In the vibrant villages and open fields of Senegal, the hare and the hyena were a pair as familiar as sun and shadow. One small, clever, and quick; the other large, greedy, and impatient. Time and again, the hare’s wit and care outmatched the hyena’s clumsiness and envy. These six tales showcase how intelligence, patience, and careful work triumph over recklessness and greed.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Hoe
One day, the hare and hyena set to work in the fields. The hare forged a fine hoe, sharp, balanced, and strong. The hyena, careless and hurried, made hers weak and brittle.
As they tilled the soil, the hare’s hoe sliced through the earth with ease, sending small clouds of dust into the sunlight. The hyena struck hard, and the hoe snapped in two. Frustrated, she stared at the broken wood. The hare chuckled softly. “A tool made in haste will not last,” he said, hopping along to finish his work efficiently.
The Hyena and the Hare with the House
Next, the two decided to build houses. The hare crafted a solid structure with straight walls, a strong roof, and tightly fitted doors. The hyena rushed, stacking uneven planks and leaving gaps in the walls.
When the rainy season arrived, the hare’s house stood firm against pounding wind and rain. The hyena’s house collapsed with a thunderous crash. Soaked and shivering, the hyena ran to the hare, pleading for shelter. The hare shook his head gently. “You must build with care if you wish to stay dry,” he said, leaving her out in the storm.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Granary
The hare, thoughtful as ever, constructed a tight granary to store his grain. The hyena, impatient, built hers with careless gaps and holes.
When harvest season came, the hare’s granary held his grain safe from rain and birds. The hyena’s granary leaked, and the grain inside was eaten or spoiled. Starving, the hyena begged the hare for food, but he refused. “Haste and carelessness bring hunger,” he said, munching happily on his own safe stores.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Boat
The hare decided to carve a boat for the river. His was smooth, balanced, and sturdy. The hyena, impatient as ever, made a crooked and uneven boat.
When they launched it on the flowing river, the hare glided effortlessly across the water, the sunlight reflecting off his polished vessel. The hyena’s boat wobbled and tipped, spilling her into the water. Drenched and sputtering, she swam ashore while the hare laughed and sailed away, his cleverness once again evident.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Canoe
Not long after, they built canoes. The hare’s canoe was light, balanced, and swift; the hyena’s was heavy, crooked, and awkward.
As they set off, the hare’s canoe sliced through the river calmly, while the hyena’s capsized in midstream. She scrambled to the shore, coughing and dripping, while the hare paddled easily and laughed from a safe distance. “Skill and care keep you afloat,” he called.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Trap
Finally, the hare wove a clever trap, perfectly designed to catch many animals. The hyena, as usual, rushed and constructed a poor imitation. Her trap caught nothing.
Jealous, the hyena tried to steal the hare’s catch. But as she reached in, the trap snapped on her paw, causing her to yelp in pain. The hare carefully freed her, saying, “Envy will always betray you.” Once again, his cleverness and patience outshone the hyena’s haste and greed.
Moral of the Tales
These six Senegalese folktales show that cleverness always defeats greed, and patience always triumphs over haste. The hare’s wisdom, skill, and careful work bring lasting success, while the hyena’s envy, recklessness, and greed lead only to failure and humiliation. In these timeless African trickster stories, intelligence and perseverance prove stronger than brute force or selfish desire.
Knowledge Check
Who are the main characters in these Senegalese folktales?
The main characters are the clever hare, who uses wit and patience, and the greedy hyena, whose haste leads to failure.
What lesson does the hoe story teach?
The hoe tale shows that cleverness defeats greed: a tool made with patience and skill endures, while one made in haste quickly breaks.
How does the hyena’s house fare in the rain?
The greedy hyena’s poorly built house collapses in the storm, while the hare’s careful, skillful work protects him, proving patience over haste.
What happens with the granary?
The hare’s grain is safe because he planned with care, while the hyena’s careless greed leaves her hungry, reinforcing that cleverness defeats recklessness.
How do the boat and canoe stories illustrate skill versus impatience?
The hare’s skillful boats stay afloat, while the hyena’s clumsy, rushed work sinks, showing that wisdom and patience always outlast envy and greed.
What is the cultural origin of these tales?
These are traditional Senegalese folktales from West Africa, part of a rich oral tradition teaching how cleverness defeats greed and wisdom overcomes folly.
Source: Senegalese Folktales (René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933)
