The Evil Grandmother

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Long ago, in a quiet African village surrounded by thick forests and flowing rivers, there lived a little girl named Amara. She was no ordinary child—her beauty was like the sunrise, her laughter was like music, and her kindness touched everyone she met. From the old men at the marketplace to the young children who played by the stream, everyone adored her.

But life was not easy for Amara. Her mother had ****d when she was very young, and her father had traveled to the faraway city in search of work. Before leaving, he placed Amara in the care of his own mother, Mama Njideka, an old woman who lived in a clay hut at the edge of the village.

At first, everyone thought Mama Njideka would take care of Amara with love. After all, what grandmother would harm her own granddaughter? But deep inside Mama Njideka’s heart was a seed of jealousy. Each time she heard villagers praise Amara’s beauty, each time she saw people smile at the little girl’s gentle spirit, her heart grew darker. She muttered to herself:

"How can this small child shine brighter than me, her own grandmother? People should bow to me, not to her."

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The Wicked Heart

Mama Njideka was not only jealous—she was also known for her strange ways. Many whispered that she visited the forest at night and spoke to shadows no one else could see. Some said she carried charms hidden in her wrapper, charms that could cause sickness, blindness, or misfortune.

But no one dared to speak against her openly, because she was old and feared.

As Amara grew older, her beauty became even more radiant. Her skin glowed like polished bronze, her eyes were bright as the stars, and her voice carried sweetness that calmed crying babies. The villagers began calling her “the shining child of Oru.” This made Mama Njideka’s hatred boil like fire.

"I must silence her before she takes all the glory away from me," she whispered one night as she sat by her cooking fire.

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The Evil Plan

One moonlit night, Mama Njideka took Amara by the hand and led her to the river. The girl, innocent and trusting, thought they were going to fetch water. But when they arrived, Mama Njideka dipped her fingers in the stream and began chanting strange words.

"Spirits of the river, hear me! Take away this girl’s beauty. Give her wrinkles, give her sickness, let her shine no more!"

But the river spirit, angered by the old woman’s wickedness, rose with a mighty splash. A voice echoed through the waters:

"Old woman, your jealousy blinds you. This child is innocent. Her tears will bring your downfall if you continue."

Amara trembled, but Mama Njideka only tightened her lips and dragged the girl home. From that night, she treated Amara with cruelty. She gave her rotten food while she ate the best portions, sent her alone to the dangerous forest, and locked her in the hut whenever villagers visited.

But Amara, though sad, never complained. She only prayed to the ancestors for protection.

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The Miracle in the Forest

One hot afternoon, after a long day of insults, Amara wandered into the forest and sat beneath the great iroko tree. Her tears fell to the roots of the tree, and her sobs filled the air.

Suddenly, a voice spoke. She looked up and saw a wise old tortoise crawling toward her. Unlike ordinary animals, this tortoise spoke in a calm, deep voice:

"Little one, do not cry. I have watched your suffering. Your grandmother’s wickedness will not last forever. Take this leaf."

The tortoise handed her a glowing green leaf.

"Tomorrow, when she sends you to fetch firewood, carry this leaf with you. When danger comes, raise it high. It will reveal the truth and protect you."

Amara thanked the tortoise, wiped her tears, and carried the leaf home, hiding it carefully.

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The Day of Truth

The next morning, Mama Njideka shouted, “Lazy girl! Go to the deep forest and bring me firewood. Do not return until your basket is full!”

Her eyes glowed with secret wickedness, for she hoped the wild animals would harm Amara.

Amara obeyed, but this time she carried the tortoise’s leaf. Deep in the forest, when she bent to gather sticks, she heard growls. From the shadows, lions, leopards, and wolves crept out. Her heart raced, but she remembered the tortoise’s words. She lifted the leaf high into the air.

At once, a brilliant light burst forth, covering her like a shield. The wild animals stopped growling, bowed their heads, and instead of harming her, they helped her. The lions carried heavy logs, the leopards gathered branches, and the wolves filled her basket with sticks.

When Amara returned to the village carrying more firewood than any child could ever gather, the people gasped. They rushed out of their huts to see her. The glowing leaf still shone in her hand, and a voice thundered from it— the voice of the tortoise:

"This child is innocent. The grandmother you honor is the true evil in your midst."

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The Punishment

The villagers turned to Mama Njideka, who had been watching from her hut. Fear gripped her, but the truth could no longer be hidden. The people demanded she explain herself. Trembling, Mama Njideka fell to the ground and confessed everything—her jealousy, her charms, her attempt to destroy Amara.

The elders shook their heads in disappointment. The oldest among them said:

"Jealousy in a mother’s heart is the worst kind of evil. She wished death upon her own blood. Such a person cannot remain among us."

By the law of the ancestors, Mama Njideka was banished to the evil forest. Her cries echoed as she was led away, never to return.

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The Rise of Amara

The villagers took Amara into their care. They fed her, clothed her, and treated her as their own child. She grew into a wise young woman, and years later, when the village needed a leader, the people chose her to be their queen.

Under her rule, Oru prospered. The rivers flowed with fish, the farms yielded abundant harvests, and peace reigned for many seasons. Amara’s story became a lesson for generations. Parents told their children:

"Do not let jealousy live in your heart, for it destroys even family. Innocence and truth will always overcome evil."

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Moral of the Story

Jealousy is a poison that can turn even a grandmother into an enemy.

Innocence and patience are stronger than dark charms.

The truth may hide for a while, but it always shines in the end.