Long ago, when the earth was young and animals still spoke with the same voice as humankind, there lived a mighty Lion. His mane shimmered golden beneath the sun, and his roar echoed through valleys, striking fear into every creature. To all in the wild, he was king, unmatched in strength and feared by all.
One day, while prowling near the edge of the forest, the Lion met a strange creature he had never seen before: a Man. This man was unlike any beast the Lion had known. He walked upright, carried a spear, and his eyes gleamed with confidence.
The Lion, curious but wary, asked, “What sort of creature are you, and what gives you such boldness to walk without fear?”
The Man replied calmly, “I am Man, and though I may not be as strong as you, I possess wisdom and weapons. With these, I rule beasts far stronger than myself.”
The Lion laughed, his teeth flashing like ivory. “Words are nothing, little one. Show me your strength, and let us see if you truly rule the beasts.”
The Lion Learns of Man’s Power
Soon, the Lion witnessed Man’s skill. With his bow and spear, the Man struck down antelopes, animals swift enough to outrun even the Lion. He built fires that tamed the night, and with tools of stone and wood, he shaped the world around him.
The Lion’s pride was wounded. “I am king of the beasts,” he growled, “yet you kill with ease what even I must chase. Perhaps you are more dangerous than you appear.”
Nearby, watching silently, was the Jackal. The Jackal was clever, sly, and ever observant. He had long survived not by strength but by trickery. Seeing the Lion and Man together, the Jackal’s eyes gleamed with mischief. He knew that if the Lion grew too close to Man, the balance of the wild would shift. So he devised a plan.
The Jackal’s Deception
One day, the Jackal approached the Lion and said slyly, “Great King, you are strong, yet this Man boasts that his power surpasses yours. He claims he is mightier even than the Lion himself.”
The Lion’s pride burned hot. “What? This fragile creature dares to compare himself to me?” His tail lashed the ground in fury.
“Indeed,” whispered the Jackal, “and if you do not teach him his place, soon all animals will serve him, not you.”
The Lion, enraged, roared, “Then I shall confront him and prove who is master of this earth.”
But the Jackal, cunning as ever, guided events so that the Lion would learn a bitter truth.
The Confrontation
When the Lion approached the Man, he demanded, “You claim to be greater than I. Show me your strength, for today I shall test you.”
The Man did not flee. Instead, he raised his spear and bow. He set a trap of fire and sharp thorns, and when the Lion advanced, the weapons struck true. The Lion, though fierce, felt pain unlike any he had known. The fire singed his fur, the spear pierced his flesh, and the thorns tore at his paws.
At last, battered and humiliated, the Lion staggered back. He realized Man’s power was not in his body but in his cunning mind and the tools he created. Against such skill, even the King of Beasts could not prevail.
The Aftermath
The Jackal, watching from a distance, laughed softly. He had spoken no lie, yet his words had pushed the Lion into ruin. Man had proven his mastery, and from that day on, animals feared him deeply. The Lion, once the unquestioned ruler of the wilderness, never forgot the humiliation.
And as for the Jackal, he continued to live by his wits, weaving words and mischief, always ready to stir trouble between the mighty.
Moral Lesson
This South African folktale teaches that true power lies not only in strength but also in wisdom and cunning. The Lion’s pride led to his downfall, the Jackal’s trickery exposed truths, and the Man’s intelligence secured his dominance. Pride without thought invites defeat, while wisdom shapes destiny.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the three main characters in the South African folktale “The Lion, the Jackal, and the Man”?
The Lion, the Jackal, and the Man.
2. What did the Lion believe made him the greatest of all creatures?
His unmatched physical strength and power as king of the beasts.
3. How did the Man demonstrate his superiority over animals?
By using weapons, tools, and fire, showing intelligence and innovation.
4. What role did the Jackal play in the story?
He cunningly deceived the Lion, provoking him to challenge the Man and thus exposing Man’s true power.
5. What is the central lesson of this folktale?
That wisdom and intelligence can overcome brute strength, and pride can lead to downfall.
6. What cultural tradition does this story belong to?
It is a South African folktale, part of the region’s rich oral storytelling heritage.
Source: South African folktale
