Once, in the wide forests of Somalia, where tall trees cast long shadows and the rustle of leaves echoed with whispers of beasts, the lion reigned supreme. Known as the king of the animals, he strode with a pride and power that none dared question. One day, the lion walked through the forest accompanied by a hyena, a fox, and many other creatures. Hunger gnawed at their bellies, and desperation weighed on every step. Then, as if fortune had answered their silent cries, they came upon a great camel, fat and strong, grazing peacefully in the shade.
The lion’s golden eyes burned with authority. Without hesitation, he leapt upon the camel, his claws sinking deep and his fangs piercing its neck. With one mighty strike, the camel fell. The lion, true to his nature, cared little for flesh. Instead, he bent low and drew out the warm blood, savoring its richness. Once satisfied, he stepped back, leaving the carcass stretched on the ground.
The forest grew silent as the other animals gathered around the lifeless camel. Their hunger sharpened, but none dared approach without the lion’s permission. At last, the lion turned to them, his mane catching the slanting light, and declared, “Let us share this feast.”
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The hyena, eager to prove himself bold, stepped forward. His spotted coat shivered in the heat, but his mouth curled into a grin. “I will divide it,” he offered, puffing his chest. He looked at the lion, then at the crowd of animals, and said, “It is fair to split this camel into two parts. One half for you, O King, and one half for all the rest of us.”
A hush fell. The animals glanced nervously at the lion, whose golden eyes narrowed to slits. In a flash of fury, the king’s paw struck. The blow landed with a thunderous force, and the hyena fell lifeless to the ground. The forest rang with silence again. The other animals trembled, stunned by the swiftness of death and the lion’s wrath.
The lion’s gaze swept over them like fire, and his voice, deep and commanding, cut through the air: “Fox! You divide it.”
The fox froze, his mind racing. He had seen the fate of the hyena. His heart pounded, but he kept his face calm. Clever and cautious, he lowered his eyes in humility and thought long and hard. Then, with deliberate care, he said, “O King, the entire camel belongs to you. Take it all. Every bone, every morsel, it is yours alone.”
The lion’s anger melted into a smile. He threw back his great head and laughed. “Well divided! Who taught you to divide so wisely?”
The fox raised his sharp nose and replied softly, “The lesson lies in the blow you gave the hyena. That alone showed me how to divide.”
The lion roared in approval, delighted by the fox’s cunning. But among the animals, fury burned. Whispers broke into growls, and they shouted at the fox: “You are a fool! A coward! You have given everything to the lion and left nothing for us.”
The fox, however, remained unshaken. His eyes gleamed with the cool light of survival. “You are the fools,” he retorted. “Had I divided it differently, I would be lying dead beside the hyena. Wisdom is knowing when to keep your life. What use is meat to the dead?”
And so, from that day, the animals learned the price of pride, the cost of rashness, and the cunning required to live under a king’s shadow.
Moral Lesson
This Somali folktale reveals a timeless truth about power and wisdom. The lion represents absolute authority, a force that cannot be challenged without consequence. The hyena’s mistake was believing fairness had a place in the presence of such power, and his life was the price. The fox, though scorned by the others, chose survival over pride, teaching that wisdom sometimes means yielding to the strong.
The story’s lesson is clear: when power is unbalanced, courage without caution leads to destruction, while cleverness and restraint preserve life.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Why did the lion kill the camel?
A1: Because he and the animals were hungry, and as king, he struck the camel down.
Q2: What part of the camel did the lion consume?
A2: The lion only sucked the blood from the camel’s neck, leaving the rest of the carcass.
Q3: Why did the lion kill the hyena?
A3: Because the hyena suggested dividing the camel fairly, giving half to the lion and half to the other animals, which angered the lion.
Q4: How did the fox divide the camel?
A4: The fox gave the entire camel to the lion, keeping nothing for the others.
Q5: What lesson did the fox learn from the hyena’s fate?
A5: He learned that survival meant pleasing the lion, even at the cost of fairness.
Q6: What cultural origin does this folktale belong to?
A6: This story is a Somali folktale.
Source: Somali folktale, Somalia.
