In the golden plains and quiet villages of Senegal, the hyena and the hare were an odd pair: one large and greedy, the other small and cunning. Time and again, the hare’s quick mind outwitted the hyena’s gluttony and impatience. These six tales reveal the cleverness of the hare and the folly of the hyena, as they navigate everything from animals and music to tools, fishing, and craft.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Cow
One sunny day, the hare and the hyena discovered a cow grazing near a riverbank. The hare, with his usual cunning, proposed, “Let us divide it fairly.”
The hyena, eager for meat, agreed immediately. The hare carefully took the richest portions, the tender meat and juicy ribs, leaving only the hooves and horns for the hyena.
When the hyena tried to eat her share, she realized she had been tricked once more. She growled in frustration as the hare hopped away, content and chuckling, his cleverness victorious yet again.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Drum
The hare and the hyena decided to craft musical drums. The hare chose a fine, supple hide, stretched it tightly, and polished it until it produced a pure, melodious tone.
The hyena, envious and impatient, grabbed a cracked, old hide and hastily assembled her drum. The result was a harsh, jarring sound that grated on the ears.
When both played for the villagers, applause and smiles greeted the hare, while laughter and mockery followed the hyena. Infuriated, she smashed her drum and retreated, tail between her legs, while the hare’s cheerful rhythms echoed through the village.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Pot
In another tale, the hare and hyena each shaped a clay pot. The hare’s pot was smooth, symmetrical, and strong. The hyena, careless and rushed, made hers crooked and fragile.
When they filled the pots with water, the hare’s held firm, glinting in the sunlight, while the hyena’s cracked and spilled, leaving her empty-handed. Scolded by her family and humiliated, she trudged home, while the hare carried his pot proudly, a model of patience and skill.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Net
Fishing was next on their adventures. The hare wove a fine, strong net, perfectly designed for catching fish. The hyena, impatient and clumsy, made hers hastily, leaving holes and weak knots.
By the river, the hare’s net teemed with silver fish. The hyena’s net, however, fell apart, leaving her with nothing. Begging the hare for some of his catch, she received only a stern reply: “Work well if you wish to eat.” Ashamed, she slunk home, while the hare carried his plentiful net with pride.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Mortar
Next, the hare carved a sturdy, smooth mortar for pounding grain. The hyena, impatient as ever, made hers weak and uneven.
When they tried pounding grain, the hare’s mortar worked perfectly, rhythmically crushing the kernels. The hyena’s split apart immediately, scattering pieces of wood and grain. The hare laughed at her defeat. “Skill, not haste, makes a thing last,” he said, hopping away with a satisfied smile.
The Hyena and the Hare with the Stool
Finally, the hare and the hyena decided to carve stools. The hare made a smooth, strong stool, carefully shaping it until it could hold his weight without faltering. The hyena rushed, crafting a rough and crooked stool.
When they sat, the hare’s stool held firm. The hyena’s broke under her weight, sending her tumbling to the ground. The hare laughed gently from his perch. “Work carefully if you want to sit well,” he said, hopping away once again, leaving the hyena humiliated and sore.
Moral of the Tales
These six stories remind us that patience, skill, and cleverness triumph over greed, impatience, and recklessness. The hare’s success demonstrates that intelligence and careful work are far more valuable than brute force or haste.
Knowledge Check
Who are the main characters in these Senegalese folktales?
The main characters are the clever trickster hare and the greedy, foolish hyena in Senegalese folklore.
How does the hyena fail with the cow?
In this Senegalese tale, the greedy hyena ends up with only hooves and horns, while the hare cleverly takes all the meat.
What happens when the hyena tries to make a drum or pot?
The hyena’s impatience produces poor, broken tools that villagers mock, while the hare’s careful work brings respect and success.
How does the hare demonstrate skill in the net and mortar stories?
The hare shows wisdom and patience by crafting strong, useful tools, while the hyena’s clumsy efforts collapse into failure.
What lesson does the stool story teach?
This Senegalese folktale teaches that patience and careful work bring stability, while haste and greed lead to humiliation.
What is the cultural origin of these tales?
They are traditional Senegalese folktales from West Africa, part of a long oral storytelling tradition about the hare and the hyena.
Source: Senegalese Folktales (René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933)
