Long ago, when the forests of Angola were thick with towering trees and the earth smelled of damp leaves after rain, two kinsmen lived side by side: Hog, the smaller and more eager one, and Boar, the larger and wiser. Together they foraged in the undergrowth, rooting through the soil for roots and fruits, living by the rhythms of the wild. Theirs was a simple life, free, though sometimes hard. Hunger was no stranger in the bush, yet freedom carried its own sweetness.
But Hog’s heart was restless. Each day as he rooted near the edges of the forest, the scent of smoke and cooked food drifted from the villages of men. He saw how people gathered around their fires, how they roasted maize and stirred pots of mush, and his mouth watered. The bitter plants of the wild seemed less and less satisfying compared to the promise of human food.
One afternoon, Hog turned to Boar and said, “Brother, I am weary of this forest fare. In the village, men eat food rich and plentiful. I am going to live with them. There I shall always eat well.”
Boar, his tusks gleaming and his eyes steady, shook his great head. “Do not go there, kinsman. Men do not love animals like us. Their hearts are sharp as spears, and though their food smells sweet, it is laced with danger. Stay here, where the forest may be harsh but at least it is free.”
But Hog’s mind was set. His hunger clouded his wisdom, and the thought of eating what humans ate was too strong. “Better to taste the meals of men than chew bitter leaves all my life,” Hog insisted. And so, without waiting for another warning, he trotted out of the forest and into the village.
When the people saw him, they did not chase him away. Instead, they marveled at how willingly he came. They built him a sty at the edge of the settlement. Hog, pleased and proud, entered gladly. Soon enough, he found himself fed with scraps from the villagers’ meals. There was mush, cassava, and sometimes the remains of roasted meat. Hog grew fat, and in his comfort he forgot the words of Boar.
In time, Hog bred within the village. Piglets squealed in the sty, and the people laughed at how quickly he multiplied. But men are not generous without reason. One day, when Hog had grown heavy and plump, they came with ropes and knives. He squealed as they dragged him from the sty, and his voice rose high above the clamor of the village.
In his cries, he seemed to speak, lamenting: “Boar! You warned me not to go to the village. You said men hated animals. But I did not listen. I chose the food of men, and now I pay with my life.”
The people did not hear the words, only the squealing. They slaughtered him, and his seed remained behind in the piglets, who would grow and live in the villages forever.
From that day, hogs have belonged to the habitations of men. Whenever one squeals as it is killed, the elders say it is repeating the words of its ancestor: “I die, I die, I, Hog. I should have listened to Boar.”
And so the tale is told: Hog chose the village for its food, but in doing so, he lost the freedom of the wild.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that short-sighted desire often blinds us to wisdom. Hog traded the hard but free life of the forest for the promise of comfort in the village, ignoring Boar’s warning. His choice brought him food but also led him to captivity and death. The story reminds us that not all that glitters is safe, and that heeding the counsel of those with experience is often the truest path to survival.
At its heart, the story speaks of wisdom, contentment, and the danger of trading freedom for fleeting pleasures. To live wisely is to balance desire with foresight and to honor the warnings of those who see further than we do.
Knowledge Check
Who were the main characters in the tale?
Hog, who longed for human food, and Boar, his wiser kinsman.
Why did Hog want to leave the forest?
He was tired of bitter plants and desired the rich foods of men.
What warning did Boar give Hog?
That men hated animals and that living in the village would bring danger.
What happened after Hog settled in the village?
He was fed and bred piglets, but eventually he was slaughtered.
What does Hog’s squealing symbolize in the story?
His regret for ignoring Boar’s advice and his lament as he died.
What cultural origin does this folktale belong to?
It is an Angolan folktale from the Kimbundu tradition.
Source: Angolan folktale, Kimbundu tribe (Angola).
