The Coming of Darkness

The Coming of Darkness

Publication information
Publication	The Lion King: A Nature Fun and Learn Series
Published	1994–1997
Collection	Rafiki Remembers
Issue	23
Pages	2
Guide
Previous	Why the Warthog is Ugly
Next	The Bees' Drum

“

In the beginning, things were not as they are now. Many different things happened to change the world. But perhaps the greatest of them all was the coming of darkness.

―Rafiki^[src]

”

The Coming of Darkness is a story from the Rafiki Remembers magazine collection. It was published in the 1990s as part of The Lion King: A Nature Fun and Learn Series.

Synopsis[]

At the start of the world, there is no such thing as darkness. However, this all changes when God instructs Bat to carry a basket to Moon without opening it. Bat agrees and flies off, but he soon grows hot under the burning sun and ducks into a cave to escape the heat. After a bit of dozing, he leaves the cave in search of bugs.

While Bat is gone, Hyena and Jackal approach the cave and catch sight of Bat's basket. Curious, the two agree to open it, and instantly, the cave is flooded with darkness. Upon returning to the cave, Bat is horrified and orders the two frightened scavengers to help him wrangle the darkness back into the basket, but they have already fled. To this day, the world is flooded in darkness at night, and Bat spends every moment of the night attempting to put the darkness back in his basket. He has yet to succeed and always exhausts himself so much that he must sleep through the day.

Appearances[]

Characters

Rafiki

Species

Gallery[]

Rafiki Remembers

The Leopard and the Baboon • The Crocodile's Tears • The Giraffe and the Oxpecker • How the Birds got their Colours • Sun and Moon • The Tortoise's Punishment • The Greedy Guest • The Toad And The Rat • Why Stories Are Told About Anansi • How Baboon Lost his Tail • Fire Against Rain • How Anansi Learnt to Weave • The Dove and the Hen • Why Monkeys Keep Out of the Way • A King for the Frogs • Tables Turned • Anansi Know-all • Proud Fish • A Witch Doctor for the Hyenas • Why Dog Chases Animals • The Lion's House • Why the Warthog Is Ugly • The Coming of Darkness • The Bees' Drum • The Flying Lion • The Shark and the Monkey • The Bearded Stone • The Friends • The Selfish Hare • The Stupid Ass • How Squirrel got his Tail • Up in the Sky • Snail Tricks Squirrel • How Anansi Shamed Himself • The House that Built Itself • Leopard and Little Cat • Wooing Ways • Fox and Crow • Test of Strength • Why Flies Buzz • Why Hippo Has No Coat • Why the Monkeys Have no House • The Dancing Elephant • When Fowls Were Lords • Thunder and Lightning • We All Need Friends • The Song of the Veld • The Ostriches' Chicks • Why the Hyena Smells • The Greedy Buffalo • The Pig's Tale • The Long Wait • Finding Is Keeping • The Bean Feast • Choosing Friends • How Lion was Tricked • Tears of the Hartebeest • The Quarrel • Hyena's New Coat • The Honey Guide • Revenge of the Tortoise • How Crab Lost His Head • The Foolish Spider • Why Wild Dog Hunts • Why Rock Rabbit Has No Tail • The Greedy Baboon • Why Leopard Hates Dogs • Anansi and Squirrel • Guinea Fowl and Crab • Toktokkie the Beetle • Up in the Clouds • How Wasp got his Waist • Cruel Chameleon • Who Stole Duiker's Eggs? • Hare and Hyena • Anansi and Lizard • Bushbuck's Husband • How Zebra Got His Stripes • Goat's Escape