Long ago, in the lands of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso, the wild animals of the bush gathered together with restless hearts. They were troubled by a single thought: though the forest was filled with creatures stronger, swifter, and more numerous than man, none of them could defeat him. The elephant’s great bulk, the gazelle’s speed, and the lion’s fierce strength were all humbled by the intelligence of human beings. The animals agreed that it was unfair. Why should two-legged man, weaker in body, reign over those with four legs and mighty muscles? They resolved to uncover man’s secret.
After much debate, the animals decided to send a messenger to question man directly. The lion, king of beasts and strongest among them, was chosen for the task. With his mane shaking and his pride swelling, he set out toward the village. At the edge of the settlement, he met a man digging for termites to feed his chickens. The lion greeted him politely and explained his mission:
“I have come on behalf of all the animals. We want to know: how is it that you, with only two feet and less strength than the gazelle, are wiser and stronger than we who have four?”
The man listened patiently. He praised the lion for his courage and said, “You have done well to come. Yet, had you warned me beforehand, I would have gathered all my intelligences together for you. For now, I have only one with me. Still, I will show you this one, and you may return later for the rest.”
The lion, satisfied, agreed. The man cut strips of baobab bark and led the lion to a tall tree. With smooth words, he asked the lion to lean against the trunk. Trusting him, the lion obeyed. Swiftly, the man bound him tightly with the bark ropes. When the lion realized he was trapped, the man looked him in the eye.
“So,” he said, “the animals sent you to learn man’s secret, that you all might grow stronger than us?”
“Yes,” the lion admitted, his voice uneasy.
“Then I will show you one intelligence,” the man replied.
He picked up his hoe and raised it as if to strike. The lion cried out in fear, thrashing against the tree. The man mocked gently, “Are you crying already? Patience, the lesson is coming!” He then pulled out his knife and pressed it to the lion’s throat. Terrified, the lion roared even louder.
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“Listen well,” said the man. “If not for the fear of God, I would kill you here and now. But if I destroy you, who will carry word back to the others? That is why you live. Still, you must suffer enough to tell them that apart from God, man fears nothing.”
With those words, he marked the lion’s back with the knife and, to seal the lesson, cut off his tail before setting him free.
The lion bolted from the village, humiliated and bleeding, until he reached the bush where the animals were waiting. When they saw him, they cheered, “Here comes the brave one!” The elephant stepped forward and asked, “What did the man say? What did you discover?”
But the lion, exhausted and aching, could not answer. “Let me rest first,” he said. “I cannot speak yet.” After catching his breath, he looked at them grimly.
“You ask how it went? Tell me, did I not leave here with a tail?”
“Yes,” the animals replied.
“Look at me now! Where is it? Look at my back! Hear me well: if you ever see man walking in the bush, run until your claws are worn away. He is not one to trifle with. Today, had he willed it, I would be no more.”
The animals listened in silence, the truth sinking deep. They had sought to rival man’s strength, but instead they learned his secret: intelligence guided by fear of God was greater than brute force.
Moral Lesson
This Mossi folktale teaches that intelligence, not physical strength, rules the world. Man triumphs over the beasts not by muscle but by cunning, strategy, and faith. The lion, strongest among the animals, is humbled when he learns that true power lies in wisdom guided by reverence for God.
The lesson is clear: those who rely on strength alone will fall to those who use intelligence with patience, discipline, and divine awareness. Respect for God tempers power, while cleverness ensures survival.
Knowledge Check
Q1. Who did the animals choose to question man?
They chose the lion, considered the strongest of the beasts.
Q2. What was the man doing when the lion found him?
He was digging for termites to feed his chickens.
Q3. What material did the man use to tie the lion to the tree?
He used strips of baobab bark.
Q4. What did the man cut off the lion before freeing him?
He cut off the lion’s tail.
Q5. What central lesson did the lion carry back to the animals?
That man, guided by intelligence and fear of God, is stronger than any beast.
Q6. What is the cultural origin of this folktale?
It is a Mossi folktale from Burkina Faso.
Source: Mossi folktale, Burkina Faso
