Deep in the countryside, there was a village led by a wise and just chief. The chief had several sons, with Koi being the youngest.
One day, while Koi was away hunting, his father passed away. Upon Koi’s return, he discovered that his father’s possessions had been divided among his brothers, leaving him with only a small, frail kola tree.
Feeling undervalued and disrespected, Koi decided to leave his village in search of a place where he would be honored as the son of a chief. He harvested the kola nuts from his tree, wrapped them in a mat, and embarked on his journey.
As Koi traveled through the lush landscapes, he encountered a distressed snake whose mother was gravely ill. The snake needed kola nuts to prepare a healing medicine. Without hesitation, Koi offered some of his kola nuts, aiding the snake in saving his mother.
Further along, Koi met a frantic group of ants fleeing from a forest demon. They were exhausted and hungry. Koi shared his kola nuts with them, providing the energy they needed to escape danger. Continuing his journey, Koi came across a crocodile in distress.
The crocodile had eaten the rainmaker’s dog and feared retribution. Koi, showing compassion, gave the crocodile kola nuts to appease the rainmaker.
Eventually, Koi arrived at a village ruled by Chief Fulikolli. Seeking acceptance, Koi expressed his desire to join the community.
However, the villagers were skeptical of his claims of noble lineage. To prove himself, Koi was tasked with three challenges: retrieving a golden ring from the depths of a river, collecting scattered grains, and felling a tree to fall in a specific direction. Remembering the kindness Koi had shown them, the snake, ants, and crocodile came to his aid.
The snake dove into the river and retrieved the ring. The ants gathered every grain. The crocodile helped guide the tree to fall precisely as required.
Impressed by his accomplishments and the loyalty he inspired, the villagers welcomed Koi into their community. He married the chief’s daughter and became a respected leader, proving that kindness and generosity are the true marks of nobility.
As Koi settled into his new life, he shared the story of his journey with his wife and the villagers. They were amazed by his selflessness and the incredible creatures that had helped him. The villagers began to adopt Koi’s values, and soon, the entire community was known for its kindness and compassion.
✧ Commentary:
Koi’s journey is a testament to the power of kindness and the importance of helping others without expecting anything in return. His selfless acts not only aided those in need but also built a network of allies who stood by him in his time of need.
✧ Moral:
Generosity and compassion pave the path to true honor and recognition.
✧ Questions & Answers:
1. Q: What was Koi’s inheritance after his father’s death?
A: A small, sickly kola tree.
2. Q: Why did Koi decide to leave his village?
A: He felt disrespected and sought a place where he would be honored as the son of a chief.
3. Q: How did Koi help the snake?
A: He gave the snake kola nuts to heal its sick mother.
4. Q: What challenge did the ants face, and how did Koi assist them?
A: They were fleeing a forest demon and were exhausted; Koi shared his kola nuts to rejuvenate them.
5. Q: How did Koi aid the crocodile?
A: He provided kola nuts to appease the rainmaker, whom the crocodile feared after eating his dog.
6. Q: What tasks did Koi have to complete in the new village?
A: Retrieve a golden ring from a river, collect scattered grains, and fell a tree to fall in a specific direction.
7. Q: Who helped Koi accomplish these tasks?
A: The snake, ants, and crocodile he had previously helped.
