One day, the animals of the wilderness received a generous gift: a fine bull. It was agreed that the bull should not belong to just one creature without effort, so the animals decided to hold a competition. The winner would claim the animal as a prize. The contest they chose was a dance, Man unusual one at that. Whoever could dance in such a way as to raise the greatest cloud of dust would be declared the victor.
The chosen site was a wide, open clearing in the heart of the savanna. The ground there was flat and tightly packed, hardened by the hooves of countless animals that had passed across it. Around the edges, bushes and tall grasses swayed in the breeze as curious birds perched to watch. All the animals, from the mightiest elephant to the smallest antelope, gathered in anticipation. The air was filled with excitement, for the prize of a bull promised meat, wealth, and prestige.
The first to step forward were the largest creatures: the elephants and the buffaloes. Their size and strength made them confident that victory was already theirs. With heavy steps, they began to dance, stamping their feet, swinging their massive bodies, and trumpeting or bellowing with all their might. The ground shook under their weight, but to their dismay, the clearing remained unchanged. The earth was too tightly packed. No matter how much force they applied, not even a wisp of dust rose from the ground. The spectators murmured in disappointment. Strength alone, it seemed, was not enough.
From a distance, Mba-Soamba, the hare, had been watching carefully. Though much smaller than the others, he was known for his cunning. While the great animals relied on brute force, Hare thought only of strategy. As he observed the elephants and buffaloes exhausting themselves to no effect, an idea began to form in his mind, a plan that would rely not on strength, but on cleverness.
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Hare went home at once and requested that a great pair of trousers be sewn for him, far larger than anything he had ever worn. When they were finished, he filled the trousers with ashes, carefully stuffing the legs until they were swollen and heavy. With deliberate care, he tied the ends of the trouser legs so the ashes would not spill out prematurely. Hare chuckled to himself as he tightened the knots. “Let them stomp and pound,” he thought, “but I shall raise more dust than all of them.”
The next day, the competition continued. Animals of all kinds tried their best, antelopes leapt and bounded, lions twirled with surprising grace, even hyenas laughed and spun in circles. Yet the earth remained firm and no dust appeared. Each contestant left the clearing disappointed, shaking their heads. Finally, it was Hare’s turn.
The animals laughed when they saw him approach in his enormous, baggy trousers. “What foolishness is this?” muttered Buffalo. “Does he think his tiny paws will shake the earth?” sneered Elephant. But Hare paid them no attention. He stepped confidently into the center of the clearing, raised his head proudly, and began to dance.
He leapt, spun, and stamped with great energy, and at the same time, he secretly loosened one of the knots at the end of his trouser legs. At once, a cloud of ashes burst out, rising like a storm of dust into the air. The crowd gasped. The more Hare moved, the more ashes poured forth. Soon the clearing was filled with a thick haze, and the watching animals erupted in cheers.
“Mba-Soamba is the one! He is the best dancer!” they cried.
The animals were convinced. None of the others had managed to raise even a grain of dust, while Hare had filled the air with it. By the rules of the contest, the bull was his.
And so, through wit and trickery, Hare won the prize. The larger animals, though frustrated, could not deny his victory. They returned to their homes in silence, while Hare led the bull away triumphantly, his long ears twitching with satisfaction.
Moral Lesson
This Mossi folktale teaches that cleverness often triumphs over brute strength. The elephant and the buffalo relied solely on their physical power, but they failed because they did not think beyond force. Hare, though small and weak, used his mind to outwit the others and claim the prize. The story reminds us that wisdom, creativity, and strategy can achieve what sheer might cannot.
At the same time, the tale carries a cautionary note: while trickery can bring success, it may also foster resentment. Hare’s cleverness won him the bull, but it also deepened the envy and frustration of the larger beasts. The lesson is clear, wisdom is greater than strength, but it should be used with care and fairness.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What prize did the animals compete for in the story?
A1: They competed for ownership of a bull.
Q2: How was the winner of the competition determined?
A2: The animal who raised the most dust while dancing would win.
Q3: Why did the elephants and buffaloes fail in the contest?
A3: The ground was too hard-packed, so their strength could not raise any dust.
Q4: What trick did Hare use to win the competition?
A4: He filled large trousers with ashes and secretly released them while dancing, creating the illusion of dust.
Q5: What is the main lesson of the tale?
A5: Cleverness and strategy are often more effective than brute strength.
Q6: What is the cultural origin of this story?
A6: It is a Mossi folktale from Burkina Faso.
Source: Mossi folktale, Burkina Faso.
