31. The Dispute of Night and Day

Day and Night argued about who was most powerful.
The people declared, "Night is the most powerful!"
Angry, Day went away.
It was dark all the time.
"Make some light," the people said to Night, but Night stayed dark; he couldn't create light.
Desperate, the people sent Rooster to get Day.
Rooster traveled far and wide, and finally he found Day.
"I bring news!" Rooster said. "The people were wrong. You are more powerful than Night, and they sent me to announce your return, singing your praises."
Day came back, and that is why Rooster announces daylight's return every morning.
[a story from Liberia]



Inspired by: "Day and Night" in Folktales from Liberia (Journal of American Folklore) by Richard C. Bundy, 1919.
Notes: You can read the original story online. The original story, given just in abstract, has Doodoo and Bleto (?) as companions to the Rooster on the quest, but I just focused on the Rooster.



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