In the warm forests of Guinea, where the sun kissed the trees with golden light and the rains left the earth rich and alive, two creatures lived side by side. One was the lizard, quick and restless, who darted from tree to tree with a flick of his tail. The other was the chameleon, slow in movement but masterful in disguise, able to blend with leaves and branches as if he were part of the forest itself.
For many seasons, the lizard and the chameleon were close companions. They shared food, warned each other of danger, and rested on the same branches. But as often happens when pride takes root, harmony turned into rivalry.
One day, as they basked on a rock warmed by the morning sun, the lizard said with a flick of his tail, “Look at me, friend. I run faster than any animal of my size. When danger comes, I vanish before it can touch me. Surely speed makes me the greatest creature of the forest.”
READ THIS: The Crocodile and the Kite
The chameleon raised his head slowly, his eyes moving in two directions at once. “You boast of speed,” he replied in his calm voice, “but what is speed compared to wisdom? I can change my colors to hide from danger. I walk with care, and I watch the world from every angle. Strength is nothing without patience and awareness.”
Their words turned into arguments, and their arguments grew sharper. Soon, the two companions decided they could no longer live as friends. Each wanted to prove his superiority, and pride closed their hearts.
To settle their dispute, they agreed to a contest. The lizard declared, “We will race through the forest. Whoever proves most skilled shall be called the greater.” The chameleon, though not fond of contests, accepted the challenge, for he too wanted recognition.
The race began at dawn. The lizard shot forward like lightning, his feet scattering dust as he sped across the path. The chameleon moved slowly, one careful step after another, his colors shifting with the leaves. The other animals watched in amusement, for the contest seemed unfair. Surely the lizard would win with ease.
But as the lizard ran ahead, his pride swelled. He laughed at the chameleon’s slow pace and shouted, “Hurry, old friend, or the forest will forget you before you reach the end!” In his arrogance, he grew careless. He darted so fast that he missed the shadow of a hawk circling above.
The hawk swooped down, its talons aimed at the unsuspecting lizard. At the last moment, the lizard leapt aside and barely escaped, but the encounter slowed him. His heart pounded, and his legs trembled with fear.
Meanwhile, the chameleon continued at his steady pace. When the hawk passed overhead, he changed his color to match the branches, vanishing from sight. Calm and patient, he walked on unharmed.
By the time the lizard recovered, the chameleon had nearly caught up. Angered, the lizard rushed forward again, but once more he stumbled, this time into a thorn bush. His speed betrayed him, for he was too hasty to see the danger. The chameleon passed him quietly, offering no insult, only a glance that carried wisdom.
At last, both reached the finish. The lizard arrived first, but his body was scratched, his breath ragged, and his pride wounded. The chameleon, though slower, arrived unhurt and composed. The watching animals murmured among themselves. They saw that the lizard’s speed was impressive, but it had nearly cost him his life. The chameleon’s patience and awareness had carried him safely through.
The elders of the forest declared, “Each creature has its gift. The lizard’s speed is a blessing, but without care, it brings danger. The chameleon’s patience and wisdom are blessings too, though they do not shine as brightly. Neither is greater than the other, for the forest needs both.”
Ashamed, the lizard lowered his head. The chameleon, humble as ever, offered his friendship once more. From that day, though their rivalry never fully disappeared, the two companions lived with a new understanding. They had learned that pride divides, but respect for differences unites.
Moral Lesson
The Lizard and the Chameleon teaches that every being has its own strengths, and none is greater than another. Speed without caution leads to danger, while patience without pride brings safety. True wisdom lies in recognizing the value of different gifts and respecting the roles each creature plays in the balance of life.
Knowledge Check
What sparked the argument between the lizard and the chameleon?
They argued about which of their abilities, speed or camouflage, made them superior.
What contest did they decide to hold to prove their worth?
They agreed to race through the forest to see who was greater.
How did the lizard’s pride put him in danger during the race?
He ran carelessly, nearly caught by a hawk and later stumbling into a thorn bush.
How did the chameleon protect himself from the hawk?
He blended with the branches by changing his color, hiding from sight.
What did the forest elders declare at the end of the story?
They said both creatures had unique gifts, and neither was greater than the other.
What is the main moral of The Lizard and the Chameleon?
Respecting differences and recognizing diverse strengths prevents pride and division.
Source: Guinean folktale from Contes de Guinée, collected by Djibril Tamsir Niane.
