Long ago, in a small African village where children played under baobab trees and the river sang every evening, there lived a boy named Kofi. Kofi was cheerful, clever, and loved by everyone. But Kofi had one weakness: he spent everything he had as soon as he got it.
If someone gave him three cowries, he would run to the market and spend all three on roasted maize. If his uncle gave him a calabash of groundnuts, Kofi would eat and share them all before the day was done.
His grandmother often warned him, “Kofi, my child, money and food must be cared for like seeds. If you eat all your seeds today, what will you plant tomorrow?”
But Kofi only laughed. “Grandmother, the market is full every day! There will always be more!”
🌱 The Magical Calabash
One evening, while walking by the river, Kofi found a beautiful calabash floating gently in the water. It glowed faintly in the moonlight. Excited, he carried it home.
When he reached his hut, he set it down and said, “If only this calabash could give me something to eat.”
To his surprise, the calabash filled itself with steaming hot jollof rice, spiced with peppers and vegetables!
Kofi’s eyes widened. “Magic! A magic calabash!” He ate until he was full, then shared the rest with his friends. The next day, he asked for fried plantain, and the calabash provided. The next day, honey cakes—and again, the calabash obeyed.
Soon, the whole village knew of Kofi’s magical calabash.
🎉 A Life of Spending
At first, Kofi was generous. He shared food with children, elders, and visitors. But slowly, he grew careless.
Whenever the calabash filled, Kofi ate more than he needed. He began to throw food away, saying, “Don’t worry, I can always ask for more.”
When someone gave him a few coins as thanks, instead of saving, he rushed to the market to buy trinkets—bright beads, whistles, small drums. He filled his hut with things he did not need.
Grandmother shook her head. “Kofi, a calabash that is always emptied without thought will one day teach you a hard lesson.”
But Kofi only laughed. “Grandmother, I will never be empty. My calabash is magic!”
🌑 The Empty Night
One day, a drought came. The river grew thin, the crops wilted, and the market stalls were almost bare. The villagers looked worried.
Kofi, however, was not afraid. He called to his calabash, “Give me roasted yams with palm oil!”
But this time, the calabash stayed quiet.
He tried again, “Give me sweet bananas!” Still nothing.
Finally, in frustration, Kofi shouted, “Calabash, fill yourself with anything!”
The calabash rattled, cracked, and then went still. It was empty.
That night, Kofi’s hut felt colder and quieter than ever before. His friends did not come—because they too had little. His treasures—beads, whistles, and drums—could not fill his stomach.
He sat with his grandmother, hungry, and whispered, “Why did the calabash stop?”
🦉 The Grandmother’s Wisdom
His grandmother placed a hand on his shoulder. “Kofi, listen carefully. The calabash was not just magic—it was a teacher. It gave to you so you could learn to save, to store, and to use wisely. But you spent everything, every day, without thought for tomorrow. That is why it grew empty.”
She pointed to the field where farmers, though weary, still guarded their last seeds. “Those who save will plant again. But those who spend and waste will always be empty when hard times come.”
Kofi bowed his head. He finally understood.
🌞 The Change
From that day, Kofi began to live differently.
When someone gave him three cowries, he would spend one, save one, and give one. When he found food, he ate some and stored the rest. Instead of buying beads and whistles, he learned to trade and help the farmers.
Though the calabash never became magical again, it remained in his hut as a reminder. Whenever he looked at it, he whispered, “I will not be empty again.”
And soon, Kofi was no longer the boy who wasted everything. He became the young man the whole village admired—wise, thoughtful, and always prepared.
🌱 Lesson for Children
The story of Kofi and the empty calabash teaches us this:
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Spending everything today leaves nothing for tomorrow.
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Needs come before wants—food, shelter, and savings matter more than toys or treats.
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Saving even a little helps us stay strong in hard times.
So children, remember: Don’t empty your calabash every day. Fill it with wisdom, savings, and kindness—so it will never run dry.
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