african folktales As the water splashed and the child continued to struggle, Mama Nne-Ude would not relent. She had a wisdom beyond her years, understanding that sometimes, a good cry is all a child needs. With each splash, the soothing cadence of water lulled them, transforming their cries into giggles that echoed through the village. Not inside a river. in front of a mud thatch built with water from a bucket of water. mamma old woman of 95 years