In the bustling markets of ancient Senegal, where the sound of hammering gold and silver rang through the air, there lived a skilled jeweler whose reputation for crafting beautiful ornaments was known throughout the land. This master craftsman had several children who were as innocent as they were obedient, always eager to follow their parents’ instructions without question.
Every morning, as the sun painted the sky with shades of amber and the village began to stir, a particularly clever hare would make his way to the jeweler’s compound. This was no ordinary rabbit he possessed a silver tongue and a mind sharp enough to cut through the finest gemstone. With confidence that belied his small size, he would approach the jeweler’s children and speak in the most authoritative voice he could muster.
“Children of the jeweler,” he would announce with great ceremony, “your father and mother have instructed you to take me to the bean field and tie me where the plants grow most magnificently.”
The trusting children, believing every word that fell from the hare’s lips, would dutifully lead him to the lush bean field that stretched beyond their home. There, among the verdant rows of climbing vines heavy with tender pods, they would secure him with strong rope to a sturdy post, exactly where the vegetation was most abundant and the leaves most succulent.
As the morning sun climbed higher and the day grew warm, the hare would feast contentedly on the choicest bean leaves within his reach. The plants were indeed the finest in the field sweet, tender, and perfectly nourishing. But as midday approached and the sun blazed overhead, the clever creature would begin the next phase of his daily deception.
“Children of the jeweler!” he would call out in a voice that carried across the field, “Your beloved father and mother have sent word that you must bring me fresh, cool water to quench my thirst!”
Without hesitation, the obedient children would hurry to fetch a vessel of the clearest water they could find. They would carry it carefully to the bean field and offer it to the hare, who would drink deeply and gratefully, all the while maintaining his pretense of following the parents’ orders.
As evening shadows began to lengthen and the air grew cooler, the hare would make his final request of the day. “Children of the jeweler, your father and mother have now instructed you to release me from these bonds, for my work here is complete.”
The children, never questioning the authority they believed the hare possessed, would promptly untie the ropes and watch as their supposed charge hopped merrily away into the gathering dusk, his belly full of the finest beans and his thirst thoroughly quenched.
This delightful arrangement continued for many days, with the hare growing plumper and more satisfied with each passing sunset. However, even the most carefully constructed deceptions must eventually face the light of truth.
One evening, as the family gathered around their simple meal, the children innocently shared the details of their daily routine with their parents. “Father, Mother,” they said, “each day we take the hare to the bean field as you instructed, give him water when he asks, and release him when evening comes.”
The jeweler and his wife exchanged puzzled glances. No such instructions had ever been given. The clever hare’s scheme was finally exposed, and the jeweler’s eyes flashed with the fire of righteous indignation. “Tomorrow,” he declared firmly, “when evening comes, do not untie that cunning creature. Leave him exactly where he is.”
The next day proceeded as usual. The children led the hare to the bean field, secured him among the finest plants, and brought him water when the sun reached its peak. But when evening arrived and the hare made his customary request for freedom, the children shook their heads.
“We cannot untie you,” they said simply, and walked away.
As darkness fell, the jeweler emerged from his workshop carrying a rod of iron that glowed red-hot from the forge’s flames. His face was set with determination as he made his way toward the bean field, intent on teaching the deceitful hare a lesson he would never forget.
But fortune, it seemed, had not yet abandoned the clever creature. At that very moment, a hyena came prowling through the area, his nose twitching at various scents carried on the night breeze. The hare’s quick mind seized upon this unexpected opportunity.
“Ah, my friend!” the hare called out cheerfully to the approaching predator. “How perfectly timed your arrival is! Do you see that man approaching with the glowing iron? He brings me the most exquisite roasted meat a feast fit for a king! But alas, I have eaten so much today that I fear I cannot do justice to such a magnificent offering.”
The hyena’s eyes widened with hunger and greed. The prospect of tender, cooked meat was irresistible to his carnivorous nature. “Please, friend hare,” he begged, saliva already forming at the corners of his mouth, “might I take your place and enjoy this wonderful feast?”
“Certainly!” replied the hare with feigned generosity. “Simply untie me, and you may take my position. The meat will be delivered shortly.”
The foolish hyena quickly freed the hare and allowed himself to be tied in the exact same spot, his mouth watering in anticipation of the promised feast. The hare bounded away into the safety of the darkness just as the jeweler arrived with his red-hot iron.
Without hesitation, the angry jeweler pressed the burning metal against what he believed to be the hare’s hide. The hyena’s howls of pain and shock shattered the night air as the searing iron branded his flesh. With strength born of agony and panic, he burst through his bonds and fled into the wilderness, his cries echoing across the landscape.
Hours later, as the hyena lay beneath a large tree attempting to soothe his painful burns by licking them, he heard a familiar sound above his head. Looking up through his pain-clouded eyes, he saw the very same hare perched comfortably on a branch, casually eating fruit that gave off a particularly foul odor. As the hare consumed his meal, he carelessly tossed the rotten scraps downward, where they landed squarely on the suffering hyena’s head.
“Ah! It is you, you deceiving trickster!” the hyena roared, his voice filled with rage and recognition.
The hare paused in his eating and tilted his head as if listening intently to some distant voice. After a moment, he called down in a tone of helpful concern, “I am deeply sorry, friend, but I am currently engaged in conversation with the great lion king. He wishes to know if I have encountered a certain hyena, one with a badly burned rear end. He seems most eager to find such a creature.”
Terror immediately replaced the hyena’s anger. The thought of facing the wrath of the lion king was far worse than any burn or humiliation he had already endured. Without another word, he leaped to his feet and raced away into the deepest parts of the forest, desperate to put as much distance as possible between himself and any potential royal retribution.
High in his tree, the clever hare watched the hyena’s panicked retreat and burst into delighted laughter, thoroughly pleased with his successful escape and the continuation of his reputation as the wiliest creature in all the land.
The Moral Lesson
This Wolof folktale teaches us about the power of wit over strength and the importance of questioning authority. While the hare’s cleverness is admirable, the story also warns against blind obedience and the dangers of deception. The jeweler’s children learned that they should verify instructions rather than accepting them without question, while the hyena’s greed led to his downfall. The tale celebrates intelligence and quick thinking while reminding us that even the cleverest schemes can have consequences, and that wisdom lies not just in cunning, but in knowing when and how to use it responsibly.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who are the main characters in this Wolof folktale from Senegal? A: The main characters include a clever hare, the jeweler and his children, and a greedy hyena. The jeweler is a craftsman who works with gold and silver, and his innocent children become the targets of the hare’s deception.
Q2: What cultural origin does this folktale come from and what does it represent? A: This is a Wolof folktale from Senegal, West Africa. It represents the rich oral tradition of Wolof storytelling, where animal trickster tales teach lessons about wit, wisdom, and the consequences of both deception and gullibility.
Q3: How does the hare trick the jeweler’s children into helping him? A: The hare deceives the children by claiming their parents instructed them to tie him in the bean field, bring him water at midday, and untie him in the evening. The trusting children believe his lies and follow these false instructions daily.
Q4: What role does the hyena play in the hare’s escape from punishment? A: The hyena serves as the hare’s unwitting savior. When the hare tricks him into believing the hot iron is bringing “fine meat,” the greedy hyena takes the hare’s place and receives the punishment intended for the trickster.
Q5: What symbolic lesson does the hare’s final trick with the “lion king” represent? A: The hare’s final deception about speaking to the lion king symbolizes how fear of higher authority can be used to manipulate others. It shows how the clever can exploit others’ fears and insecurities to escape consequences.
Q6: Why is this story significant in Wolof culture and African folklore tradition? A: This tale is significant because it exemplifies the African trickster tradition, where smaller, weaker animals use intelligence to overcome larger, stronger opponents. It teaches children about the value of critical thinking while entertaining them with clever wordplay and unexpected plot twists.
