In the villages of the Baoulé people there is an old story told beside the fire at night. It is the tale of the proud hyena and the humble tortoise, a tale that teaches the value of wit over arrogance.
Once there lived a hyena who was feared across the land. His sharp teeth and powerful jaws struck terror in the hearts of many animals. Wherever he walked, he boasted of his strength. He laughed at the weak, mocked the slow, and declared that no creature alive could outwit him. His voice carried through the forest as he shouted to anyone who would listen that he was not only the strongest but also the cleverest.
One evening the hyena strutted into the village clearing where the elders often gathered. The tortoise, who was slow of step and quiet of voice, was sitting nearby. The hyena sneered at him and called out so all could hear. Look at this little creature who carries his house on his back. He is so slow that even a crawling worm can leave him behind. Surely he is too simple to understand the ways of the world.
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The villagers laughed nervously, but the tortoise did not respond. He simply watched the hyena with calm eyes. The hyena, irritated by this silence, demanded that the tortoise speak. Finally the tortoise replied in a steady voice. Hyena, you may be strong and quick, but it is not always strength that wins. Sometimes patience and wisdom are more powerful.
The hyena burst into laughter. Wisdom You speak of wisdom while hiding in a shell If you believe you are wiser than I am then prove it. Let us have a contest, and let all here see who is truly the greatest.
The villagers leaned forward eagerly, for they loved to see contests that taught lessons. The tortoise nodded. Very well, Hyena. Let us see whose mind is stronger.
The next morning they gathered at the edge of the forest. The hyena stood tall with his chest puffed out, while the tortoise moved slowly but with purpose. The tortoise had spent the night thinking carefully. He knew he could not match the hyena in strength, so he relied on his gift of cleverness.
The tortoise proposed a challenge. Let us both go into the forest and see who can gather food for the villagers most quickly. Whoever returns first with a full basket will be the winner.
The hyena laughed again, certain of his victory. He dashed off at once, tearing through the trees with great speed. But in his haste he did not notice that the tortoise had prepared a trick. The tortoise had asked the villagers to set a strong woven net at a narrow path where the hyena was sure to pass.
As expected the hyena, eager to prove himself, charged down the path without care. Suddenly the ground gave way beneath him and he found himself tangled in the hidden net. He roared and struggled, but the more he pulled the tighter the ropes became. His pride had blinded him, and now he was caught.
Meanwhile the tortoise moved slowly and steadily. He gathered fruit, roots, and herbs, filling his basket with care. When he returned to the village he was greeted with laughter and applause. The people marveled at his patience and his wisdom.
At last the villagers went into the forest to check on the hyena. They found him trapped and helpless, his boasting silenced by the weight of the net. The people shook their heads and reminded him that strength without wisdom is nothing but a trap for the fool who trusts it too much.
Ashamed, the hyena lowered his head as they freed him. He no longer laughed at the tortoise, and he never again boasted that he was the cleverest of all. From that day on the story was told and retold as a reminder to young and old alike that pride brings downfall, while humility and thoughtfulness bring true respect.
Moral Lesson
The tale of The Hyena and the Tortoise teaches that arrogance and pride lead to downfall. The hyena’s strength could not save him when his mind was clouded by boasting. The tortoise, though small and slow, triumphed through patience and cleverness. True power lies not in brute force but in the wisdom to act with humility and foresight.
Knowledge Check
Who were the two main characters in the Ivorian folktale The Hyena and the Tortoise?
Answer The story features a boastful hyena and a humble tortoise.What did the hyena claim about himself at the beginning of the story?
Answer The hyena claimed that he was the strongest and the cleverest creature, mocking others for being weak or slow.How did the tortoise respond to the hyena’s arrogance?
Answer The tortoise reminded the hyena that wisdom and patience can be more powerful than strength.What challenge did the tortoise propose to the hyena?
Answer The tortoise suggested a contest to gather food from the forest, with the winner being the first to return with a full basket.How was the hyena trapped in the folktale The Hyena and the Tortoise?
Answer The hyena was caught in a hidden net along the forest path because he rushed without caution.What is the main lesson of The Hyena and the Tortoise?
Answer The story teaches that arrogance and pride bring downfall, while humility and wisdom lead to success.
Source : Ivorian folktale. Baoulé tradition. Preserved in Bernard Dadié’s Le Pagne Noir Contes Africains 1955.
