A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
The Princess Elephant sleeps in an elephant village where no human traveller normally arrives. Kwesi reaches it while seeking her tail for his mother’s coffin, and an old woman conceals him. He follows instructions to walk boldly through the sleeping herd, cuts off the tail and escapes. The elephants smell a human and later dream of the theft, but the princess remains unaware until her companions inspect her and awaken her for the pursuit.
After a protective juju delays the herd with a tree and maize field, the princess continues alone. She takes a beautiful maiden’s form, stages an archery test and marries Kwesi. Each night she becomes an elephant and tries to kill him; his protector changes him into a mat and then a needle. She eventually burns the idol hidden in his hair, but its final instruction transforms Kwesi into a hawk. Her human disguise therefore serves a specific revenge attempt, with repeated returns to elephant shape.
Origins & earliest records
Barker and Sinclair collected versions from experienced teacher-training students at Accra and selected, arranged and retold them for this 1917 volume.
Records & interpretation
The selected tale attests the represented actions. The introduction explains the collection method; individual speakers and unedited transcripts are not provided here.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
West African Folk-Tales
The Tail of the Princess Elephant
- 02
West African Folk-Tales — XXII. The Tail of the Princess Elephant
W.H.Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, West African Folk-Tales, London: George G.Harrap & Company, MCMXVII(1917), CompletePress WestNorwood. Title and selected introduction methodpp14–16 independently read; stories collected through Accra teacher-training students, multiple versions selected and retold, not unmediated transcripts.
Family, evolution & connections
Kwesi in The Tail of the Princess Elephant
The transformed princess and Kwesi explicitly marry, after which she attempts to kill him. This affinal tie does not establish her parents or a dynasty merely from the princess title.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
West African Folk-Tales
W.H.Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, West African Folk-Tales, London: George G.Harrap & Company, MCMXVII(1917), CompletePress WestNorwood. Title and selected introduction methodpp14–16 independently read; stories collected through Accra teacher-training students, multiple versions selected and retold, not unmediated transcripts.
- The princess transforms into a maiden to revenge the theft of her tail, marries Kwesi and repeatedly tries to kill him in elephant form.
Collection’s selected/edited English student versions, not exact first oral attestation or universal cultural biography. Introductory colonial judgments and editorial claims of removing spurious elements remain attributed. No songs, prayers, magical invocation wording or current zoological explanation copied; no whole book/introduction review asserted.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Collected and arranged oral taleThe Tail of the Princess ElephantResearch access: 2026-10-05
- Collector methodologyIntroduction — collection methodResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.