In the heart of the African wilderness, where ancient customs governed the relationships between families and the bonds of marriage extended far beyond the couple themselves, there lived Kudu the Tortoise, known throughout the region for his slow but steady nature. Like many young men of his time, Tortoise had married into a family that commanded both respect and fear, for his father-in-law was none other than Nje the Leopard, the fierce spotted hunter whose reputation stretched across many villages.
The morning sun cast long shadows across the savanna as Tortoise prepared for his journey to his in-laws’ settlement. According to the time-honored traditions of their people, it was customary and expected that sons-in-law would regularly perform services for their wives’ parents, demonstrating respect, gratitude, and their commitment to the extended family. These duties were not merely obligations but sacred bonds that strengthened the ties between families and ensured harmony within the community.
Tortoise’s compound was modest compared to the grand dwelling of Leopard, but it was well-maintained and reflected his careful, methodical nature. As he gathered his tools and prepared for the day’s work, he felt the familiar mixture of pride and nervousness that always accompanied his visits to his father-in-law’s domain. Leopard was not an easy creature to please, and his keen yellow eyes seemed to notice every detail, every small mistake or hesitation.
Also read: The Sparrow and the Parrot
The journey to Leopard’s town was pleasant enough, winding through familiar paths that cut between acacia trees and across streams that sparkled in the morning light. Birds called from the branches overhead, and the air was filled with the rich scents of the African bush. Tortoise moved at his characteristically steady pace, his shell glinting in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above.
Upon arriving at the impressive compound where Leopard held court, Tortoise was immediately struck by the atmosphere of controlled power that surrounded his father-in-law. The spotted predator reclined in the shade of a large tree, his muscular frame relaxed but alert, golden eyes surveying his domain with the confidence of one who had never known defeat in battle or hunt.
“Kudu, my son,” Leopard’s voice rumbled with the authority of generations of apex predators, “I have need of your services today. There is a task that requires immediate attention.”
Tortoise bowed respectfully, his heart beating faster as he prepared to receive his instructions. “I am at your service, honored father. What would you have me do?”
Leopard’s tail twitched with the casual grace of a creature accustomed to being obeyed without question. “Go into the forest and cut for me utamba-mwa-Ivata,” he commanded, his voice carrying the weight of absolute expectation. “The fiber of this vine is essential for making the nets we need for the upcoming hunting season.”
Tortoise nodded eagerly, pleased that the task seemed straightforward enough. “I understand completely, father. I shall return with what you need.”
As he set off toward the forest, Tortoise felt confident and capable. The name his father-in-law had spoken echoed in his mind: utamba-mwa-Ivata. It seemed simple enough to remember, and he repeated it to himself as he walked deeper into the green shadows of the woodland.
But as the minutes passed and the forest grew thicker around him, a troubling realization began to creep into Tortoise’s consciousness. While he could still remember that Leopard had asked for some kind of vine used for making nets, the specific name was beginning to fade from his memory like morning mist before the rising sun.
“Was it utamba-mwa-Ivata?” he wondered aloud, his voice barely a whisper in the forest stillness. “Or perhaps utamba-mwa-Iveta? Or could it have been something else entirely?”
Panic began to rise in his throat like bile. The more he tried to force his mind to recall the exact words, the more elusive they became. He stood among the countless vines that draped from tree to tree, creating a green tapestry of possibilities, but without knowing the precise name, how could he choose the correct one?
The thought of returning to Leopard and admitting his forgetfulness filled Tortoise with such shame that his entire body seemed to shrink further into his protective shell. The great predator’s disappointment would be unbearable, and worse still, it might reflect poorly on his wife and damage the carefully maintained relationships between their families.
But Tortoise had not earned his reputation for cleverness without reason. As he stood paralyzed by his dilemma, a plan began to form in his mind – a scheme that would allow him to obtain the information he needed without revealing his embarrassing lapse of memory.
With newfound determination, Tortoise made his way back toward the town, but instead of heading directly to Leopard’s compound, he positioned himself at the edge of the settlement where his voice would carry clearly to all the inhabitants.
“Come quickly!” he shouted, his voice filled with urgent excitement that immediately caught the attention of everyone within earshot. “Come and help me! I have discovered something extraordinary! I have managed to enclose Iheli the Gazelle in a thicket nearby!”
The response was immediate and overwhelming. The prospect of fresh gazelle meat was too tempting for anyone to ignore, and soon the entire population of the town was streaming toward Tortoise’s location, carrying spears, nets, and other hunting implements. Men, women, and children all joined the excited procession, chattering among themselves about the unexpected bounty that awaited them.
Leopard himself emerged from his dwelling, his predator’s instincts fully aroused by the commotion. His powerful muscles rippled beneath his spotted coat as he loped toward the gathering crowd, eager to claim his share of the prize.
Following Tortoise’s animated gestures, the hunters quickly formed a large circle around the indicated thicket, their movements coordinated by years of experience in group hunting. They closed in gradually, tightening the circle with practiced precision, their weapons at the ready for the moment when the trapped gazelle would make its desperate attempt to escape.
But as they drew closer and closer, pushing aside the thick vegetation and peering into every possible hiding spot, the truth became increasingly apparent. There was no gazelle. There was no trapped animal of any kind. The thicket was empty except for the usual collection of insects and small creatures that inhabited such places.
Confused murmurs began to ripple through the crowd as hunters looked at one another with puzzled expressions. Had the gazelle somehow escaped during the time it took to organize the hunt? Had Tortoise been mistaken about what he had seen?
It was at this crucial moment that Tortoise implemented the final phase of his deception. With an expression of sudden realization and disappointment, he called out to the assembled hunters, “Oh no! The gazelle must have escaped while we were organizing! But since we’re all here anyway, would someone please cut for me some utamba-mwa-Ivata? That’s all we need now to make sure we can catch it properly next time!”
Without hesitation, one of Tortoise’s brothers-in-law stepped forward, machete in hand. “Of course!” he replied helpfully, moving toward a particular vine that hung in thick loops from a nearby tree. With a few swift cuts, he harvested a substantial length of the fibrous plant and handed it to Tortoise with a friendly smile.
“Here you are,” the helpful relative said, his tone carrying just a hint of instruction that Tortoise absorbed gratefully. “This is an Ihenga vine, which we use specifically for making hunting nets. It’s exactly what you need.”
Tortoise accepted the vine with exaggerated surprise, his performance reaching its climactic moment. “Is it possible that it was the Ihenga vine I was thinking of all along?” he exclaimed, as if he had simply confused two similar names rather than completely forgotten the correct term.
The crowd began to disperse, disappointed about the absent gazelle but satisfied that they had at least been helpful in providing the vine. Leopard gave Tortoise a long, measuring look that suggested the great predator might have suspected something, but he said nothing as his son-in-law carried the Ihenga vine back to fulfill his original obligation.
Moral Lesson
This folktale teaches us that while cleverness can sometimes help us escape embarrassing situations, it’s often better to admit our mistakes honestly rather than create elaborate deceptions that involve others in our problems. Pride and the fear of appearing ignorant can lead us to complicate simple situations unnecessarily.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who was Tortoise’s father-in-law in this African trickster tale? A: Tortoise’s father-in-law was Nje the Leopard, a powerful predator who commanded respect throughout the region and represented the authority figure that Tortoise was eager to please.
Q2: What task did Leopard assign to Tortoise, and why was it important? A: Leopard asked Tortoise to cut “utamba-mwa-Ivata,” which was actually the Ihenga vine whose fiber was essential for making hunting nets for the upcoming hunting season.
Q3: How did Tortoise’s forgetfulness create a problem for him? A: While Tortoise remembered that he needed to cut a specific type of vine for making nets, he forgot the exact name “utamba-mwa-Ivata” and was too ashamed to return and ask Leopard to repeat it.
Q4: What clever deception did Tortoise use to learn the correct vine name? A: Tortoise falsely claimed he had trapped Iheli the Gazelle in a thicket, which brought the entire town to help with the hunt, allowing him to casually ask for the vine he needed while appearing to prepare for capturing the nonexistent animal.
Q5: What African cultural tradition is demonstrated in this folktale? A: The story illustrates the traditional custom where sons-in-law are expected to perform regular services for their fathers and mothers-in-law, demonstrating respect and maintaining family bonds through these obligations.
Q6: What does this trickster tale teach about pride versus honesty? A: The folktale shows how pride and shame about ignorance can lead to unnecessarily complex deceptions, suggesting that simple honesty about our mistakes is often wiser than elaborate schemes to hide our shortcomings.
