A Story for Children
Long ago in the land of Tado, there lived a boy named Kokou. His family was poor, but they were keepers of important stories and ancient songs. They knew how to make medicine from forest plants and could heal sick people.
But the villagers didn’t like Kokou’s family. They whispered mean things about them. “They bring bad luck,” people said. “They are cursed.”
These lies grew and grew until they turned into hate.
One terrible night, angry warriors attacked Kokou’s home. They hurt his family, his father, mother, and sisters. Only little Kokou survived because a kind old hunter hid him under some mats.
“Stay quiet,” the hunter whispered. “Don’t move.”
When morning came, Kokou was alone. His family was gone forever. He cried and cried as he walked away from the village.
On the dusty road, a traveling merchant found him. “Child, what happened?” the merchant asked gently.
Through his tears, Kokou told his sad story.
The merchant’s heart filled with compassion. “Come with me,” he said, taking Kokou’s hand. “I will be your father now. I will give you a home and a bright future.”
The merchant raised Kokou with love. He taught him about trading and took him to markets in faraway places. He bought books and scrolls so Kokou could learn to read and write.
Kokou studied everything, the stars, the laws, the history of kings. His mind was sharp and quick. He learned from wise elders and remembered every lesson.
As Kokou grew into a man, he became famous throughout the land. Kings and chiefs asked for his advice. People called him one of the wisest teachers in all of Togo.
But Kokou never forgot where he came from. He took care of the old hunter who had saved his life. He treated the merchant like a true father, giving him love and respect.
Most surprising of all, Kokou forgave the village that had hurt him so badly.
“How can you forgive them?” people asked, amazed.
Kokou smiled wisely. “Hatred may kill the body, but kindness raises the spirit higher than the treetops.”
Kokou’s wisdom helped many people throughout his long life. His story was told for generations, teaching others that even from terrible sadness can grow something beautiful and strong.
Moral of the Story
Even when terrible things happen to us, we can choose to grow with kindness and wisdom instead of letting hatred control our hearts.
Word Helper
- Compound – A group of houses or buildings where a family lives together
- Merchant – A person who buys and sells goods, traveling from place to place to trade
- Compassion – A feeling of caring deeply about someone who is suffering and wanting to help them
- Scrolls – Long pieces of paper or material rolled up, used for writing before books were common
- Legacy – The good things someone leaves behind that people remember after they’re gone
Summary for Parents/Teachers
This Togolese folktale addresses the difficult themes of violence, loss, and forgiveness while teaching that tragedy doesn’t have to define us. Kokou experiences devastating loss due to prejudice and mob violence, yet chooses education, compassion, and forgiveness over bitterness. The story comes from Tado, an important historical region in Togo, West Africa, and reflects traditional values of wisdom-keeping, communal responsibility, and the transformative power of mentorship. While the story contains difficult content, it demonstrates resilience and the possibility of healing through kindness, Kokou honors those who showed him compassion and eventually forgives even those who wronged him. Use this story carefully with children, as it deals with family loss; focus discussions on the positive transformation, the importance of education, choosing kindness over revenge, and how helpers like the hunter and merchant made crucial differences. The tale works well for teaching about overcoming adversity, the value of learning, cross-generational mentorship, and how we respond to injustice with either continued hate or transformative wisdom.
Discussion Time
Want to discuss this with your child? Here are some questions:
1. The merchant found Kokou crying on the road and decided to adopt him. Why do you think the merchant helped Kokou even though he was a stranger?
Possible answers: The merchant had a kind heart, he felt sorry for Kokou, he saw that Kokou needed help, he wanted to do the right thing, or he wished someone would help a child in trouble. Discuss how small acts of kindness can completely change someone’s life, and how we can help others even when we don’t have to.
2. Kokou studied very hard and learned about many things stars, laws, and history. Why was learning so important for him?
Possible answers: Learning helped him become wise, it gave him a better future, knowledge made him strong in a different way, or education helped him help others. Talk about how education opens doors and how knowledge is something no one can take away from us, even when we lose other things.
3. At the end of the story, Kokou forgave the village that hurt his family. That’s a very hard thing to do. What do you think helped him forgive them?
Possible answers: He learned that hatred hurts everyone, he wanted to be free from anger, the kindness he received from others taught him to be kind, or he understood that forgiveness helps us heal. Discuss that forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay—it means not letting anger control our lives. Note that forgiveness is a personal choice and people heal differently.
4. The old hunter, the merchant, and later Kokou all helped people who needed it. Can you think of a way you could help someone who needs kindness?
Possible answers: Being friendly to someone who’s alone, standing up for someone being teased, sharing with someone who has less, listening when someone is sad, or including someone who’s left out. Help your child identify specific, age-appropriate ways they can show compassion in their daily life.
Classroom Activity
“Seeds of Kindness” Drawing Project
Give each student paper and drawing materials. Ask them to draw a tree with strong roots underground and branches reaching high into the sky. In the roots, they write or draw one hard thing that happened to Kokou (like losing his family). In the trunk, they write or draw the kind helpers (the hunter and merchant). In the branches and leaves, they write or draw the good things Kokou grew to become (wise teacher, helper of others, forgiving person). Discuss how sadness can be transformed into something good when we receive and give kindness, just like roots help trees grow tall and strong.Retry
