In the wide rivers of Gabon, where the Mpongwe people cast their nets and the trees bow to the flowing waters, there lived a crocodile unlike the rest. He was larger than most, with scales that glistened in the sun and teeth that shone like spears. Yet what set him apart was not his size or strength but his pride.
This crocodile often boasted to any who would listen. “Look at me,” he declared to the fish that darted nervously past. “No creature in the river is stronger than I. The water is mine. I am the ruler of all who live within it.” The smaller animals kept silent, for they feared his jaws, but in their hearts they grew weary of his arrogance.
Even the spirits of the river heard his voice. They were ancient, unseen beings who guarded the waters and ensured balance between creatures. When they listened to Crocodile mocking them, saying even they could not rival his strength, their patience began to thin.
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One bright morning, Crocodile crawled onto the sandy bank where the animals had gathered. He raised his head proudly and laughed. “You birds may have the sky, and you beasts may have the forest, but the river belongs to me alone. None can defy me.” He opened his jaws wide to show his teeth, and the animals trembled.
But that night, as the moon rose high and the waters shimmered, the river spirits gathered. “His pride has grown too great,” they whispered. “If he continues, he will forget that even the strongest must bow to something greater.” With that, they summoned a storm.
The winds roared, and the trees bent low. Rain poured down, swelling the river into a raging flood. Waves rose like mountains, tossing branches and stones. Crocodile, caught in the middle, struggled as the waters churned with fury. He tried to swim against the current, but the river itself seemed to turn against him.
At last, a great wave lifted him high and flung him onto the dry ground. There he lay, helpless, his scales coated with mud. He snapped his jaws in anger, but no one listened. The animals gathered at a distance, watching silently as he writhed, no longer the proud ruler of the river but a creature humbled.
When the storm passed, the river spirits spoke one final time. “Strength is a gift, but pride is a burden. Those who boast of power will one day be brought low.” Their voices faded into the waters, leaving Crocodile shamed and silent.
From that day, he no longer mocked the spirits, and his boasting grew quiet. The river flowed peacefully again, and the animals remembered the lesson of the proud crocodile who had claimed more than was his to hold.
Moral Lesson
The story of The Proud Crocodile teaches that pride blinds us to the truth. No matter how strong or powerful we believe ourselves to be, there is always something greater. Respect for nature, for spirits, and for others brings harmony, while arrogance invites downfall. True strength is shown not in boasting but in humility.
Knowledge Check
What made Crocodile different from the others in the folktale?
He was not only large and strong but also proud and boastful about his power.Who became angry with Crocodile’s boasting?
The river spirits grew angry because he mocked even them.What did the river spirits do to humble Crocodile?
They created a great storm and flood that threw him onto dry ground.How did the animals react when they saw Crocodile humbled?
They watched from a distance in silence, seeing him powerless and shamed.What lesson did the river spirits leave behind?
They taught that strength is a gift but pride leads to downfall.What is the key teaching of The Proud Crocodile?
It warns against arrogance and teaches the importance of humility and respect.
Cultural Origin: Gabonese folktale (Mpongwe Tribe), recorded by Robert H. Nassau in Where Animals Talk: West African Folklore Tales (1914).
