Long ago, the Hawk lived high above in sky-land, soaring freely through the clouds, while the Frog dwelled humbly upon the earth among rivers and swamps. One day, the Hawk descended to visit his earthbound friend, the Frog. His face was grave, and his tone was urgent as he said, “Friend Frog, I am in great difficulty. Will you kindly lend me one thousand brass rods? I am in dire need of money.”
The Frog hesitated. “But your home is in the sky, and I cannot fly. I have neither feathers nor wings. How could I ever go there to collect my money?”
The Hawk reassured him quickly. “You will not need to come for it. I will surely bring the money down to you here. Please, lend me the rods.”
Moved by his friend’s plea, the Frog counted out one thousand brass rods and handed them over. The Hawk promised to return them soon.
The Hawk’s Refusal
Months passed. Six long months went by, and the Frog heard nothing. Not a single rod was repaid. One day, the Frog spotted the Hawk resting on a low branch and seized the moment to demand his debt. But as soon as the Frog approached, the Hawk flew away as fast as his wings could carry him.
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Soon, whispers reached the Frog’s ears: the Hawk went to market every Nkandu and Nkenge to buy saucepans. The Frog decided this was his chance. At dawn on the next Nkandu, he hopped across fields, leapt over rocks, and swam across rivers until he reached the market. There, he hid himself, watching closely.
When the Hawk arrived, he laid down his satchel and went about buying saucepans. The Frog seized his moment, slipping silently into one of the shiny pots. When the Hawk gathered his purchases and returned home to sky-land, he unknowingly carried the Frog with him.
Frog in the Sky
That night, in the quiet corner of the Hawk’s house, the Frog crept out of the saucepan. At sunrise, he casually strolled into the Hawk’s path.
The Hawk froze, wide-eyed with shock. “Friend Frog! How did you get here? You have neither feathers nor wings!”
The Frog replied firmly, “Never mind how I came. I am here for my money.”
The Hawk faltered, making excuses. “I am truly sorry. I do not have the money at present.”
But the Frog stood his ground. “Then I shall stay here, in your house, until you pay me.”
Cornered, the Hawk remembered he had just enough rods to settle the debt. He handed them over at once, eager to rid himself of his unwelcome guest. The Frog clutched his money but faced another dilemma: how to return to earth.
Return to Earth
The Frog waited patiently for the next market day. When the Hawk prepared his satchel for the journey, the Frog crept inside once more. Upon arriving at the marketplace, the Frog leapt out and strolled about casually until he came face to face with the Hawk again.
Startled, the Hawk demanded, “How did you get here?”
The Frog blinked slowly and answered, “I came by the road I travelled.”
The Hawk ruffled his feathers in frustration. “I borrowed money from you because I thought, having no feathers or wings, you would never trouble me for repayment. Yet you followed me and forced me to return it. I will never borrow from you again!”
The Frog hopped off muttering, “And I will never again lend to those bigger than myself. If you ask them for repayment, they grow angry. If you say nothing, they laugh and think you a fool.”
Thus ended the tale of the Frog and the Hawk, where wit and persistence triumphed over pride and evasion.
Moral Lesson
This folktale teaches us that determination and cleverness can overcome even the greatest obstacles. The Frog, though small and bound to the earth, used patience and strategy to reclaim what was rightfully his from the mighty Hawk of the skies. It also warns us about lending without wisdom: those who seem powerful may feel entitled, and when asked to repay, they may turn hostile. The story reminds us to be cautious with our trust and firm in claiming justice.
Knowledge Check (Q&A)
Q1: What did the Hawk borrow from the Frog?
A1: The Hawk borrowed one thousand brass rods.
Q2: Why was the Frog reluctant to lend the money at first?
A2: Because the Hawk lived in the sky, and the Frog feared he could not reach him to reclaim the debt.
Q3: How did the Frog manage to follow the Hawk to his sky-land home?
A3: By hiding inside one of the saucepans the Hawk purchased at the market.
Q4: What forced the Hawk to finally repay his debt?
A4: The Frog refused to leave the Hawk’s house until he was paid.
Q5: What did the Frog learn about lending to those “bigger” than himself?
A5: That they may grow angry when asked for repayment or mock those who remain silent.
Q6: What is the cultural origin of this folktale?
A6: It is a Bakongo folktale from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Source: A Bakongo folktale from the Democratic Republic of Congo, collected in John H. Weeks’ Congo Life and Folklore (1911).
