The Baobab tree of Africa.

The Baobab tree is the iconic tree of Africa. There are stories told about this tree, folk tales told to young children to teach them about life. One such story has been passed down for many generations by parents to their children, and I first heard this story when it was written by the famous writer Wilbur Smith. He heard it first hand from his native farmhands on his fathers farm in Northern Rhodesia(now Zambia). It goes something like this: A long time ago, when God first created the world, he made a special tree, which he named the Baobab tree. God made other trees as well, but the Baobab was so vain it told everyone how special it was. “I am special, I am the tree of life, I can cure you of illness and sickness. I carry lots of water in my trunk so you won’t die of thirst. I am the best tree in the forest”. The Baobab told every one this all the time, that the people were sick of hearing it. So were all the other trees. They complained to God, until he was sick of it too. So one day, God went to the Baobab, and warned him not to be so vain and tell everyone, be more humble. But the Baobab would not listen, and kept on bragging about how special and beautiful he was. God got angry, and finally did something to punish the Baobab. He pulled the tree out of the ground and turned it up side down, and pushed its limbs and leaves into the hole, leaving its roots showing up into the air. So that is why the Baobab looks as funny as it does. My version is not as well written as Wilbur Smith, so if you want to read a much better story than mine, find Wilbur Smith and read his work.

Aside from this story, there are variations of the same story told and retold all over Southern Africa. Here is an example: A long, long time ago, in the days when the world was first being created, the gods decided to make a very special tree. They called it the Baobab Tree, and they gave it a unique gift—the gift of speech.

At first, the gods were pleased with their creation. But as soon as the Baobab Tree began to grow, it also began to complain.

“It’s too hot!” grumbled the Baobab. “I’m so thirsty! I want water!”

The gods, wanting to help, sent rain to water the ground and fill the rivers and lakes around the Baobab.

But no sooner had the rain come than the Baobab grumbled again. “Ugh! Now it’s too humid! It’s hot and sticky!” So the gods sent a cool breeze to ease the heat.

“Brrrr! Now it’s too cold!” whined the Baobab, shivering in the wind.

The gods were growing frustrated. They went down to speak to the Baobab and warned, “Enough complaining! Be grateful, or you will be sorry.”

For a short time, the Baobab was silent, and the gods were able to continue their work. They created other trees, each one beautiful in its own way. Some had colorful flowers, and others filled the air with a sweet fragrance. The Baobab watched as these lovely trees appeared all around it, and soon, it couldn’t help itself.

“Why did you make me so plain?” it cried. “Why don’t I have flowers?”

The gods tried to ignore the Baobab’s complaints and continued their work, creating trees that bore delicious fruits—apple trees, orange trees, peach trees, and more.

The Baobab huffed, “I want fruit too! Why can’t I have juicy fruit like those trees?”

The gods gave the Baobab one final warning. “Enough. Stop complaining, or you’ll regret it.”

But the Baobab wouldn’t stop. When the gods finished creating animals and the Baobab saw them walking freely across the earth, it complained again.

“Why did you give them legs and not me?” the Baobab whined. “I want to walk around, too!”

At last, the gods had enough. Frustrated beyond measure, they came down to the Baobab, seized it by its thick trunk, and yanked it right out of the ground. Then, with great strength, they turned it upside down and planted it back into the earth—headfirst!

From that day forward, the Baobab’s roots stretched up toward the sky, and its branches reached down into the soil. With its mouth buried underground, the Baobab could no longer complain, and it could no longer see its reflection in the water.

But though it was silent, the Baobab slowly grew to understand its role. It became a shelter for animals, storing water in its trunk during the dry seasons, and providing food and shade for people. Over time, it gave so much back to the world that it became one of the most beloved trees.

All across Africa, people tell the story of the Baobab Tree and its lesson. They say that sometimes the most remarkable gifts come from simply accepting who you are and giving back to others. And that is why the Baobab, with its unusual shape and upside-down branches, stands tall and proud, serving the world in peaceful silence. I heard this story from Riana Avis. And I read it from Geraghty, Nina. “The Legend of the Upside-down Tree - Baobab Foundation.”

Here is a legend passed down from the natives of Zambia: Kondanamwali, Zambia

This especially large baobab in Zambia’s Kafue National Park is known as “the tree that eats maidens.” According to local legend, Kondanamwali fell in love with four beautiful women, who decided that they all wanted human husbands instead. The tree became jealous, so it opened its trunk and pulled the women inside, where they’re said to remain to this day.

As much as wildlife depends on the baobab tree (and vice-versa), so do humans. Not only is the fruit’s sour brown pulp edible and nutritious, but soak it in water and it becomes a refreshing drink. People who live around baobab trees will roast and grind its fruits’ seeds to produce a beverage akin to coffee, or boil the tree’s leaves and eat them like spinach. Not only are these leaves loaded with potassium and magnesium, but they’re often used in traditional medicine for treating ailments such as insect bites and asthma.

The tree’s bark is the basis for everything from paper and cloth to ropes and baskets. People also used it to make waterproof hats and musical instrument strings. By mixing the flower’s pollen with water, you can even create a form of glue.

The older a baobab tree gets, the more impressive it becomes. An ancient Baobab can support an entire ecosystem, from the bees and stick insects that reside among its branches, to the antelope and warthogs that delight in its fruit. In fact, baobabs are considered a keystone species, meaning they play an essential role in local biodiversity.

Baobab trees are nicknamed “The Tree of Life,” and for good reason. Between just the bark and fruit alone, baobabs offer more than 300 vital uses. While elephants quench their thirst on the tree’s water-rich interior, they also snack on its produce and then fertilize the local soil through their droppings. Baboons crack open the fruit’s hard exterior and fill up on its pulpy seeds (leading to the baobab’s other moniker, the ‘monkey bread tree’).

Humans use these trees as well. There is/was (it is no longer open) a Baobab tree that was used as a pub and wine cellar on a private farm in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

In Namibia in the Caprivi Strip ( now called the Zambezi region, a Baobab tree was used as a toilet at a public school.

The Toilet Tree in Katima Mulilo is a fascinating and whimsical monument that draws tourists and locals alike.