Once upon a time, Goha was headed to the market to buy a donkey. On his way, he encountered a friend. “Where are you going?” the friend asked. “To the market, to buy a donkey,” Goha answered. “Say inshallah (God willing),” retorted his friend. “Why?” asked Goha stubbornly. “The donkey is in the market and the money is in my pocket.” When Goha arrived at the market, he found the donkey he wanted and excitedly reached into his pockets, but they were empty! All his money had been stolen! Downcast, Goha decided to return home. On his way he meets his friend again. “Where is the donkey?” the friend asks. “My money was stolen, inshallah.” The name of Goha is one that nearly all Egyptians recognize without a second’s hesitation. He is a staple of cultural imagery and a regular guest in the local vernacular. While folk tales around the world tell of tricksters, fools, and wise men, few of them have a character quite like Goha, who manages to combine all three. But who is this folkloric icon that has graced so many children’s stories and jokes in Egypt…
Who is Goha? The Trickster, Fool, and Wise Man of Arab Folklore
April 24, 2022
