Adila and the Sirocco's Embrace
A brave young herder leads her flock through a fierce desert sandstorm.
From “Fighting Extreme Weather Across Africa” · ages 6–10
Bikyezi and Kagote against the Tropical Deluge
Two friends and a gentle gorilla protect the rainforest from a great flood.
Read the story
Deep in the green Congo rainforest, the trees stood tall like guards, and the air hummed with forest sounds. There lived Bikyezi, a young Batwa girl. She was small, but her spirit soared as high as the treetops. She was full of joy, and her laughter sounded like the songs of the forest birds.
Her best friend was Kagote, who had twinkling eyes and a heart full of curiosity, and loved to play tricks. Kagote went with her on every forest adventure. They were very different, but they fitted together perfectly, like two peas in a pod. Together, they were ready for anything!
Deep in the rainforest, they met a gentle giant: a big silverback gorilla named Mubaku. His wise eyes seemed to hold stories of ancient forests, and of how all living things are connected.
One morning, the forest felt strange and uneasy. Dark clouds filled the sky. A deluge was coming, with more rain than ever before. Bikyezi could feel that the forest was worried. She knew something bad was about to happen.
The sky cried and cried, and the rain fell in heavy sheets. The calm forest became wild and noisy. Instead of rustling leaves and singing birds, there was a loud roar of rushing water, cutting new paths through the forest.
The rain went on and on. Bikyezi and Kagote hid under the tall trees, safe beneath the green leaves. Mubaku and his young son Chibuku stood guard nearby. Having the gorillas close made the children feel safe in the heavy rain.
The forest had always been a peaceful home, but now it was in danger. The little streams that gave the forest life had turned into hungry monsters. They wanted to swallow up everything in their path.
Bikyezi remembered what her ancestors had taught her. She knew she had to act fast. She and Mubaku worked together like partners in a big orchestra.
She had a clever idea. She built high shelters out of strong bamboo for Mubaku and his family, to keep them safe from the rising water.
Bikyezi and Kagote dug into the wet earth. They felt the shape of the land with their fingers, looking for the best paths for the extra water to run away. With every shovelful of soil, they dug channels, like little rivers. The channels carried the wild water away from the animals' homes.
In all the chaos, Mubaku, a gentle giant with a heart of gold, stayed calm. He was big and strong, and he protected his family. He led them through the storm, up to the safety of higher ground.
Days passed. Then, as quickly as the deluge had come, it went away. Sunlight shone through the canopy again and made the wet leaves glow gold. The storm had hurt the forest, but the forest was strong, and soon it was full of life again.
Bikyezi, Kagote and Mubaku came out of their shelter and saw the forest coming back to life. Birds sang happily, and the leaves rustled stories of survival. Mubaku's gorilla family was safe and well, because everyone had worked together.
Words to learn
- Ancestors
- Family members who lived long, long ago, like your great-great-grandparents.
- Bamboo
- A very tall, strong grass with hollow stems. People build with it.
- Batwa
- A people who have lived in the forests of central Africa for thousands of years.
- Canopy
- The very top of the forest, where the tree branches and leaves meet like a roof.
- Channels
- Little ditches dug in the ground so water can flow away safely.
- Congo Basin
- A huge area of rainforest in the middle of Africa, around the Congo River.
- Deluge
- A huge amount of rain that falls very quickly and can cause floods.
- Orchestra
- A big group of musicians playing together.
- Rainforest
- A thick, green forest where it rains almost every day.
- Silverback
- A grown-up male gorilla. The hair on his back turns silver as he gets older.
What would you do?
Bikyezi and Kagote helped the water flow away and kept everyone safe. If heavy rain started flooding your home, what would you do?
- Go to higher ground with my family Yes! Water flows downhill, so higher ground is safer, just like Mubaku leading his family uphill.
- Never walk, swim or play in flood water Very wise! Flood water can be deep, fast and dirty, even when it looks calm.
- Help grown-ups keep drains and channels clear Just like Bikyezi and Kagote! Clear channels guide the water away from homes.
- Plant trees and protect the forest Great idea! Trees and roots soak up rain and hold the soil, so floods are smaller.
More stories from this book
Juma and the Cyclone
A young drummer and a wise elder help their island village rebuild after a cyclone.