In the heart of the Fang country in Cameroon, villages were bound together not just by rivers and forests but by the strength of spoken words. Words carried weight, and honesty was prized above all else. Elders would remind the young that a truthful tongue kept the heart light, while a deceitful one dragged it into darkness. Among these lessons, the story of Candor was told again and again.
Long ago, there lived a man who was known for his sharp tongue and cunning mind. He often used words to twist situations to his favor, caring little for honesty or fairness. While he could charm some, others saw through his tricks and warned that truth eventually stands tall, no matter how much it is buried. Yet he laughed at their warnings, believing that cleverness could always outwit truth.
One day, a quarrel broke out in the village over land. Families disputed boundaries, and tempers flared. To resolve the matter, the elders called for a gathering beneath the great tree at the village center. It was decided that everyone would speak openly so that fairness could be established. The man with the cunning tongue saw his chance. He planned to bend the story, win favor, and claim more than what was rightly his.
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When his turn came, he rose proudly. His words were smooth, his voice steady, and his tale carefully crafted to deceive. Some nodded in agreement, swayed by his confidence, while others frowned, sensing dishonesty. He finished his speech with a smile, certain he had succeeded.
Then an old woman stepped forward. She was frail, her back bent, but her eyes shone with clarity. She had watched the land dispute unfold for many seasons and knew the truth. When she spoke, her words were simple, direct, and without ornament. “Truth,” she said, “needs no decoration. It stands on its own, unbent by clever tongues.”
The elders listened carefully, weighing her candor against the man’s eloquence. Slowly, they realized that her plain words carried the ring of honesty, while his elaborate tale trembled under scrutiny. One by one, villagers began to murmur their agreement. The man shifted uneasily, for the weight of truth pressed heavily against his lies.
The chief of the village rose and declared, “This matter is settled. The land belongs where truth has placed it. Let all here learn: candor is stronger than cunning.” The judgment restored peace, but it left the deceitful man humiliated. His reputation as a trickster was shattered, for the people now distrusted his words.
From that day, villagers taught their children the lesson of candor. They reminded them that honesty may seem plain, but it shines brighter than the most polished lies. Cleverness without truth is like a pot with a hole , it cannot hold water.
And so the Fang people of Cameroon passed on this story, so that generations would remember the power of speaking truthfully and the consequences of twisting words for selfish gain.
Moral Lesson
The Fang folktale Candor teaches that honesty is the foundation of justice and trust. While cunning speech may seem powerful in the moment, it cannot stand against truth in the long run. Candor brings peace, respect, and clarity, while deceit leads only to shame and broken trust.
Knowledge Check:
What is the central theme of the Fang folktale Candor?
The story emphasizes the power of honesty and the lasting strength of truth over deceit.How did the cunning man attempt to gain advantage in the land dispute?
He used smooth and deceptive speech to twist the story in his favor.Who revealed the truth in the story of Candor?
An old woman stepped forward and spoke with plain candor, revealing what really happened.What judgment did the chief give after hearing both sides?
The chief declared that the land belonged where truth placed it, affirming honesty over trickery.What lesson did the villagers teach their children after this event?
They taught that candor is stronger than cunning and that honesty builds trust and justice.What does the proverb in the story about a pot with a hole symbolize?
It shows that cleverness without truth is useless, just like a pot with a hole cannot hold water.
Source: Fang folktale, Cameroon. Recorded by Robert H. Nassau in Where Animals Talk: West African Folklore Tales(1914).
