The Story of Hard Work: Sandow And The Gourd

08/06/2025 4 min

Listen "The Story of Hard Work: Sandow And The Gourd"

Episode Synopsis

The Magic Gourd: How a Lazy Man Found His FortuneIn this episode, we share the captivating tale of Sundow, a young man from northern Ghana who discovers the true secret to wealth. Unlike his hardworking neighbors, Sundow preferred the comfort of his parents' home, living off their labor while contributing nothing of his own.When tragedy strikes and his father is lost while crossing a river to Tiwêga, Sundow faces a harsh reality. Desperate for an easy solution, he seeks out Timanab, the village spiritual leader, hoping for magical intervention. Instead, he receives a simple gourd with mysterious instructions: fill it with the sweat of honest labor to find prosperity.What follows is Sundow's reluctant journey from laziness to industry as he discovers that no shortcuts exist to true wealth. With each passing season of working his father's land, the gourd slowly fills while his harvests grow abundant. Though the gourd never completely fills, Sundow realizes its true purpose—teaching him that sustainable prosperity comes only through consistent effort.This timeless parable from West Africa reminds us that inheritance without industry quickly fades, while the habits of discipline and perseverance yield rewards that last generations. Join us as we explore how sometimes the most valuable magic is the transformation that happens within ourselves.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​https://mythopia.io/story/402/the-story-of-hard-work-sandow-and-the-gourd