Among the Beba people, there’s an ancient wisdom: “One who has a sibling is never beaten to death.” This saying would prove prophetic in the legendary rivalry between Tswe-the-Hare and Torokee-the-Tortoise, whose mutual dislike had festered for generations through the cruel games their children played.
For countless seasons, Torokee’s offspring had tormented Tswe’s little ones, mocking their slender legs as “broomsticks fit for lighting forest fires” and taunting that humans would love to use such tiny limbs to sweep dry leaves around their nsaa (courtyards). When Tswe’s children tried to fight back, the young tortoises would simply withdraw into their protective shells, leaving the hare children to bruise themselves against impenetrable armor while cruel laughter echoed through the forest.
The animals whispered that someday Hare would teach Tortoise a bitter lesson. That day came during the season of abundance, when the harvest had been bountiful and both animals and humans celebrated their good fortune.
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The Challenge
As golden sunlight filtered through emerald leaves, the animals gathered for their annual festival planning meeting. King Takro the Lion presided over the assembly with regal authority when Torokee arrived late, characteristically disrupting the proceedings with his loud interruptions.
“If you had not been born with lead in your legs, you would’ve been here on time like everyone else,” Tswe snorted, his whiskers twitching with irritation.
The words hung in the air like morning mist before Torokee’s sharp retort cut through the silence: “If you think the gods blessed you with nimble legs, then I challenge you to a race!”
The forest erupted. Animals perked their ears in disbelief, batting eyelids at each other in amazement. Leopard coughed nervously, Rabbit sneezed, and suddenly explosive laughter shook the very trees. The creatures rolled on their backs, paws waving in the air, their chorused vibrations making the earth tremble as if someone had announced that humans would never hunt again.
Tswe, recovering first from his mirth, demanded Torokee repeat his audacious challenge. The tortoise, undaunted by the ridicule, declared with steely determination: “If it pleases those assembled here, these old and brittle legs are ready to run a race with Tswe. You all seem to have forgotten that clouds do not always forecast rain.”
Preparation
That evening, Tswe left the meeting feeling insulted but gradually grew euphoric. Why worry about something so trivial? Wasn’t he the fastest creature in all the jungle? He laughed at Torokee’s apparent foolishness, sleeping peacefully through the festive nights without a care about the upcoming race.
Meanwhile, Torokee embarked on a mysterious journey, visiting every member of his extended family. He traveled to see sons and daughters, aunts and uncles, grandparents and distant cousins—anyone who considered themselves his kinfolk. The other animals joked that he must be saying his goodbyes, wondering if he’d survive such extensive traveling. “A single stick smokes but does not burn,” they murmured, watching him plot and plan with each relative until finally, satisfied with every contribution to his scheme, Torokee slept for an entire day.
The Race
Dawn broke crisp and clear on race day. Young drummers welcomed animals from neighboring territories while singers praised both contestants. At the starting line, Nserr the Elephant waited with the competitors, while King Takro and other animals positioned themselves at the distant finish line marked by the Tree of Victory.
Tswe kicked his powerful hind legs impatiently as Torokee clawed his way to the starting position amid mixed jeers and cheers. Finally, Nserr raised his mighty trunk, and his horn boomed across the forest like thunder. A resounding cheer from the finish line acknowledged the race had begun.
Tswe shot forward like a hunter’s arrow, driven by one burning thought: to teach pompous Torokee a lesson and restore dignity to all the animals who had suffered humiliation for generations.
The Mysterious Pursuit
At the first stream, Tswe stopped for refreshment, drinking deeply before admiring his reflection in the crystal-clear water. He posed, turning left and right, so captivated by his own image that he nearly tumbled into the water. Laughing at his vanity, he waded across and continued running.
But his tranquility shattered when grass rustled behind him. Turning in disbelief, he saw Torokee approaching. Stunned into silence, Tswe bolted toward the second stream, where he crossed and decided to nap, confident he’d put a day’s distance between himself and his competitor.
When shadows grew a foot long, Tswe awakened and ambled leisurely forward, stopping to graze on tender grass shoots. His peaceful meal turned to shock when he spotted Torokee ahead of him once again. “How did this happen? I must have overslept!” he berated himself before sprinting past his bewildered rival.
The Final Stretch
At nki Mbu, the great river near the Tree of Victory, Tswe ignored the bridge and somersaulted into the refreshing waters. The cool liquid caressed his fur as he rolled playfully, catching the attention of curious mbwe (fish) who swam over to investigate.
The fish marveled at his brown and white markings, and Tswe, flattered by their admiration, spent precious hours sharing stories of land creatures while they reciprocated with tales of aquatic life. He floated blissfully until the fish suddenly vanished, replaced by the imposing figure of Nye-Nki the Hippopotamus.
“Why aren’t you at the finish line?” Tswe called down nervously.
“Don’t pretend to be brave with me,” Nye-Nki scoffed, his massive fangs gleaming. “What are you doing here when Torokee is well on his way to winning your stupid race?”
“Impossible! I left him two streams behind!”
The hippopotamus gave him a bored look before disappearing beneath the surface, leaving Tswe to sprint desperately toward the finish line.
The Shocking Victory
As Tswe approached the Tree of Victory, deafening applause rose from the gathered crowd. He slowed his pace, raised his head proudly, and smiled broadly, preparing to bask in his inevitable triumph.
But then the familiar sound of rustling grass chilled his stride. From a nearby copse, an exhausted-looking Torokee staggered across the finish line to thunderous applause. Tswe arrived moments too late.
King Takro declared Torokee the winner while Nserr lifted the victorious tortoise high above the amazed crowd. In all the commotion, they had forgotten an important saying: “Mother Red-Crab and her children all look alike.”
The Moral Lesson
This timeless Beba folktale teaches us that intelligence and family cooperation can triumph over individual talent and arrogance. Torokee’s victory came not from speed, but from cleverly positioning his relatives along the race route, creating the illusion that he was always close behind or ahead of Tswe. The story reminds us that underestimating others based on appearances, being overconfident in our abilities, and failing to prepare properly can lead to unexpected defeat. It also celebrates the power of community and strategic thinking over raw talent.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who are the main characters in this Beba folktale? A: The main characters are Tswe-the-Hare and Torokee-the-Tortoise, with supporting characters including King Takro the Lion, Nserr the Elephant, and various forest animals.
Q2: What cultural elements from the Beba people appear in the story? A: The story includes Beba cultural elements such as traditional dances (ndo’to, ndzang, fembwerr), the nwa ngeh festival, nsaa (courtyards), and various proverbs that reflect Beba wisdom and values.
Q3: How did Torokee the Tortoise win the race against the faster Hare? A: Torokee won by strategically positioning family members along the race route, so whenever Tswe looked back or ahead, he saw what he thought was Torokee, not realizing they were different tortoises who all looked alike.
Q4: What does the saying “Mother Red-Crab and her children all look alike” mean in the story? A: This saying explains how Torokee’s deception worked—all the tortoise family members looked identical, making it impossible for Tswe to distinguish between Torokee and his relatives during the race.
Q5: What lesson does this African folktale teach about competition and preparation? A: The story teaches that overconfidence and lack of preparation can lead to defeat, while strategic planning, family cooperation, and clever thinking can overcome natural advantages like speed or talent.
Q6: What role do proverbs play in this Beba folktale? A: Proverbs serve as wisdom markers throughout the story, providing cultural context and foreshadowing events, such as “one who has a sibling is never beaten to death” which hints at the importance of family support in Torokee’s victory.
