danced again, crops lifted their heads, and children ran through puddles laughing.
From that day, nobody joked with Nne’s river again. When the water sparkles under the sun, elders smile and say, “Nne is happy.”
Moral: Respect nature, because the same power that blesses you can also teach you a hard lesson.