Once, word reached Kalulu the Hare of a cruel custom in a neighbouring village, where a proud Chief and his vain daughter devised a merciless test for young men who sought her hand in marriage. The maiden was known across the land for her beauty, and many suitors considered it the highest honour to wed her. Yet the Chief and his daughter, blinded by arrogance, felt no man worthy of her. Instead of choosing sensibly, they mocked and humiliated those who came forward, creating a trial no one could ever endure.
In the Chief’s great courtyard, he gathered his subjects into a wide circle. At the centre stood a massive earthen pot, bubbling with scalding hot water. One by one, eager young men were summoned to step forward, fill a bowl from the pot, and drink it down in a single pull. Whoever succeeded, they claimed, would prove his love and win the maiden’s hand. But it was a task impossible for any man.
The moment the first brave youth touched the water to his lips, he screamed in pain, dropping the bowl and fleeing with blistered tongue and scalded throat. Others followed, and each suffered the same fate, burned, broken, and humiliated. The Chief and his daughter roared with laughter at their anguish, enjoying the cruel spectacle. The once-hopeful suitors could eat nothing for days, their lips swollen and their pride shattered.
When Kalulu heard of this cruelty, his sharp mind burned with indignation. He resolved to put an end to the Chief’s wicked game and teach both father and daughter a lesson they would not forget.
On the next day of testing, Kalulu arrived in the Chief’s village and joined the line of suitors. His tall ears and confident grin drew curious stares, for the people were accustomed to quiet, fearful young men who went forward only to be shamed. Kalulu, however, had other plans.
READ: Why the Sky Is So High: A Zambian Folktale
When his turn came, he walked boldly to the boiling pot, dipped a bowl of steaming water, and placed it carefully on the ground beside him. Instead of rushing, he began bowing left and right, saluting the villagers and greeting them warmly. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. This was no ordinary suitor, Kalulu was stalling, charming, and turning the trial into a performance. His showmanship held the people captive.
At last, Kalulu straightened and addressed the Chief.
“Great Chief,” he said with respectful firmness, “if I succeed in drinking this water, will you promise me something?”
The Chief sneered. “Bah! You will not succeed.”
Kalulu winked at the villagers, drawing laughter and applause. He pressed on, “For argument’s sake, Sir, if I do succeed, will you promise me before your people that you will grant my request?”
Annoyed, the Chief barked, “I give no promises!”
Kalulu persisted politely, “It is only fair, Sir, in the interest of your daughter’s happiness.”
Growing impatient, the Chief snapped, “Very well, what is it?”
“Please say, ‘I promise,’ Sir,” Kalulu urged firmly.
“I promise,” muttered the Chief at last, thinking it meaningless.
Kalulu seized the moment. “Your word of honour, Chief, is that you will never again organize cruel tests in your village, for any reason whatsoever.”
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause. The Chief’s face hardened, but before his subjects he could not retract his word. Trapped by his own pride, he waved Kalulu on impatiently.
Kalulu bent dramatically over the steaming bowl. “If I am to die,” he cried, “let me first bid farewell to my beloved parents, for I may never see them again!” Without waiting for permission, he leapt into the bush. The villagers leaned forward eagerly, some even cheering: “Bravo, Kalulu! Buck up, Kalulu!”
After some time, Kalulu returned in a flutter, seized the bowl, and, before the astonished crowd, drank the contents in one long draught. He lowered the empty bowl, smacking his lips with satisfaction.
The courtyard exploded with wild joy. People clapped, danced, and sang. The young men waiting behind Kalulu sighed with relief, spared from certain suffering. But on the Chief’s throne, faces darkened. The Chief was pale with fury, while his daughter, ashamed and humiliated, burst into tears. Their cruel game had been turned against them, and by none other than a mere Hare!
Kalulu, seeing her humiliation, declared that she should choose her husband sensibly among the young men, rather than subjecting them to cruel trials. As for the Chief, he was bound by his promise never again to invent such wicked tests. From that day onward, peace and fairness returned to the village, thanks to the wit of clever Kalulu.
Moral Lesson
This tale reminds us that cruelty and vanity bring downfall, while wisdom and courage can restore justice. Kalulu’s cleverness exposed the emptiness of the Chief’s pride and protected countless young men from needless suffering. The story also teaches that true worth is not proven through pain, but through kindness, fairness, and humility.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who was Kalulu?
Kalulu was a clever Hare known for his wit and cunning in Zambian folktales.
Q2: What cruel test did the Chief devise?
He forced suitors to drink boiling water to prove their love for his daughter.
Q3: How did Kalulu outsmart the Chief?
He secured a promise from the Chief before pretending to drink the boiling water, then returned with a clever trick that fooled everyone.
Q4: What does the Chief’s daughter represent in this tale?
She symbolizes vanity and pride, which bring humiliation when misused.
Q5: What cultural origin does this story belong to?
It is a Bemba folktale from Zambia.
Q6: What is the central lesson of the story?
Wisdom and cleverness triumph over cruelty, arrogance, and injustice.
Folktale Origin
Source: Kalulu the Hare and Other Zambian Folk-Tales, Bemba folktale, Zambia.
