Once upon a time, in the animal kingdom, there came a season of famine. The rivers ran low, the trees bore little fruit, and the ground seemed too hard to yield crops. Every creature struggled to find something to eat, and hunger was written on the faces of the weakest. It was during this time that Lizard, small and observant, discovered a secret that could keep his belly full while others went hungry.
One day, as Lizard wandered near a farm, he noticed a farmer walking straight to a large rock. Lizard crouched quietly in the grass, his bright eyes following the man’s every step. To his surprise, the farmer rolled the heavy rock aside to reveal the mouth of a hidden cave. The farmer disappeared inside and came out moments later with a handful of fine yams. He rolled the rock back into its place and walked away, whistling happily.
Lizard was curious. As soon as the farmer was out of sight, he scurried to the rock and, using all his strength, rolled it back. His eyes widened with delight. Inside the cave were piles upon piles of yams stacked as if the earth itself had been hiding them. Without wasting a moment, Lizard grabbed one yam, rolled the rock back, and carried his prize home. That day he ate well.
From then on, each morning before the sun grew hot, Lizard returned to the cave. He always took just one yam, never more, and made sure to roll the rock back exactly as he had seen the farmer do. The secret kept him satisfied while other animals searched far and wide for scraps of food.
One afternoon, while carrying a yam home, Lizard met Tortoise along the path. Tortoise, slow but sharp-eyed, noticed the fresh yam and asked, “My friend, where did you find such food in this season of famine?”
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Lizard hesitated. He had guarded his secret carefully. Finally, he said, “I will tell you, but only if you promise never to share this secret with anyone else.”
Tortoise nodded eagerly. “I promise. Tell me, my friend.”
Lizard agreed to show him the secret the very next morning. Before the first cock crowed, the two set off together. The air was cool, and the forest still dark with shadows. When they reached the great rock, Lizard rolled it aside to reveal the cave. Tortoise’s eyes grew wide as he saw the countless yams stacked high inside.
Tortoise could hardly believe such treasure was hidden in plain sight. “Ah,” he muttered under his breath, “more yams than even I could eat.”
Lizard took only one yam, as usual, and reminded Tortoise to leave quickly. But Tortoise, greedy by nature, ignored him. He began gathering as many yams as he could carry. He thought of storing them in his house, feasting on them for weeks, and never having to worry about hunger again.
While Tortoise was still stuffing yams under his arms, the farmer returned. He pushed aside the rock and found Tortoise bent over his precious harvest. The farmer’s eyes blazed with anger. “Thief!” he shouted, grabbing Tortoise by the shell.
Terrified, Tortoise confessed at once. “It was not me alone! Lizard brought me here.”
Without wasting time, the farmer dragged Tortoise straight to Lizard’s home. There they found Lizard lying on his back, basking in the sun as reptiles often do. The farmer demanded, “Lizard, is it true you brought this thief to my cave?”
Lizard blinked in surprise. “Me? How could that be? I have been sick and lying on my back all day.” He looked so calm and unbothered that the farmer began to doubt Tortoise’s words.
Furious and unwilling to be fooled again, the farmer seized Tortoise by the shell and flung him against a wall. The shell cracked into pieces, and Tortoise cried out in pain. As he lay broken, he called out to the insects of the forest. Beetles, ants, and tiny helpers came swarming, piecing his shell back together with sticky sap and careful work. They managed to glue the pieces until Tortoise could walk again, though his shell was never the same.
From that day, Tortoise carried the scars of his greed on his back. His shell remained cracked and patched, a reminder of the day he betrayed Lizard and lost more than he gained.
Moral Lesson of The Tortoise and the Lizard
This Ghanaian folktale teaches that greed and betrayal bring only pain and shame. Lizard was wise enough to take only what he needed, but Tortoise’s greed drove him to ruin. Worse still, instead of owning his mistake, he betrayed his friend to save himself, which only deepened his suffering. The story reminds us that secrets should be respected, greed leads to downfall, and honesty is always the safer path.
Knowledge Check on The Tortoise and the Lizard
What caused the famine in the story of The Tortoise and the Lizard?
The land could no longer yield food, rivers ran low, and animals were starving.How did Lizard discover the hidden cave in The Tortoise and the Lizard?
He watched the farmer roll away a large rock to reveal the cave filled with yams.Why did Tortoise betray Lizard in The Tortoise and the Lizard?
Tortoise was caught stealing and confessed that Lizard had shown him the cave, hoping to save himself.What excuse did Lizard give to the farmer in The Tortoise and the Lizard?
Lizard claimed he had been lying on his back all day feeling sick, so he could not have been at the cave.Why does Tortoise have a cracked shell in The Tortoise and the Lizard?
The farmer threw him against the wall, breaking his shell, and insects glued it back together, leaving permanent cracks.What moral lesson does The Tortoise and the Lizard teach?
The tale warns against greed and betrayal, showing that dishonesty brings lasting consequences.
Cultural Origin: Ghanaian folktale, West Africa
