Long ago, before the Sun and the Moon lived high above the earth, they once lived among humans on the land. In those early days, the world was calm and closely connected. The Sun and the Moon were close companions who always stayed together, and people respected them for the light and warmth they brought. They lived in a large house near the sea, not far from where humans made their homes.
The Sea was also a friend of the Sun, but the Sea had a serious concern. The Sea had countless children, including fish, waves, water creatures, and powerful currents that followed wherever it went. Many times, the Sun invited the Sea to visit his home, but the Sea always refused. The Sea warned that if it ever came, it would have to bring all its children, and the Sun’s house might not be able to hold them.
Confident and generous, the Sun insisted that his house was big enough for everyone. After much hesitation, the Sea finally agreed to visit, but only after reminding the Sun once more that it would arrive with all its children.
On the day of the visit, the Sun stood at his doorway and called out loudly, asking if the Sea was coming. From far away, the Sea answered that it was on its way. Soon, water began to flow into the house. At first, it only reached the ankles of the Sun and the Moon. Then it rose to their knees, their waists, and higher still. The water kept rising without stopping.
As the Sea continued to enter, fish and waves filled the rooms. The Sun and the Moon climbed onto furniture to escape the rising water, but even that was not enough. Eventually, the water covered the entire house. With no other choice, the Sun and the Moon climbed onto the roof, and as the Sea kept rising, they were forced to climb higher and higher until they reached the sky.
When the Sea finally returned to its place, the Sun and the Moon looked down and realized they could not come back to the earth. From that moment on, they remained in the sky forever. The Sun chose to shine during the day, bringing light and warmth to the world, while the Moon took its place at night, glowing softly over the land.
Since that time, the Sea has stayed on the earth, and humans must look upward to see the Sun and the Moon. This traditional Nigerian folktale explains the natural order of day and night while teaching an important lesson about limits, balance, and the power of nature. It reminds listeners that even good intentions can lead to unexpected consequences when boundaries are ignored.