Hear me well, children, gather close to the fire, for this tale has traveled on the lips of our fathers and the drums of our mothers. It comes from the land of the Yoruba, where forests whisper secrets and hunters walk paths older than the talking drum itself.
Long ago, when the world was still young and men relied on bow and arrow for food, there lived a hunter named Adeyemi. He was tall, strong, and his aim was sharp. Yet, for all his skill, pride often ruled his heart. He believed that no animal, not even the swiftest antelope, could ever escape his arrows.
One dawn, before the cock crowed a second time, Adeyemi set out for the forest. His wife called after him, “Hunt with patience, my husband, for pride leads even the strongest to stumble.” But Adeyemi only laughed. “Fear not,” he replied, “the forest itself knows my name.”
Deeper and deeper he went, past tall iroko trees and singing streams. Then, just as the sun rose like a golden calabash in the sky, he saw it, a shining antelope grazing in a clearing. Its coat glimmered like polished bronze, and its horns curved like the crescent moon. Adeyemi whispered, “Ah, today the spirits have favored me. This prize will make me the greatest of hunters.”
He drew his bow and released an arrow. Swift as the wind, the antelope leapt aside, and the arrow buried itself in the earth. Surprised, Adeyemi shot again and again, but each arrow missed as though the forest itself protected the creature. Finally, the antelope lifted its head and spoke in a voice both deep and musical.
“Adeyemi, hunter of the Yoruba, why do you chase me with such pride? I am no ordinary beast. I am sent by the spirits to test your heart.”
The hunter trembled, but pride still clung to him. “Spirits or not,” he boasted, “no creature can outwit Adeyemi.”
The antelope shook its horns, and in an instant it vanished into the shadows. Adeyemi followed, running until sweat drenched his back. The chase went on for hours, through thorny bushes and muddy streams. Each time he thought he had caught the magical creature, it slipped away. Finally, exhausted, he fell to the ground.
As he lay panting, the forest grew silent. Then the antelope appeared once more, standing calmly before him. “Adeyemi,” it said, “you are strong, but strength without humility is like a drum without skin. It makes no sound.”
The hunter bowed his head for the first time. “What do you want of me?” he asked.
The antelope replied, “Respect the forest. Hunt with patience, not greed. Share what you take, for the earth belongs to all.”
At that moment, Adeyemi remembered his wife’s words. He realized his folly. “Great spirit,” he said, “teach me your wisdom. I will hunt with humility.”
The antelope lowered its head and touched the ground with its horns. Suddenly, from the earth sprouted a small spring, clear and cool. “This spring shall flow for your people,” it declared, “so long as you remember this lesson. Tell your children and their children after them: pride brings hunger, but patience brings plenty.”
With that, the magical antelope leapt into the forest and vanished forever. Adeyemi returned to his village not with a carcass, but with a story and a gift. The people drank from the new spring and praised the hunter who had listened to the wisdom of the spirits. From that day on, Adeyemi was no longer known for his arrows but for his humility, and the spring still flows, they say, in the heart of the Yoruba land.
Moral Lesson
The folktale of The Hunter and the Magical Antelope reminds us that pride blinds the heart, but patience and humility open the way to true wisdom. Greed takes and leaves emptiness, but respect for nature and sharing with others bring blessings that last for generations. In every choice we make, we must remember that what we do today shapes the lives of those who come after us.
Knowledge Check
- What is the moral of the folktale ‘The Hunter and the Magical Antelope’?
The story teaches that pride leads to downfall, while humility, patience, and respect for nature bring lasting rewards. - What cultural group does the tale ‘The Hunter and the Magical Antelope’ come from?
This tale originates from the Yoruba people of West Africa, who are known for their rich oral traditions. - In the tale, what action sets the story of ‘The Hunter and the Magical Antelope’ in motion?
The hunter’s prideful decision to chase the shining antelope begins the chain of events that leads to his lesson. - How does the folktale ‘The Hunter and the Magical Antelope’ explain a natural feature or animal trait?
It explains the origin of a spring in Yoruba land, said to flow because of the hunter’s encounter with the magical antelope. - Is ‘The Hunter and the Magical Antelope’ considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
It is a moral fable that teaches the Yoruba values of humility, patience, and respect for the earth. - How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message is timeless, reminding us that arrogance leads to ruin, but kindness, wisdom, and balance with nature bring true success.
Cultural Origin: Yoruba Folktales
