Summary

The story of the trickster God Edshu serves as a cautionary fable about the perils of rigid perspectives and the importance of understanding and accepting others' viewpoints to prevent conflict.

Abstract

The article recounts the tale of Edshu, a trickster God from West African folklore, who incites conflict between two farmers by wearing a multi-coloured hat that each farmer perceives differently. The ensuing argument between the farmers, who cannot reconcile their differing perceptions of the hat's colour, escalates into violence, illustrating how people's defiant adherence to their own truths can lead to strife. The fable, sourced from Joseph Campbell's 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces,' teaches that our diverse perspectives are not inherently wrong or right, but failing to acknowledge and respect these differences can result in unnecessary conflict. The article emphasizes the need for open-mindedness and the willingness to consider others' perspectives as a simple yet often overlooked solution to disagreements and disputes. It concludes by encouraging readers to embrace a more inclusive approach to understanding, suggesting that cooperation and collective growth are hindered by the ego's insistence on being right.

Opinions

The author believes that people tend to cling to their own beliefs and are quick to dismiss others' viewpoints, leading to conflict.
It is posited that violence often arises from a lack of understanding and acceptance of different perspectives.
The article suggests that human history is rife with examples of conflicts stemming from the inability to reconcile differing opinions.
The author asserts that the solution to many disputes lies in being open

Perspective! The lesson we need to learn.

We all see the world in our own way. What’s the problem with that?

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

The story of the trickster God Edshu (from West Africa).

The Prank of the multi-coloured hat.

The day came when the trickster God, Edshu walked along a path situated between two fields. Upon seeing the prospective fields that lay ahead, each containing a farmer hard at work.

A game was needed! The God thought.

Edshu decided to play each farmer against each other. The God donned a hat of many colours; one side was coloured red, another side coloured white, green before and black behind. The trickster God made his way through the path, that snaked between both of the fields.

One farmer would see the God’s hat to be red whereas the other farmer would see his hat to be white. Once the farmers were done for the day, they made their way back to their village. As the two where returning, one said to the other; “did you see that odd fella? You know the one with the white hat?”

The other replied, “don’t you mean the guy with the red hat?”

To which the other snapped, “No! it was definitely white.”

“I saw it with my own eyes, it was most unequivocally red.” Yet the other would insist.

“You must be blind from the sun.”

“You must be drunk”, the other shot back. As the argument progressed, it no longer remained a dual of unremarkable words. They start to exchange blows and then tried to knife each other. When this happened, they were brought before the village elder, responsible for dispatching of judgement.

The trickster God Edshu, couldn’t help but attend the trial, how could he miss such a successful prank? The prank was such a success that even the elder was at a loss to where justice lay. Upon the dismay of the elder, Edshu could no longer resist and revealed himself for all to behold.

Edshu spoke, “These two farmers couldn’t help but quarrel”. He retorted, “I wanted it so and so it was. To spread strife is but the greatest of joys to me.”

This was sourced from Joseph Campbell’s book — ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces.’

What lesson does this fable have to teach us?

For one, it highlights the fact that we all see the world in different ways, one person sees ‘red’ and another sees ‘white’. Is either of them wrong? As you might off guessed the answer is no. The tricky Edshu was wearing both.

Edshu knew that each farmer would not see the other's view. People tend to defiantly hold on to that which they think to be true. And yet if others share a different view that does not match to their own, there is but one conclusion to be had… they must be wrong.

What a shame that is. For the fact remains that when people cannot understand each other’s perspective, then violence is the most likely outcome to ensue. Just like what happened in the fable, the farmers could not come to an agreement, so they resorted to violence which worsens the longer they argued.

At first, they “start to exchange blows and then tried to knife each other.” People in general find it hard to let go of their differences. Their egos make it difficult, Edshu knew this. People have this incredible ability not to relent on what they think, they know to be true.

They would rather die than to accept the view of the other. We can see endless examples of this happening in human history. From gentlemen duals of the 17th through to the 18th centuries, to today’s criminal, disorderly behaviour, in the form of pub brawls for one.

It is in human nature to stick to that which we think to be true and refute the truth of others, that does not much up. We see this from the sports stadiums, where fans fight each other over disagreements of which player is best or which team. To, fistfights between university professors who disagree with each other’s theories, no matter how small the differences might be.

It seems funny to think that the solution is so simple. Just being open-minded enough, to accept that your truth may not be the whole truth and that others may also be right. To be able and willing to see things from other’s perspective could negate any number of arguments or physical disputes.

The solution stares us in our faces, yet we either don’t see or just outright ignore it. At times it seems as though we enjoy having arguments and physical conflicts. We just don’t want to let go of them.

I will leave you with this thought; it is easier to disagree with someone than it is to agree, we all want to show our worth. Yet it is precisely due to our quest for finding our individual worth that we stagnate our growth. There is an African proverb that helps to illustrate this thought.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”

If we can let go of our egos and be open to the views of others. We have much to gain from each other, then if we just stick to our perspective. Don’t be a toy for the pranks of Edshu, so that he can fulfil his joy via the strife he creates.

Be open to the views of others, don’t let Edshu have his way.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope that you found it enjoyable as well as interesting. If you have any enquiries, please send them my way.