Long ago, among the Mossi people of Burkina Faso, there lived a powerful chief who loved his only daughter dearly. She was known throughout the land for her beauty, grace, and intelligence. Many young men longed to marry her, but the chief desired only the cleverest and most resourceful man for his child. To test the worth of any suitor, he set a nearly impossible challenge. He declared before his people, “The one who brings me the brain of a genie, milk from a she-buffalo, and the tendon of a tortoise shall win my daughter in marriage.”
At the sound of this proclamation, many suitors trembled and withdrew, for the tasks seemed impossible. But Hare, ever proud of his cunning, saw an opportunity. “These things are not so difficult,” he thought, and with confidence burning in his heart, he set off into the bush to accomplish the chief’s challenge.
The bush stretched vast and wide, filled with thick shrubs, ancient trees, and the sound of birdsong echoing over the red earth. It was here that Hare encountered a great she-buffalo searching for monkey bread fruit to feed her hungry calves. The massive animal pawed the ground anxiously, looking up at the tall baobab tree whose fruit hung just out of reach.
Hare, with his silver tongue, approached her politely. “Good mother,” he said, “since you are so strong, all you need do is take a running start and strike the baobab with your mighty horns. Surely the fruit will fall, and each of us may take some for our children.”
The buffalo, eager to provide for her calves, believed him. She lowered her horns, backed away, and then charged with all her might into the baobab. Her horns pierced deep into the thick trunk, leaving her trapped. At once, Hare slipped behind her with a calabash and began to milk her. Smiling slyly, he said, “They claim no one can milk a buffalo, but clearly they have never met me.” Soon his calabash was full, and Hare departed before she could free herself.
Satisfied with this success, Hare ventured deeper into the bush, where he met a small genie named Kinkirga. The genie strutted with pride, his head glowing faintly under the sun. Hare bowed respectfully and asked, “Mighty Kinkirga, can you perform a somersault upon that rock?”
The genie frowned. “No, I cannot.”
“Then allow me to teach you,” Hare replied. He climbed onto the rock, flipped gracefully, and landed on his feet. The genie, eager to prove himself, scrambled up after him. He attempted the somersault, but instead struck his head violently against the stone. His skull cracked, and he collapsed lifeless. Hare quickly gathered the genie’s brain into a container and moved on without a moment’s hesitation.
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With two tasks completed, Hare devised a scheme for the third. Standing tall upon a mound, he cried to the animals of the bush, “Listen, all of you! The sky is angry. He says you have stolen his egg, and he demands you return it at once!”
The animals gathered, murmuring in confusion. “We have no egg of the sky,” they protested.
“Then,” said Hare sternly, “you must climb to the heavens and apologize.”
He ordered them to stack themselves one atop the other to reach the sky. “Since the tortoise carries a shell,” Hare explained, “she must be the foundation to bear your weight.” The obedient animals clambered onto the tortoise’s back, elephant, antelope, and many others, piling higher and higher.
As they strained upward, Hare crept behind and began slicing at the tendon of the tortoise’s hind leg. Alarmed, the tortoise cried out, “Who is cutting my tendon?”
Quick as ever, Hare sang out, “Listen, everyone! Take up the song the tortoise has begun!” The animals, thinking it was part of the ritual, chanted together, their voices rising in unison: “Who is cutting my tendon?” Their chorus drowned out her protest as Hare severed the tendon and fled.
At last, Hare carried his prizes, the buffalo’s milk, the genie’s brain, and the tortoise’s tendon, to the chief. The chief, astonished, declared Hare the victor and gave him his daughter in marriage.
Thus, through cunning and trickery, Hare won the hand of the chief’s daughter, while the buffalo nursed her wounds, the genie lay dead, and the tortoise limped forevermore.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that cleverness can overcome even the greatest obstacles, yet it also warns of the harm caused by deceit. Hare achieved his goal through wit, but his cunning left behind betrayal, pain, and broken trust. True wisdom lies not only in intelligence, but in using it with fairness and compassion.
Knowledge Check
What challenge did the chief set for suitors?
He demanded the brain of a genie, milk from a she-buffalo, and the tendon of a tortoise.
How did Hare trick the she-buffalo?
He convinced her to charge a baobab tree, trapping her horns so he could milk her.
What method did Hare use to kill the genie?
He tricked the genie into attempting a somersault on a rock, causing him to fatally strike his head.
Why was the tortoise chosen as the base of the animal tower?
Because she carried a shell and could supposedly support the weight of the others.
What does this tale reveal about Hare’s character?
He is intelligent and cunning, but also deceitful and willing to harm others for personal gain.
What is the cultural origin of this story?
It is a Mossi folktale from Burkina Faso.
Source: Mossi folktale, Burkina Faso.
