Long ago, in the land of Kurumi in southwestern Nigeria, a famine struck with great force. The villages were dry and lifeless, crops failed, and streams offered little water. People became thin, their faces pale with hunger. Even the animals of the land struggled, searching day and night for food.
Among them was the tortoise. His once lively shell now seemed like a burden, and his movements were slow and weary. Each day he looked weaker, and his heart was heavy with fear that he would not survive. Yet, while he and many others wasted away, his close friend the dog looked full of life. His cheeks were round, his body was strong, and he walked with energy.
The tortoise could not ignore the mystery. He called out to the dog one afternoon.
“My good friend,” said the tortoise, “look at me. My body is failing and my shell feels heavier each day. Yet you shine with health and look as though famine has not touched you. Tell me, what is the secret of your well-being? You know I have always trusted you.”
The dog smiled. “There is no secret, tortoise. I only live a peaceful life, and with hard work I manage to find what I need.”
But the tortoise shook his head. “You must not take me for a fool. You are hiding something from me. Look at your body, your rosy cheeks, and your strength. No one else looks like you. Please, tell me the truth, or I will surely die.”
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The dog looked troubled. “I have told you already. There is nothing more to say. Do you believe I would lie to you?”
Yet the tortoise’s heart was restless. He refused to accept the dog’s words.
Following the dog
Before dawn the next morning, the tortoise crept from his home. Quietly, he followed the dog, keeping far behind so he would not be noticed. The dog walked with purpose, carrying a basket, and headed toward a neighboring village.
The tortoise moved carefully, hiding behind bushes and trees. Finally, the dog reached a wide farm filled with yam. He looked around to be sure no one was near, then bent down and began to harvest the farmer’s yam into his basket.
The tortoise could not hold back. He cried out, “So this is the secret of your rosy cheeks! And you refused to tell me?”
The dog leapt in shock. “Tortoise! Why did you follow me here? Now you know my secret. If you want to share in this, you must obey me. You must come only with me, and you must leave before six in the evening when the farmer arrives.”
The tortoise quickly nodded. “I promise! I will follow your rules.”
From that day, the two friends visited the farm. Each time, they returned home with baskets full of yam.
Greed takes hold
At first, the tortoise carried little, just enough to satisfy his hunger. But soon his greed grew stronger. He filled his basket higher each day, piling yam until it nearly toppled. The heavier his basket became, the later they stayed on the farm.
The dog grew worried. One evening he said, “My friend, yesterday we left at fifteen minutes to six. The farmer may catch us. If that happens, we are both finished. You must not be greedy.”
The tortoise scoffed. “Do not worry. I am only storing yam for the future. The farmer will never catch us.”
The dog frowned. “You are risking our lives. Too much yam will slow us down.”
But the tortoise snapped back. “How dare you call me greedy? What I carry is my own business. If you are afraid, then leave me.”
The day of reckoning
The next afternoon, the two friends returned to the farm. At half past five, the dog announced, “It is time to go.”
But the tortoise begged. “Please, give me more time. I want to gather more yam.”
The dog hesitated, but at ten minutes to six, he placed his basket on his head and began to walk away.
“Wait for me!” cried the tortoise. “Help me lift my basket. It is too heavy for me alone.”
The dog shook his head. “I warned you. You have taken too much.” With quick steps, he left the farm, determined not to be caught.
The tortoise struggled. His basket was overflowing, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not lift it alone. Desperate, he began to cry and sing loudly, hoping to force the dog to return. But the dog was already far away.
Moments later, the farmer arrived. He saw the tortoise sitting on the ground with a basket full of stolen yam. The farmer shouted, “Thief! Thief!”
A crowd gathered, and the tortoise was dragged before the king. After hearing the matter, the king declared, “For stealing from the farmer, the tortoise shall be hanged in the market square.”
Moral Lesson of The Tortoise, the Dog and the Farmer
This folktale teaches that greed blinds wisdom and destroys trust. The dog showed the tortoise a way to survive, but instead of gratitude, the tortoise became greedy and careless. Greed made him ignore warnings and put both of them in danger. In life, those who let greed guide their choices often face shame and punishment. True friendship and survival require honesty, discipline, and respect for limits.
Knowledge Check on The Tortoise, the Dog and the Farmer
What caused the famine in the land of Kurumi?
The famine came from failed crops and scarcity of food, leaving both people and animals weak and hungry.Why did the tortoise become suspicious of the dog?
The dog looked healthy, well fed, and full of life while everyone else was starving, which made the tortoise curious about his secret.How did the tortoise discover the dog’s secret source of food?
He followed the dog early in the morning and saw him harvesting yam secretly from a farmer’s field.What rules did the dog give the tortoise for sharing the yam?
The dog told him they must only come together and always leave before six in the evening when the farmer returned.Why did the tortoise fail in the end?
He became greedy, filled his basket too heavily, and could not escape before the farmer arrived.What is the main lesson of The Tortoise, the Dog and the Farmer?
The story warns against greed, teaching that selfishness and lack of discipline can lead to shame and punishment.Cultural Origin: Southwestern Nigeria, Yoruba folktale tradition
