This article investigates the applicability and significance of the motif-index as a means to identify sociocultural themes in two selected Northern Sotho fables. The focus of this article is on how these motifs reflect on beliefs, customs and practices that exist within the Northern Sotho society as revealed in fables. Themes from the two fables are expounded and contextualised using Stith Thompson’s motif-index alongside Christian Themba Msimang’s views, according to which good deeds are encouraged over those that are considered unacceptable in the society. The article attains this through an analysis that focuses on, among others, literary aspects such as motifs, morals and sociocultural contexts. In conclusion, the article ascertains that the motif-index theory is applicable to explore themes in Northern Sotho fables.