Once upon a time, in the village of Lumo, there was a healer known as Kumi. Kumi was famous for his powers, claiming that he could speak to the spirits of the wind and rain. Villagers came from far and wide to receive his blessings and seek healing from their troubles. However, there was something strange about Kumi's methods.

One day, a young woman named Afi visited Kumi in desperation. She had been feeling heavy in her heart, as though the winds of life had slowed her steps. She knelt before him, her head bowed, hoping for a cure.

Kumi, standing tall before the crowd that had gathered to witness his power, raised his hands and proclaimed, "The spirits speak to me! Today, I shall bring the winds of peace into this woman’s soul in a way never seen before."

The villagers, curious and trusting, watched closely. Kumi suddenly leaned down and kissed Afi on the lips, declaring, "The spirits now dwell within her!" Shocked, Afi stumbled back, unsure of what had just happened.

Some in the crowd murmured in confusion. "Is this the way of the spirits?" one elder asked.

"This is new to us," said another.

But Kumi was unfazed. "You must open your hearts to the ways of the spirits," he said. "They come in many forms, even through the breath of a kiss."

The village buzzed with confusion and unease. Word spread quickly, and soon, neighboring elders and healers began to hear of Kumi’s unusual method. They gathered under the great baobab tree to discuss the matter. Many were angry, saying Kumi was using trickery and that the spirits never worked through such ways.

"This is not the way of our ancestors," declared a wise elder named Kwadwo. "The spirits guide us through prayers, dances, and rituals, not through strange acts that confuse the heart."

As the debate continued, Kumi remained steadfast, insisting he was following a command from the spirit world. But the elders decided to test him. They sent word to Kumi, asking him to show his powers in the presence of the village leaders.

When Kumi arrived, the elders asked him to heal a woman who had lost her voice. Kumi approached her, but this time, the crowd grew tense. Kwadwo stepped forward and spoke, “If the spirits truly guide you, let their power come through without tricks.”

Kumi hesitated, unsure what to do without his dramatic methods. The crowd saw the doubt in his eyes, and murmurs grew louder. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the village square, carrying the scent of the coming rains. The elders took this as a sign from the true spirits.

"Kumi, you have deceived our people," Kwadwo said firmly. "The spirits do not need your tricks. They move through truth, not confusion."

Kumi, seeing the elders and the village had turned against him, fled the village, leaving behind his fame and promises.

From that day on, the people of Lumo learned to be wary of healers who claimed powers that did not align with the ways of their ancestors. They returned to the old ways of prayer and songs, trusting in the gentle guidance of the spirits, and remembering that true power comes from sincerity, not deceit.

And so, the story of Kumi, the trickster healer, spread far and wide, a reminder that not all who claim to carry the spirits’ will can be trusted.


In this folktale, the moral is clear: true spiritual power should never be used for personal gain or through deceitful methods. Trust in tradition and sincerity always prevails.