One day, the lion was walking through the bush as though it were his personal domain. He moved with pride, pausing often to look to the right and left, then stepping forward majestically, before stopping again. The lion’s commanding gait caught the attention of a mischievous monkey perched high on a tree branch. Amused by the lion’s grand display, the monkey began to mimic his every step, exaggerating the movements in a mocking manner.
The lion noticed and grew furious. “Monkey,” he roared, “keep still and scratch yourself if you must, but do not mock me. If you continue, I will eat you.”
The monkey, naturally playful and malicious, paid no attention. Instead, he doubled his mockery, imitating every stride and pose of the lion with even more ridicule. The lion’s anger boiled, and he prepared to act. Then, as the monkey pranced and made faces, his balance betrayed him. With a slip and a tumble, he landed directly at the feet of the lion.
The lion seized the monkey instantly, jaws poised for the fatal bite. Yet, in that moment, he hesitated. A thought crossed his mind, it would be far more enjoyable to eat monkey meat in the company of his good friend, the hyena. With that decision, he dragged the monkey into his den and sealed the entrance with a large rock before setting off to fetch his dinner companion.
Inside the dark, cramped hole, the monkey trembled with fear. Once the lion’s heavy steps faded into the distance, despair overcame him. He pushed against the rock with all his strength, but it would not move. Exhausted and hopeless, he let out cries of sorrow that echoed faintly beyond the stone barrier.
READ: The Monkey and the Hare | A Classic Gambian Folktale of Pride and Trickery
It so happened that a hyena was passing nearby. The hyena, still holding a grudge from a past quarrel with the monkey, heard the sound of his cries and approached, delighted at the thought of his enemy’s suffering.
“Monkey!” the hyena called out mockingly. “Why are you crying?”
The monkey, ever quick-witted, realized at once that telling the truth would seal his fate. Summoning his cunning, he replied: “I am not crying, my friend. I am singing.”
“Singing?” the hyena asked suspiciously. “Why would you be singing inside a sealed hole?”
“To help my digestion,” the monkey answered smoothly. “This morning, the hare and I formed a company. He went to fetch more meat, and we agreed to feast together again this evening. There is so much meat in here that I can barely eat any more. I sing to pass the time while waiting.”
The hyena’s greedy eyes widened. His hunger grew as he imagined piles of meat waiting within the den. “Monkey, will you not let me join your company? I, too, want to eat.”
Feigning reluctance, the monkey replied: “Well, if you insist, you may come in. There is plenty of food. But for safety’s sake, move the rock very carefully. We don’t want others to see us feasting.”
The hyena, blinded by his greed, obeyed at once. He strained and rolled away the rock, creating an opening. But as he crawled in, the monkey darted out between his legs and escaped into the trees. By the time the hyena realized he had been tricked, he was already trapped inside the den.
Moments later, the lion returned, bringing along the very same hyena he had set out to find. To his surprise, he found the hyena already locked inside the hole. Amused, the lion shrugged and said, “We wanted monkey, but at worst, hyena will do.” Without hesitation, the lion killed the hyena, and together he and his friend feasted.
From the safety of the treetops, the monkey watched as his enemies destroyed each other. He bounded from branch to branch in triumph, congratulating himself for once again escaping danger through quick wit and deception. Yet he also knew that his cunning had left behind bitter enemies—escaping one’s anger had only earned him the hatred of the other.
Moral Lesson
This Gambian folktale teaches that wit and quick thinking can save one from dire circumstances, but deception and mockery also carry consequences. The monkey’s cleverness rescued him from certain death, yet his actions deepened resentment with both the lion and the hyena. Greed, as seen in the hyena, blinds reason and leads to destruction. True wisdom lies not only in escaping danger but in living honestly, without mocking others or exploiting their weaknesses.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who mocked the lion in the beginning of the story?
A1: The monkey, who imitated the lion’s proud walk.
Q2: Why did the lion lock the monkey in his den instead of eating him immediately?
A2: He wanted to share the meal with his friend, the hyena.
Q3: How did the monkey trick the hyena?
A3: He claimed to be singing after a feast with hare and persuaded the greedy hyena to enter the den.
Q4: What flaw led to the hyena’s downfall?
A4: His greed, which made him believe the monkey’s deception.
Q5: How did the lion and hyena ultimately destroy each other?
A5: The lion decided to eat the hyena instead of the monkey, and together with another companion, they devoured him.
Q6: What cultural lesson does this folktale reflect?
A6: It emphasizes Gambian values of wit, caution against greed, and the dangers of pride.
Folktale Origin
Source: Mandinka folktale, The Gambia.
