African tale 7-8 years old Reading 5 min. Available in audio story (1)

The Brothers of Unity

In a village called Harmony, two brothers, Kofi and Jelani, face challenges together to save their people from a drought, showcasing the power of unity and friendship.

Download this story in PDF

Ideal for sharing or printing this story!

Download the e-book (.epub)

Read this story on your e-reader.

Une illustration destinée aux enfants représentant un homme sage assis sous un arbre, racontant une histoire à un jeune garçon curieux, dans un village africain entouré de grands acacias et baigné par la lumière dorée du soleil couchant.

report a problem with this image

The audio version is available for free for this story:

Duration of the audio story: 05:10

Download the MP3 files

Text size:

Dyslexia-optimized reading

Chapter 1: The Village of Harmony

Once upon a time, in the heart of Africa, there existed a village known as Harmony. The people of Harmony were renowned far and wide for their strong sense of community and their deep-rooted values of unity and togetherness. At the heart of this village lived a man named Kwame, a kind and gentle soul loved by all who knew him.

Kwame was known for his wisdom and his ability to bring people together. His words were like honey, soothing troubled hearts and bringing smiles to the faces of those in need. He lived in a simple mud hut at the edge of the village, surrounded by tall acacia trees and the sounds of nature.

One sunny morning, as Kwame sat outside his hut, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face, a young boy named Simba approached him. Simba was a curious child, always eager to learn and explore the world around him.

"Good morning, Kwame," greeted Simba, his eyes shining with curiosity. "I have heard stories of your wisdom and kindness. Will you share a tale with me today?"

Kwame smiled warmly at the young boy and patted the ground beside him. "Of course, Simba. Sit with me, and I will tell you a story of the power of family and friendship."

And so, Kwame began to weave a tale that would capture Simba's imagination and fill his heart with wonder.

Chapter 2: The Tale of Two Brothers

In a distant land, beyond the rolling hills and vast savannahs, there lived two brothers, Kofi and Jelani. Kofi was the older brother, strong and brave, while Jelani was the younger, quick-witted and clever. Despite their differences, the brothers shared a bond that was unbreakable.

One day, a great challenge befell the village where Kofi and Jelani lived. A fierce drought swept across the land, drying up the rivers and withering the crops. The people of the village were in despair, unsure of how to survive in such harsh conditions.

Kofi and Jelani knew that they had to act fast to save their home and their people. Together, they set out on a journey to find the source of the drought and bring water back to their village. Through thick forests and treacherous mountains, the brothers journeyed, facing dangers at every turn.

Chapter 3: The Trials of Unity

As Kofi and Jelani ventured deeper into the unknown, they encountered a series of challenges that tested their resolve and their bond as brothers. From ravenous beasts to cunning spirits, the brothers faced trials that threatened to tear them apart.

But through it all, Kofi and Jelani stood united, their faith in each other unwavering. They relied on Kofi's strength and Jelani's quick thinking to overcome each obstacle they faced, growing closer with every step they took.

Finally, after many days of travel, the brothers reached the source of the drought—a mighty dragon that had been withholding the rain. With courage in their hearts and a plan in their minds, Kofi and Jelani confronted the dragon, ready to bring an end to the suffering of their people.

Chapter 4: The Power of Unity

In a fierce battle that shook the earth and darkened the skies, Kofi and Jelani fought the dragon with all their might. Together, they combined their strengths and their wits, working as one to defeat the ancient creature and free the waters it had held captive.

As the dragon fell defeated at their feet, a great rain began to fall, washing away the drought and bringing life back to the land. The people of the village rejoiced, their hearts filled with gratitude for the bravery and unity of Kofi and Jelani.

Kwame, as he finished telling the tale to Simba, looked into the young boy's eyes and saw understanding dawning within them.

"Remember, Simba," Kwame said softly, "the strongest bonds are those of family and friendship. Together, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way."

And with that, the sun began to set over the village of Harmony, casting a golden glow over the land as the people gathered to celebrate the power of unity and the beauty of togetherness.

Ad-free €3 per month

Would you like uninterrupted reading? Support Oh My Tales, remove all ads and enjoy other included benefits from 3€ per month.

See the plans & rates

report a problem with this story

What did you think of this story?

Give your opinion by assigning a rating to this story based on what you and/or your child thought. Thank you in advance!

Current rating: 5 out of 5 (1 reviews)

The quiz: did you understand the story well?

Renowned: Well-known and highly respected
Unity: The state of being united or joined as a whole
Deep-rooted: Strongly established and difficult to change
Curious: Eager to know or learn something
Weave: To create or tell (a story) in a skillful or elaborate way
Captivate: To attract and hold the interest and attention of

Create a magical and unique story for your child!

Create a personalized adventure in just a few minutes where your child becomes the hero. With our exclusive tool, it's easy, free, and fun!

Create a story

Themes related to this story:

friendship teamwork kindness courage forest community bravery quest journey cooperation family love resilience river dragon wisdom unity mountain harmony

Download this story:

Download this story in PDF Download the e-book (.epub) Download the MP3 files

To read next in African tales for 7-8 years old

Kofi, a young man in his twenties with a gentle, focused face and grateful bright eyes, sits on the ground holding a small painted calabash and placing a wooden spoon and a length of string on his lap; Elder Ama, about 70, with tree-barked wrinkles and a starred shawl, stands a few steps behind him smiling with hands clasped; an eight-year-old boy in a colorful T-shirt crouches to Kofi’s right holding a small drum, and a six-year-old girl in a patterned dress stands to his left holding a mini painted calabash, all near a small orange fire in a dirt courtyard hung with red, yellow, and blue painted calabashes that sway in the wind, a large baobab in the background; Kofi gently touches a faint translucent shadow curled by the fire like a cat as the calabashes seem to vibrate and the villagers watch quietly—twilight atmosphere, warm colors, inked lines and watercolor washes.

The Courtyard of Singing Calabashes

Reading 9 min.

Adisa is an elderly woman with a gentle, wise, wrinkled face, bright eyes and a serene smile, joyfully walking with open hands across an old nailed wooden plank bridge toward a sunlit oasis; she wears a long colorful orange-and-blue wax-patterned dress, her hair braided in a crown and sandals worn, while an ~8-year-old village boy stands at the bridge entrance, arms crossed and admiring her, and a small lively green-winged bird perches on the railing beside her; the oasis has glass-clear water, smooth white pebbles, palm trees and emerald shrubs, red and yellow flowers along the banks, striped shadows under the slightly curved bridge, warm golden evening light with shimmering reflections, composition focused on Adisa’s movement, in a childlike manga style with soft lines, vivid contrasting colors and exaggerated friendly expressions.

Adisa and the bridge of whispers

Reading 6 min.

Amina, a young woman with a warm, earth-toned complexion and a round face, smiles calmly as she climbs a small wooden ladder holding bundles of palm leaves and a rope, her clay-stained fingers skilled; Old Tano, about 70, with a thick gray beard and narrowed eyes, stands on the worn wooden dock holding a salted rope and offering a painted board, looking at Amina with pride; a curious eight-year-old girl with tight braids and a colorful dress runs from the riverbank toward them with a spool of twine; the setting is a small African riverside village at late afternoon—colorful dugout canoes moored, adobe houses with palm-thatched roofs, dry grass and mango trees in the background—as Amina repairs her palm-leaf roof under golden light and a few raindrops bead on the new leaves, villagers on the dock watch and smile, creating a warm, peaceful, communal atmosphere.

Amina and the river of songs

Reading 8 min.

Kofi, a smiling man with a round face and chocolate-brown skin, holds a small drum and animatedly tells a story; an elderly griot (around 70) with dark skin and grey braids sits left under a massive baobab, kindly tapping a large wooden drum; a seven-year-old girl with pigtails in a yellow dress, knees muddy, laughs and reaches toward Kofi while several children (ages 5–10) sit on the golden grass with amazed, bright smiles; setting: a crossroads beneath the baobab at sunset with an orange-pink sky, tall golden grass, acacia silhouettes and distant mud houses; mood: warm sunset storytelling, griot accompanying on drum, joyful children, soft atmosphere, warm colors, rounded features and visible fabric textures with golden light.

Kofi's Journey of Smiles and Stories

Reading 6 min.

Main woman: Amina, ~30, round smiling face, warm brown skin, small braided hair with colorful beads, surprised sheepish expression, wide eyes and raised brows, holding a nearly empty light-brown clay gourd against her hip; Secondary 1: Badu, ~40, dark skin, short graying beard, simple fisher clothes, standing on rocks slightly leaning toward Amina offering a shiny metal water bottle, calm kind face; Secondary 2: small green lizard on a nearby rock, lazy gaze, tongue out; Setting: bank of a large African river with round mossy rocks, tall grasses and reeds, a few mango trees and a baobab, golden morning light casting reflections and long shadows; Scene: Amina arrives at the

Amina and the Island of Not Yet

Reading 9 min. (1)

A woman (Faidah), about 35, round gentle face, determined serene expression, dirty hands, squatting to plant a young baobab while wearing a red-and-yellow patterned wrap and bright blue headscarf, attentive calm posture; an old man (~70) with wrinkled skin and bright eyes stands just behind her to the left, leaning on a wooden stick and smiling proudly as he taps the ground; a boy (~8) with short hair stands on tiptoe to the right, wide-eyed and holding a small calabash; a girl (~6) with many braids sits on a low wall in the background, hands clasped and softly laughing; the setting is a medicinal herb garden enclosed by woven branch fencing with neat red-earth beds, bright lemongrass clumps, dark bitter leaf, small thatched huts and distant baobabs under a golden late-afternoon sky; the moment is intimate and calm as the woman sets the young plant into fresh moist soil with twigs supporting the trunk, herbs’ leaves trembling in a light breeze, warm light and earthy textures contrasting with vivid clothing.

Faidah and the Baobab of Brave Beginnings

Reading 12 min.

A man named Kofi with a round face and gentle smile, warm brown skin and short black hair, wearing an ochre tunic and patterned wrap, rests his right hand on the rough trunk of a large baobab and listens to the wind with an attentive expression; to his left sits his about six-year-old sister with short braided hair in a red dress with yellow dots smiling at the leaves, while a line of bees and a colony of small black ants bustle at the tree base carrying millet, the massive baobab with textured gray-brown bark and thick arm-like branches stands at the center, behind it golden millet fields ripple under a pale blue sky and a sparkling stream winds to the right over smooth stones, the scene calm and warm with earthy ochre, brown, green and gold tones, simple shapes, clear contrasts, and a composition focused on Kofi’s contact with the tree and a mood of listening and discovery.

The Journey of Listening

Reading 5 min.

Main woman: Adia, a smiling determined young woman with a round face, mud-stained knees, a red headscarf and a yellow-and-blue cotton dress, holding a small lit clay lamp in one hand and a stick in the other, warm proud gaze; secondary: Amadu, about 12, dark-skinned with short hair and a wrinkled green shirt, laughing with a calabash on his head, standing behind Adia helping sweep; secondary: Nana Sira, around 70, slightly stooped with braided gray hair and a dark wrapper, seated under a small tree to the right with her hand on an oil bowl, gentle observant look; setting: shining mirror-like rice paddies at dusk, bright green rows, wet brown mud, a large smooth rock by the path, blue dragonflies and white herons in the distance, palm trees and a thatched hut in the background; main scene: a newly made winding path through the mud bordered by singing villagers, Adia in the foreground holding a small golden flame, the curved trail bending around the rock like a smile, tools on the ground, warm evening light and long shadows.

The Little Lamp and the Path of Respect

Reading 19 min.

Saliou, a young man with a smooth, dark ebony face, kneels to place a small shiny white cowrie on a reed mat while the elderly Bandiara chief (about 60), wrinkled dark skin and embroidered tunic, stands behind him with open hands and a benevolent gaze; to the chief’s left, a smiling middle‑aged woman with braided gray hair holds an oil lamp, two children (a boy of 8 and a girl of 7) sit in the foreground in bright cloths watching with wide eyes, and a multicolored bird perches on a low baobab branch above; the scene is a simple, solemn village ceremony under a large baobab in a clearing with hanging oil lamps and lanterns, earthen huts and thatched roofs in the background, golden millet fields beyond and a blue‑amber twilight sky, warm colors and strong contrasts suited to a children’s illustration.

The journey of Saliou and the whispers of the millet fields

Reading 10 min.

A smiling young man (Mabo, about 18) with warm bronze skin and short black hair sits on a woven mat in an ochre-and-blue printed tunic, pointing to the sky while holding a small brown gourd; an elderly grandmother (about 70) with soft wrinkles and grey hair in a bun, wearing a mustard-yellow dress, sits on a low stool to his left with a hand on his shoulder; three laughing children (boys 10 and 5, girl 8) in colorful clothes sit in a circle imitating cloud shapes with their hands as they look up; the setting is a round ochre wattle-and-daub hut with a thatch roof, a broad-trunked baobab behind, savanna grass, a few gourds and pots near the entrance, and a vast luminous sky at dusk where white clouds form soft, recognizable shapes (lion, bird, heart) in pastel sunset tones, creating a warm, calm, magical moment as Mabo tells the story of the clouds.

The boy who learned to read the clouds