In a quiet Wolof village, two neighbors, the cunning hare and the stubborn hyena, decided to build new doors for their homes. Each wanted to show who could make the better one.
The hare, patient and clever, spent days shaping strong planks from hard wood. He carved them carefully and joined them tightly. When he was done, his door stood straight and solid, firm on its hinges. The villagers admired it, saying it looked as if no thief could ever break it.
The hyena, however, rushed. She cut crooked sticks and tied them loosely with twine. Her door leaned to one side and rattled with the wind. “Why waste time?” she said proudly. “A door is a door.”
One night, a band of thieves crept into the village. They came first to the hare’s house. They pushed and struck, but the door did not move. They whispered among themselves, “This one is too strong.” So, they turned toward the hyena’s home.
The flimsy door cracked at the first blow. The thieves poured in, scattering her pots, stealing her grain, and leaving her weeping in the dark. The hare, safe behind his strong door, watched from his window.
The next morning, the villagers gathered. They praised the hare’s wisdom and laughed at the hyena’s carelessness. Hyena sat in shame, wishing she had built her door with patience and care.
Moral Lesson of The Hyena and the Hare with the Door
This tale teaches that wisdom, patience, and careful work provide true protection. Rushing to do things without care leaves one open to loss and regret. Just as the hare’s strong door shielded him from danger, careful planning and steady effort protect us in life.
Knowledge Check
What materials did the hare use to build his strong door in The Hyena and the Hare with the Door ?
He used solid planks of hard wood, joined tightly together.
Why did the hyena’s door fail in the story?
Because she built it hastily from crooked sticks tied loosely.
What happened when thieves came to the village?
They could not break into the hare’s strong door but easily broke into the hyena’s.
How did the villagers react the next morning?
They praised the hare’s wisdom and mocked the hyena’s carelessness.
What lesson does the story teach about hard work?
That patience and careful effort bring lasting protection and success.
Which culture does The Hyena and the Hare with the Door belong to?
It belongs to the Wolof people of Senegal.
Cultural Origin
This folktale is part of Wolof oral tradition from Senegal, preserved in René Guillot’s Contes d’Afrique (1933). It reflects the cultural value of wisdom, patience, and community judgment in West African storytelling.
- source:René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 87.
