Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Long, long ago, when the world was still young and the spirits of nature walked freely among all living things, there lived a small mosquito named Nkwa in the great forests of West Africa. In those days, Nkwa was not the tiny, buzzing creature we know today, but a proud and boastful insect who believed herself to be the most important of all the forest dwellers.

The Boastful Mosquito

Nkwa lived near a clear stream that flowed through the heart of the forest, where all the animals would come to drink. Every morning, as the golden sun painted the treetops with light, she would perch on a blade of grass and announce to anyone who would listen: “I am Nkwa, the greatest of all creatures! My wings are the strongest, my voice the most beautiful, and my wisdom the deepest!”

The other animals would shake their heads and continue with their business. The wise elephant would trumpet gently, “Little Nkwa, pride comes before a fall.” The cunning spider Kwaku Anansi would chuckle from his web, “Every creature has their place in the great web of life.” Even the tiny ants would whisper among themselves, “She will learn one day.”

But Nkwa paid no attention to their warnings. Day after day, she grew more boastful and more convinced of her own importance.

The Visit to Iguana

One particularly hot morning, when the sun blazed high above the forest canopy, Nkwa decided to visit her neighbor, Iguana, who sunned himself on a large rock by the stream. Iguana was known throughout the forest for his patience and calm wisdom, but also for his sensitivity to loud noises.

“Good morning, Brother Iguana!” Nkwa called out as she flew near his ear. “What a beautiful day to celebrate my magnificence!”

Iguana opened one sleepy eye. “Good morning, Sister Nkwa. Perhaps you could speak more softly? The forest spirits appreciate quiet contemplation in the morning.”

But Nkwa, feeling particularly proud that day, flew even closer to Iguana’s ear. “Oh, Brother Iguana, you simply must hear about my latest adventure! Yesterday, I flew higher than any bird, faster than any bee, and sang more beautifully than any cricket!”

She buzzed loudly right next to Iguana’s sensitive ear, her voice growing shriller with excitement. “And tomorrow, I plan to prove that I am the most important creature in all the forest! Even the great spirits will bow before my magnificence!”

The buzzing grew louder and more irritating, echoing inside Iguana’s ear like thunder in a cave. Poor Iguana, unable to bear the painful noise any longer, tried to cover his ears with his front legs.

“Sister Nkwa,” he said, his voice strained, “please, I beg you, speak more quietly. Your voice is causing me great discomfort.”

But Nkwa, lost in her own self-importance, continued to buzz and boast. “And next week, I shall challenge the wind itself to a race! I shall prove that even the forces of nature are inferior to the great Nkwa!”

The Chain of Consequences Begins

Unable to endure the painful buzzing any longer, Iguana leaped from his rock and ran into the forest, his legs covering his ears. In his haste to escape the terrible noise, he crashed through the underbrush without looking where he was going.

As Iguana stumbled through the forest, he accidentally stepped on a python’s tail. Python, who had been peacefully sleeping in a patch of warm sunlight, woke with a start and a loud hiss of anger.

“Who dares disturb my rest?” Python demanded, coiling his massive body.

But Iguana, his ears still ringing from Nkwa’s buzzing, could not hear Python’s question. Still covering his ears, he ran deeper into the forest without explanation.

Python, insulted by what he perceived as Iguana’s rudeness, slithered angrily through the forest undergrowth. In his fury, he crashed through a rabbit’s burrow, destroying the carefully built home.

Rabbit, terrified by the sudden appearance of the large, angry snake, leaped from her burrow and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. In her panic, she ran straight into a crow who was pecking at seeds on the ground.

Crow, startled by the sudden collision, cawed loudly and took flight, warning all the forest creatures: “Danger! Danger! Run for your lives! Something terrible is happening in the forest!”

The Monkey’s Tragic Mistake

High in the treetops, Monkey heard Crow’s warning cry. Looking down, he saw Python slithering angrily through the undergrowth, Rabbit running in terror, and various other animals fleeing in all directions.

“The forest is in chaos!” Monkey called to his fellow monkeys. “We must warn everyone!”

But in his haste to spread the warning, Monkey leaped carelessly from branch to branch. As he jumped to warn the birds in a tall mahogany tree, he missed his grip and fell to the ground with a loud crash.

The forest fell silent. Monkey lay still at the base of the great tree, and despite the efforts of all the animals to help him, his injuries were too severe. The wise healer, Tortoise, shook his ancient head sadly. “I’m afraid there is nothing we can do. Monkey has joined the ancestors.”

The Council of Animals

When the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, all the animals gathered in the sacred clearing to understand what had happened. The great Elephant, eldest and wisest of all the forest dwellers, called for order.

“We have lost our brother Monkey today,” Elephant said solemnly, his deep voice carrying through the evening air. “But how did this tragedy begin? Let us trace the chain of events.”

Rabbit spoke first, her voice still trembling: “I was in my burrow when Python came crashing through, destroying my home. I was so frightened that I ran without looking and bumped into Crow.”

Python uncoiled himself and spoke with dignity: “I was sleeping peacefully when Iguana stepped on my tail. When I asked him to explain, he ignored me completely and ran away. I was so insulted that I pursued him through the forest.”

Iguana finally removed his legs from his ears and spoke sadly: “I could not hear Python because my ears were ringing from Nkwa’s terrible buzzing. She would not stop talking and boasting, flying right next to my ear. The noise was so painful that I had to flee.”

All eyes turned to Nkwa, who had been hiding behind a leaf during the discussion. The tiny mosquito flew forward, no longer feeling proud or boastful.

“I… I was only telling Iguana about my achievements,” she said in a small voice. “I didn’t know…”

The Judgment of the Forest Council

Elephant raised his trunk for silence. “Nkwa,” he said, his voice grave but not unkind, “your pride and thoughtlessness have set in motion a chain of events that led to our brother Monkey’s death. Though you did not intend harm, you must understand that our actions, no matter how small they seem, can have great consequences.”

The wise old Tortoise spoke next: “In the ancient days, our ancestors learned that every creature’s actions affect the whole community. When we act without consideration for others, we disturb the harmony that keeps our forest family safe.”

Kwaku Anansi, the spider, descended from his web on a silver thread. “The spirits of the forest have shown us that even the smallest deed can grow into something much larger, like ripples spreading across still water.”

The Eternal Consequence

As the animals deliberated, the ancient spirits of the forest appeared in the clearing, their forms shimmering like moonlight on water. The Chief Spirit, whose voice sounded like wind through the trees, spoke to Nkwa:

“Little mosquito, you have learned a hard lesson about the weight of our actions. Because you would not listen when others asked you to be considerate, and because your thoughtlessness led to tragedy, you shall carry this burden always.”

The Spirit waved a hand that glowed like starlight. “From this day forward, you and all your descendants shall be drawn to buzz in people’s ears. You will forever seek to tell your story, to explain yourself, to ask for forgiveness. But humans will not understand your words—they will only hear an annoying buzz.”

“Moreover,” the Spirit continued, “you will become so small that you must struggle to be heard, and when people grow tired of your buzzing, they will try to chase you away. This will be your reminder, generation after generation, that every voice matters, and we must use our voices with wisdom and kindness.”

Nkwa’s Transformation

As the Spirit finished speaking, Nkwa felt herself changing. She grew smaller and smaller until she was no bigger than a grain of rice. Her voice, once clear, became a high-pitched buzz that only she could understand as words.

“Please forgive me!” she tried to say, but all the animals heard was “bzzzzzz.”

“I’m sorry about Monkey!” she buzzed desperately, but still, they heard only the irritating sound.

“I understand now!” she cried, flying frantically from animal to animal, but each one swatted at her or moved away from the annoying noise.

The Lesson Spreads

From that day forward, Nkwa and all her descendants were compelled to fly close to people’s ears, trying endlessly to tell their story, to apologize, to explain what they had learned. But humans, like the animals, could only hear the persistent buzzing.

The story of Nkwa spread throughout West Africa, carried by the griots and storytellers from village to village. Parents would tell their children: “Remember the mosquito’s lesson. Think before you speak, listen when others ask for consideration, and remember that even the smallest action can have great consequences.”

The Wisdom of the Ancestors

As the seasons turned and years passed, the wise elders would gather children around the evening fires and share Nkwa’s story. “See how the mosquito still tries to speak to us?” they would say when mosquitoes buzzed around their ears. “She carries the burden of teaching us all to be mindful of how our actions affect others.”

The children would listen wide-eyed, understanding that every creature in the forest, from the mightiest elephant to the tiniest ant, had an important role to play in maintaining the harmony of life.

The Continuing Circle

To this day, when you hear a mosquito buzzing in your ear, the elders say you are hearing Nkwa’s descendants trying to tell their ancient story. They buzz near our ears because that is where their ancestor’s thoughtlessness began, and that is where their eternal lesson continues.

Some say that if you listen very carefully to the mosquito’s buzz, you can hear the ancient words: “Be considerate of others… think before you act… every voice matters… remember Monkey…”

But most people only hear the annoying buzz and swat the mosquito away, not knowing they are dismissing a storyteller who carries one of the oldest lessons of the forest.

The Enduring Teaching

The Akan people remember this story not to blame the mosquito, but to remind themselves of the web of connections that binds all living things together. In their traditional wisdom, they understand that Nkwa’s punishment also serves as a gift—a constant reminder to all people to practice kindness, consideration, and humility.

When parents hear their children speaking too loudly or boasting too much, they might point to a mosquito and say, “Remember Nkwa. Remember that how we use our voices matters.”

And in the great forests of West Africa, where this story was first told, the animals still gather in the sacred clearing during the full moon. They remember their lost brother Monkey, they acknowledge the sorrow of little Nkwa, and they renew their commitment to living in harmony with one another.

The Circle of Wisdom

The story teaches us that in the great circle of life, every action has consequences, every voice has power, and every creature—from the proudest elephant to the humblest mosquito—has something important to teach us about living together in peace and understanding.

So the next time you hear a mosquito buzzing in your ear, remember Nkwa’s story. Remember that she is trying to share an ancient wisdom: Be kind in your words, listen to others’ needs, and remember that even the smallest actions can ripple out to affect the whole community.

In this way, the mosquito’s eternal buzzing becomes not just an annoyance, but a timeless teacher, carrying the wisdom of the ancestors to each new generation.

And so the story continues, as it has for countless generations, reminding us all to live with consideration, humility, and awareness of how our actions affect the great web of life that connects us all.