Onini (Python Bridegroom)

Overview

Onini, translated as the Python, lives in a large cave and overhears hunters speaking of a queen mother’s daughter who refuses prospective husbands. He decides to become an exceptionally handsome youth and marry her. Approaching the village while chewing kola nuts, he spits on her clothing, then answers her protest with successive salutations until calling her his wife. She accepts him and brings him to her mother, who welcomes the apparent son-in-law. After eight days he announces a journey home. His wife insists on accompanying him despite his attempts to dissuade her.

He leaves the path for the bush, leads her into his cave and changes back into a beast. Revealing that the youthful appearance was a marriage disguise, he threatens her and demands that she scratch his head and find lice. A passing Parrot silently prepares a gun while she refuses to continue. As Onini raises his head to attack, the bird shoots him and brings the woman and dead serpent home. The Parrot asks for palm oil as its reward and dips its tail in it as a sign of the adventure; the tale connects this act to the red tail. Onini’s bodily disguise, intimidating cave household and defeat belong to this particular bridegroom episode.

Origins & earliest records

Selected Akan tale collected and translated by Rattray, printed with facing Akan text. Original publication 1930; accessible scan a later lithographic reprint.

Records & interpretation

Complete How the Parrot’s Tail Became Red, printed pp 169–172, inspected. Onini is an animal designation in the edition; this record is the specific transforming bridegroom case rather than a separate biological species.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Akan-Ashanti folk-tales

   R. S. Rattray, collector and translator · 1930

   How it came about that the Parrot’s tail became red; printed pp 169–172.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Primary collected narrative translationRattray — Python bridegroom and ParrotResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.