In the vast African savanna, where acacia trees stretched their thorny branches toward the endless sky and the red earth baked under the scorching sun, there lived two monkeys who had been companions for many seasons. Their friendship had weathered countless adventures, from swinging through the baobab groves to sharing the sweet fruits that grew wild along the riverbanks.
The two monkeys lived in perfect harmony, chattering away in the early morning hours as the golden light filtered through the canopy above their tree home. They would groom each other’s fur with gentle care, share stories of their daily adventures, and sleep curled together when the cool night winds whispered across the plains.
One particular morning, when hunger gnawed at their bellies and the sun climbed higher in the cloudless sky, the two friends decided to venture out in search of food. Their bare feet padded silently across the dusty ground as they searched beneath bushes and around fallen logs, their keen eyes scanning every shadow for something edible.
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Fortune smiled upon them when they discovered a cache of delicious food hidden beneath a cluster of rocks. Perhaps it was a store of nuts, or sweet roots, or dried fruits , whatever it was, it was enough to make their mouths water and their stomachs rumble with anticipation. But as they gazed upon their precious find, a shadow fell across their friendship.
“This food is mine!” declared the first monkey, his voice sharp with sudden greed. “I saw it first!”
“No, it belongs to me!” protested the second monkey, his tail twitching with agitation. “My hand touched it before yours!”
Their voices rose in the still air, disturbing the peace of the savanna. Birds took flight from nearby trees, and small creatures scurried away from the growing commotion. The two friends, who had shared everything for so long, now stood facing each other with clenched fists and angry eyes, their friendship forgotten in the face of their dispute.
The quarrel grew more heated with each passing moment. Neither monkey would back down, and neither would consider sharing what they had found together. The sun beat down mercilessly as they argued, their voices becoming hoarse and their tempers fraying like old rope.
Finally, when it became clear that they could not resolve their dispute alone, one of the monkeys had an idea. “Let us go to the fox,” he suggested, wiping sweat from his brow. “He is known for his wisdom and fairness. Surely he can judge between us and decide who rightfully owns this food.”
The other monkey, exhausted from arguing and desperate for a resolution, agreed. “Yes, the fox will know what to do. He has settled disputes before.”
So the two monkeys, each clutching their side of the contested food, made their way across the dusty plains to where the fox was known to make his home. The clever fox lived in a comfortable burrow beneath a large termite mound, shaded by a spreading marula tree whose sweet-smelling fruit often attracted visitors.
When they arrived, they found the fox lounging in the dappled shade, his russet fur gleaming in the filtered sunlight and his intelligent eyes already calculating as he watched them approach. His pointed ears twitched with interest as he listened to their heated explanations and competing claims.
“Wise fox,” they said in unison, both speaking at once in their eagerness to present their case. “We have found food, but we cannot agree on who it belongs to. Please, judge between us and divide it fairly.”
The fox listened with apparent gravity, nodding thoughtfully as each monkey presented his argument. His amber eyes gleamed with what the monkeys mistook for wisdom, but which was actually cunning calculation. When they had finished speaking, he stroked his whiskers thoughtfully and spoke in measured tones.
“This is indeed a serious matter,” the fox said, his voice smooth as honey. “To ensure perfect fairness, I will need to use scales to divide the food into two exactly equal portions. Only with precise measurement can true justice be achieved.”
The monkeys nodded eagerly, impressed by the fox’s commitment to fairness.
“Unfortunately,” the fox continued with a theatrical sigh, “I don’t have my scales with me at the moment. I lent them to the lion just this morning. He needed them for his own business. But no matter, we shall simply go to the lion’s cave, retrieve the scales, and settle your dispute there.”
The monkeys, trusting in the fox’s apparent wisdom and integrity, readily agreed to this plan. They had no reason to suspect deception from someone who spoke so reasonably about justice and fairness.
Together, the unlikely trio made their way across the savanna toward the rocky outcropping where the lion made his den. The cave entrance yawned like a dark mouth in the hillside, surrounded by bleached bones and the lingering scent of previous meals. Even in daylight, the place held an ominous atmosphere that should have warned the monkeys of danger.
When they reached the mouth of the cave, the fox called out in a loud, clear voice that echoed off the rocky walls. “Great lion! I have brought two monkeys who need your wisdom. They have a dispute over food that requires judgment. Please, make peace between them and help resolve their quarrel.”
But even as the words left his mouth, the cunning fox was already backing away from the cave entrance. With swift, silent movements, he circled around behind the unsuspecting monkeys. While they stood waiting for the lion’s response, their attention focused entirely on the dark cave opening, the fox quietly snatched up the disputed food.
Without a sound, the clever trickster slipped away into the brush, the stolen meal clutched securely in his jaws. His bushy tail disappeared among the tall grass as he made his escape, leaving the two monkeys completely unaware of his treachery.
Meanwhile, from the depths of the cave came the sound of heavy paws on stone. The lion emerged from his shadowy den, his golden mane catching the sunlight and his powerful muscles rippling beneath his tawny coat. His yellow eyes fixed upon the two monkeys with predatory interest.
The monkeys, still believing they were there for a fair judgment, began to tell their stories to the great cat. They spoke earnestly about their discovery and their dispute, each one pleading his case with passionate conviction.
But the lion had no interest in settling quarrels or dispensing justice. His stomach was empty, and fortune had delivered two plump monkeys directly to his doorstep. Why should he waste time listening to their petty disputes when he could simply solve his own immediate problem?
With a mighty roar that shook the very stones of his cave, the lion pounced. The two monkeys, caught completely off guard and with nowhere to run, met their tragic end in the jaws of the king of beasts.
Far away, the fox enjoyed his ill-gotten meal in the safety of his burrow, having successfully manipulated both the monkeys and the situation to his own advantage. His belly full and his conscience untroubled, he settled down for a comfortable nap, already planning his next clever scheme.
Moral Lesson
This African folktale warns us about the dangers of greed and misplaced trust. The monkeys’ quarrel over material possessions made them vulnerable to deception, while their blind faith in the fox’s apparent wisdom led to their destruction. The story teaches that disputes driven by greed often benefit only those clever enough to exploit the situation, and that we should be wary of those who offer to solve our problems while having their own hidden agendas.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What caused the conflict between the two monkeys in this African folktale? A1: The two monkeys quarreled over food they had found together, with each monkey claiming ownership and refusing to share, which destroyed their previously harmonious friendship.
Q2: How did the fox deceive the monkeys in this trickster tale? A2: The fox pretended he needed scales to divide the food fairly and claimed he had lent them to the lion. He led the monkeys to the lion’s cave, then secretly stole their food while they were distracted.
Q3: What role does the lion play in this African folktale? A3: The lion serves as an unwitting accomplice to the fox’s scheme and represents raw power without justice. Instead of judging the monkeys’ dispute, he simply ate them when they came to his cave.
Q4: What does the fox symbolize in African trickster folklore? A4: The fox represents cunning intelligence used for selfish gain, demonstrating how clever manipulation can exploit others’ greed and naivety for personal benefit.
Q5: What is the main moral lesson of this African folktale? A5: The story warns against greed destroying friendships and teaches caution about trusting those who offer to solve our disputes, as they may have hidden agendas that benefit only themselves.
Q6: How does this folktale reflect traditional African storytelling themes? A6: This tale embodies classic African folklore elements including animal characters representing human traits, the clever trickster figure, and moral lessons about the consequences of greed and misplaced trust.
