Long ago, on the sunlit shores of Corisco Island, the animals of the Benga people gathered for a contest. They had often argued about who among them was the swiftest and who carried the greatest skill. The tall grasses of the savanna bent in the wind as the animals quarreled, their voices rising above the sound of the waves that pounded the nearby coast. In the midst of their debate, Tortoise, with his small frame and heavy shell, spoke in a calm and steady voice, “I too can win a race.”
The animals erupted in laughter. Leopard, sleek and golden, flicked his tail with scorn. Antelope stamped her hooves in disbelief. Even Parrot cackled so hard his wings shook. “You?” they cried. “You, who crawl so slowly that shadows pass you by? What foolishness makes you think you can win a race?”
But Tortoise did not waver. His wrinkled face held a quiet smile. “Speed alone does not bring victory. I have my own way.” Intrigued by his boldness, the animals agreed to test him. The race would be between Tortoise and Deer, who was famed for her quick leaps and graceful strides. The course stretched across the plains, down a winding path, and back again to the great baobab tree where all the animals had gathered.
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When the day of the race arrived, the sky glowed with the heat of the morning sun. Animals crowded around to watch, their eyes sparkling with excitement. Leopard perched on a rock, eager to see Tortoise humbled. Monkey swung from branches above, chattering noisily, while Goat bleated predictions of Deer’s easy victory.
The two competitors took their places. Deer bent her legs, muscles trembling with energy. Tortoise crouched low, his shell gleaming faintly, his face calm. At the signal, Deer sprang forward like a streak of lightning, dust flying beneath her hooves. Tortoise, however, took one slow step, then another, his claws scraping against the earth.
The animals roared with laughter. “This is no race!” cried Dog. “Tortoise will be left behind before the first turn.” Yet as the crowd laughed, a curious thing began to unfold.
Far down the track, another Tortoise appeared, crawling steadily. Deer, racing ahead, passed him with ease. But soon after, as she curved around the path, yet another Tortoise appeared. Confused, Deer blinked but did not slow. She leapt past him too, her legs a blur. Again and again, she saw Tortoise ahead of her. Each time she thought she had left him behind, another appeared on the road before her.
“What trick is this?” she muttered, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Her chest heaved, and sweat darkened her sleek coat. Still, she pushed herself faster, determined to leave Tortoise far behind. Yet no matter how quickly she ran, another Tortoise seemed to crawl before her, always steady, always calm.
At last, exhausted, Deer neared the baobab tree, certain she had secured victory. But there, already waiting at the finish line, sat Tortoise, calm and smiling, his shell resting in the shade of the tree.
The crowd gasped in disbelief. Monkey dropped his fruit. Goat fell silent. Leopard’s tail twitched angrily. “Impossible!” they shouted. “How could the slowest among us win the race?”
Tortoise lifted his head and explained, “I did not run faster than Deer. That is true. But I used wisdom. Along the road, I placed my brothers and cousins, each one looking exactly like me. Wherever Deer turned, she found a Tortoise already ahead, and so she believed I could not be defeated. By the time she reached the end, I was already waiting here.”
The animals were stunned into silence. Deer hung her head, ashamed of her defeat. Though she had run with all her strength, it was cleverness that carried the day.
From that moment, the Benga people remembered the race of Tortoise and Deer. It became a lesson told by parents to children, reminding them that intelligence and planning can triumph where speed and strength may fail.
Moral Lesson
The tale of Tortoise in a Race teaches that wisdom and clever strategy can outmatch physical power and speed. Success is not always won by those who run the fastest but by those who think carefully and plan with patience.
Knowledge Check
Who challenged Deer to a race in this Benga folktale?
Tortoise challenged Deer, even though the other animals mocked him for being slow.How did the animals react when Tortoise first claimed he could win the race?
They laughed and ridiculed him, certain that his slow pace meant certain defeat.What trick did Tortoise use to win the race against Deer?
He placed his brothers and cousins along the road, making Deer believe he was always ahead.Why was Deer exhausted by the end of the race?
She kept running faster and faster, trying to overtake Tortoise each time she saw him ahead, until her strength was spent.What lesson does this story teach about competition?
The story shows that intelligence and careful planning can achieve victory even against stronger or faster rivals.How is this story remembered in Benga tradition?
It is told as a lesson that wisdom and strategy can triumph over raw speed or strength.
Source: Benga folktale, Corisco Island, Equatorial Guinea (recorded by Robert H. Nassau, 1914).
