In the Country of All-the-Beasts, every animal lived together in one vast region, except for Boa Constrictor, who made his home thirty miles away in solitude. In the heart of the beasts’ land stood a magnificent tree, tall and heavy with fruit. None of the animals, however, knew its name. This mystery would soon test their patience, memory, and perseverance during a time of great hunger.
One year, famine spread across the land. The animals grew weak from searching for food, until their eyes turned to the tree. Its fruit looked fine and inviting, but no one dared to taste it without knowing its name. They gathered together and said, “Our Father, Mbama the Boa Constrictor, surely knows the name of this tree.” After much discussion, they agreed to send a messenger by sea, not land, to test the strength and endurance of whoever went. The chosen animal would also carry one of the tree’s fruits for Boa to identify.
The first to go was Rat, called Etoli. At sunrise, he paddled across the waters and reached Boa’s town by afternoon. Boa welcomed him warmly, offered him food, and listened to his errand. When Rat showed him the fruit, Boa said, “The name of this tree is Bojabi. Its fruit is Njabi, and it is good to eat.” He cautioned Rat not to forget. Rat spent the night there and departed the next morning. Yet as soon as he landed on the beach of his home, distracted by dragging his canoe ashore, the name slipped from his mind. When the other animals asked, he confessed his forgetfulness. In anger, they beat him.
READ THIS: Death Begins by One Person: An Equatorial Guinea Folktale.
Next, they sent Ngomba the Porcupine, warning Rat that he would not share in the fruit if Porcupine succeeded. Porcupine travelled by sea, received the same answer from Boa, and returned. But just as he entered the town, he too forgot the name. When he told them, the beasts beat him as well.
Still hungry, the animals sent Vyadu the Antelope. He asked Boa not only about the fruit but also about a certain plant with leaves they thought unfit to eat. Boa told him, “The tree’s name is Bojabi. Eat its fruit. As for me, I eat leaves and drink water, and it is enough.” Antelope thanked him and returned by sea. But near the beach, a wave overturned his canoe, and the shock made him forget the name. The beasts were furious and beat him too.
One by one, even the strongest beasts, Ox and Elephant, failed the same way, either forgetting upon arrival or being distracted by misfortune. None succeeded in bringing the name back.
Finally, Tortoise, known as Kudu, stepped forward. “Let me go,” he offered. The others mocked him and beat him for his boldness, saying, “If the strong have failed, how can you succeed?” Only Gazelle defended him, saying, “Let Kudu try. If we all have failed, he may fail too, but let him go.”
Before leaving, Tortoise sought his mother’s advice. She warned him, “On your journey, do not drink at sea, only ashore. Do not eat at sea, only in the town. Do not relieve yourself at sea, only on land. All those who broke these rules forgot the name.” Tortoise promised to obey.
He set out early, paddling with determination. By midday, hunger, thirst, and discomfort pressed on him, but he resisted. Paddling harder, he reached Boa’s home by late afternoon. Boa welcomed him, fed him, and asked his purpose. Tortoise explained about the famine and showed him the fruit. Boa answered, “This tree is Bojabi. Its fruit is to be eaten. As for me, I live on leaves and water. That is the food of all beasts.”
The next morning, Tortoise began his return. To keep the name fresh in his memory, he sang aloud as he paddled:
“Njaku! Eat the Bojabi fruit, straight, straight, straight! Bojabi, Bojabi!”
Each time he repeated the song, he replaced Elephant’s name with another animal, Ox, Antelope, and so on, always ending with “Bojabi!”
Midway through his journey, a wave struck, capsizing his canoe. Still clinging to it, Tortoise shouted, “Bojabi! Bojabi!” Ashore, while repairing the canoe, he kept chanting the name.
At last, he neared the beach where all the beasts awaited him anxiously. Another wave knocked him, but he continued crying, “Bojabi!” The beasts, not knowing its meaning, rushed into the surf to help him ashore. Eagerly, they demanded the name, but Tortoise said, “I will tell you only in the town.”
They carried him on their shoulders in triumph. Once in the village, he first gathered a large share of the fruits for himself and his mother. Then he announced, “The tree is Bojabi! Mbama said, eat the fruit, eat the leaves, and drink water.”
The beasts shouted together, “Bojabi!” They scrambled to collect the fruit, but Tortoise was safe with his share, thanks to his mother’s wise counsel.
In the end, they declared, “We shall have two kings, Kudu the Tortoise and Mbama the Boa. One used wisdom to tell us what to eat, the other used skill to bring us the name.”
Moral Lesson
This tale shows that wisdom, patience, and discipline often achieve what strength and speed cannot. The greatest beasts failed because they lacked self-control and focus. Tortoise succeeded not through power, but through listening, restraint, and determination. True leadership comes not from size, but from wisdom and perseverance.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What problem faced the beasts in this story?
They suffered famine and needed to know if the Bojabi fruit was safe to eat.
Q2: Why did the animals send their messengers by sea instead of land?
To test their strength and perseverance, avoiding distractions along the land route.
Q3: What mistake caused Rat, Porcupine, and Antelope to fail?
They each forgot the tree’s name upon returning due to distraction, misfortune, or weakness.
Q4: How did Tortoise succeed where others failed?
He followed his mother’s advice, showed self-control, and repeated the tree’s name in song.
Q5: What role did Boa Constrictor play in the story?
Boa revealed the tree’s name, explained what food was proper, and guided the beasts.
Q6: What is the central lesson of the Bojabi tale?
Wisdom, patience, and perseverance are greater than strength or speed alone.
Source: Fang folktale, Equatorial Guinea.
