Across the plains and villages of Senegal, the hare, the hyena, the tortoise, and the monkey have long been the central figures of folktales that delight, instruct, and warn. These stories, passed from generation to generation, weave humor with wisdom, showing how wit often triumphs over pride and greed. Here are five such tales, each shining a light on the strengths and follies of these unforgettable characters.
The Hyena and the Hare (Millet Sack Trick)
One day, the clever hare brought a heavy sack of millet to the king’s palace. The sack was filled to the brim with golden grain, its weight proof of its value. The hyena, who was always eager to boast and rival the hare, decided to do the same. But instead of millet, she filled her own sack with ashes, hoping no one would notice.
At the palace, the king ordered the sacks to be opened. The hare’s burst with fine, shining millet, a gift worthy of respect. The hyena’s sack, however, tore apart under inspection, spilling ashes in a gray, choking cloud that dirtied the hall. The courtiers burst into laughter, pointing and mocking. Humiliated, the hyena fled from the palace, her pride shattered.
The Hyena and the Donkey’s Tail
Hunger often drove the hyena to foolish choices, and one day the hare took full advantage. He led the hyena to an anthill where a donkey’s severed tail had been discarded. With wide eyes, he said, “See? The donkey has buried himself here. Eat, and you will have his flesh.”
Without thinking, the hyena swallowed the tail eagerly, imagining a feast to follow. But when villagers passed by and saw her chewing on nothing but a donkey’s tail, they mocked her cruelly. “Look at her! She eats tails and calls it meat!”
The laughter cut her pride like a knife. Embarrassed beyond measure, the hyena ran off, while the hare slipped away, laughing at her gullibility.
The Shrewdness of the Monkey and the Naivety of the Wolf (Lion Variant)
The lion, lord of the bush, walked proudly through his domain, his head high, his chest swelling with authority. From the branches above, a mischievous monkey watched and could not resist mocking the great beast. He imitated the lion’s swagger, his movements exaggerated and comical.
The lion roared in anger. “Mock me, and I will eat you!”
Still, the monkey continued until at last he lost his grip and tumbled down, landing right between the lion’s paws. The lion grinned, his meal caught. Yet, greedy for company, he locked the monkey in a hole and went off to fetch a friend to share in the feast.
Inside the hole, the monkey despaired but soon spotted a chance. A hyena, or in some versions, a wolf, wandered past. The monkey called out slyly, “Do not mistake my crying for sorrow. I am singing, for inside this hole there is so much meat, I cannot finish it alone. Come and join me!”
Blinded by greed, the hyena shoved away the stone blocking the entrance and crawled inside. At once, the monkey leapt free, replacing the stone to trap the hyena.
When the lion returned, expecting to devour the monkey, he found the hyena instead. Together with his companion, the lion ate the foolish intruder, while the monkey swung away into the branches, celebrating his escape.
The Tortoise and the Hyena
One day, the hyena asked the tortoise to guide her to a bean field. The tortoise agreed but, cautious and clever, prepared a trick. She tied a rope around her waist and handed the other end to the hyena. “If you need me,” she instructed, “just pull.”
When they reached the field, the hyena devoured beans greedily, stuffing herself until her stomach bulged. The tortoise, however, slipped away quietly, fastening her end of the rope to a sturdy stump.
When the farmer discovered the hyena stealing, she tugged the rope desperately, expecting the tortoise’s help. But the tortoise was already safe inside her shell, far away. Alone and exposed, the hyena was caught and beaten soundly, while the tortoise lived on unharmed.
The Hyena and the Hare at the King’s Court
Both the hare and the hyena sought favor at the king’s court, hoping for honor and reward. The king, testing their abilities, gave them tasks to complete. Time after time, the hare succeeded with cleverness and preparation, while the hyena failed through laziness and greed.
One day, the king challenged them to bring water using baskets. The hare, quick to think, lined his basket with leaves. He carried the water safely to the king. The hyena, unwilling to make the effort, attempted the task with an unlined basket. By the time she arrived, not a drop remained.
The king, pleased with the hare, rewarded him with gifts and honor. The hyena, once again disgraced, was driven from the court in shame.
Moral of the Stories
These folktales from Senegal remind us that pride without wisdom leads to humiliation, greed invites downfall, and cleverness often opens the path to survival. Wit, patience, and preparation triumph where laziness and foolishness fail.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who consistently outsmarts the hyena in these stories?
A: The hare, known for his cleverness and quick wit.
Q2: What does the sack of millet symbolize in “The Hyena and the Hare”?
A: True value and preparation, contrasted with the emptiness of boasting.
Q3: Why do villagers mock the hyena in “The Donkey’s Tail”?
A: Because she mistakes and eats a donkey’s tail, calling it meat.
Q4: How does the monkey escape the lion in the “Lion Variant” tale?
A: By tricking a greedy hyena into entering his trap.
Q5: What lesson does the tortoise’s trick teach?
A: That foresight and caution can protect the weak from the strong.
Q6: How does the king distinguish between the hare and hyena at court?
A: By testing them with tasks, where the hare succeeds and the hyena fails.
Source: Senegalese folktales, René Guillot (1933), Bérenger-Féraud (1885)
