Once upon a time, long ago when animals still spoke like humans, they gathered together to build a great kraal. Inside it, they stored a large supply of precious fat, which was to be shared among them all. The fat was a treasure, and so the animals agreed that one of their number must guard the gate each day, to keep it safe.
The first to be appointed was the coney, known as the imbila. The little animal accepted the task proudly. He sat at the kraal’s gate while the others went away to graze and wander. At first, he was diligent, but the warm sun soon grew heavy on his eyelids. Before long, the coney dozed off.
It was then that the inkalimeva, a strange and fabulous creature feared by all, crept toward the kraal. Seeing the sleeping coney, the inkalimeva slipped inside without resistance. It devoured every morsel of fat, licking its lips with satisfaction. Before leaving, it picked up a small stone and threw it at the coney’s head.
The coney startled awake and shouted in alarm:
“The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva!”
He cried this again and again, his voice shrill with fear. The other animals heard and came running. But when they arrived, they found the fat gone and the kraal empty. They did not believe the coney’s words. Angry and convinced he had failed them, they killed him.
The following day, the animals placed more fat in the kraal. This time, they appointed the muishond, the ingaga, to guard the gate. The muishond agreed with confidence and watched over the kraal as the others departed.
Soon, the inkalimeva appeared again, this time carrying sweet honey. The fabulous creature smiled and coaxed the muishond. “Friend, come taste this honey. It is sweeter than anything you have ever known.”
The muishond, tempted beyond resistance, dipped his tongue into the honey and began to feast. While he was distracted, the inkalimeva slipped into the kraal and devoured the fat. Again it tossed a stone at the keeper, who looked up and cried out:
“The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva!”
The animals returned in fury. Seeing the fat gone once more, they killed the muishond as they had killed the coney.
On the third day, they placed fat in the kraal again and set the duiker, the impunzi, as guard. The duiker stood firm, but the inkalimeva was cunning. Once again the fat was stolen, and once again the guardian cried out in vain. The animals returned, found only an empty kraal, and killed the duiker.
Now the hare was chosen. But the hare was not like the others. Clever and restless, he avoided the task. Instead, he hid himself deep in a hole, refusing to be caught or killed like the others. Days passed, and when at last he emerged, he wandered into the forest where he found a bushbuck, the imbabala, building a hut.
A pot of meat boiled on the fire. The hare, sly and smiling, asked, “Friend, may I take just a small piece of meat?”
The bushbuck shook his head and warned him sternly. “You must not do it.”
But the hare ignored him, took the meat, and ate it all. Then, whistling in a strange and secret manner, he summoned a storm of hail from the sky. The hailstones pounded the earth until the bushbuck was struck down and killed. The hare skinned him and made for himself a fine mantle from the bushbuck’s hide.
Pleased with his prize, the hare ventured deeper into the forest to fashion weapons. While cutting a stick, the monkeys in the trees mocked him and threw leaves down on his head. The hare called up to them boldly: “If you are so brave, come down and beat me yourselves!”
The monkeys, eager to teach him a lesson, descended from the trees. But the hare was ready. With his weapons he struck them all down.
The commotion brought all the animals together. They chased the hare in anger, but his speed and cunning were too great. He darted away, fleeing until he reached another hole. There, at its mouth, the animals set a snare and waited.
The hare remained hidden for many days. But in time, using all his cleverness, he slipped free without being caught. Once again, the trickster escaped.
Moral of the Story
This folktale teaches that cleverness and quick thinking can be more powerful than strength. Yet it also warns that greed, deceit, and selfishness often harm others and lead to endless conflict.
Knowledge Check: Questions and Answers
1. Who was the first animal chosen to guard the kraal?
The coney (imbila) was the first guardian.
2. What trick did the inkalimeva use to distract the muishond?
It offered him honey to eat.
3. How did the hare kill the bushbuck?
He ate the bushbuck’s meat, whistled to summon a hailstorm, and the storm killed the bushbuck.
4. What did the hare make from the bushbuck’s hide?
He made a mantle, a covering for himself.
5. How did the hare defeat the monkeys in the forest?
He provoked them to come down from the trees and killed them with his weapons.
6. What is the main lesson of the story?
That wit and cunning can overcome strength, but selfishness and trickery bring harm.
Source: Traditional African folktale (Southern Africa oral tradition)
