Long ago, deep within the dark forests of Zambia, there lived a mighty Jackal. He was no ordinary creature, large, strong, and feared by every animal around him. At dusk each evening, when the shadows thickened and silence cloaked the land, the Jackal would take up his prized possession: a golden-tipped bamboo spear. With it, he hunted effortlessly, and no beast could withstand his skill. His success filled the forest with whispers of awe, but above him, the Moon watched with envy.
One night, the Jackal prowled through the forest with his glittering spear, the Moon peering down from behind drifting clouds. By midnight, he had killed two kudus and a wild pig. The Moon, gleaming from above, grew jealous of his power. She desired the spear for herself and devised a plan to take it.
The next evening, the Jackal returned with four bushbucks. Hiding behind a cupboard in his hut, he carefully stored the spear before resting. From her place in the sky, the Moon spied on him and discovered the secret of its hiding place.
The following day, she disguised herself as an owl and flew down to his door.
“What do you want?” the Jackal demanded in his usual gruff tone.
“Please, kind sir,” the disguised Moon replied softly, “I have come from a faraway land. Might I rest within your house tonight?”
Suspicious but not unkind, the Jackal allowed the guest to stay. That night, when the forest was quiet and the Jackal slept, the Moon crept to the cupboard and pulled out the golden spear. She tiptoed away, but as fate would have it, she stumbled over a large drum. The booming sound woke the Jackal, who leapt up and caught her in the act.
“Thief! Begone at once!” he shouted, forcing her to flee back to the sky, empty-handed.
But the Moon was relentless. The very next day, she returned, this time disguised as a sleek black cat. She knocked gently at the Jackal’s door.
“What now?” the Jackal barked.
“Please, sir,” the Cat said with feigned humility, “I have come from far away. Allow me to sleep here tonight.”
Though still suspicious, the Jackal again permitted the guest to stay. As the night deepened, the Moon, still in disguise, crept once more to steal the spear. But luck betrayed her again. On her way out, she struck against a pile of cooking pots, sending them clattering loudly. The Jackal rushed out and drove her away with furious words.
“Two thieves in two nights!” he snarled. “Begone, and never return!”
Yet the Moon would not give up. On the third night, she came without disguise, shining in her full brilliance, and knocked at the Jackal’s door.
“What is it this time?” the Jackal growled.
“It is cold up in the sky,” the Moon pleaded, her voice smooth and convincing. “May I rest in one of your warm beds tonight?”
The Jackal hesitated, remembering his losses, but the Moon’s charm overcame his resistance. He allowed her inside. That night, when the world slept, she stole the golden-tipped spear for the third time. Quietly she left the hut, but as she hurried through the garden, she tripped over a bucket. This time the Jackal awoke, but before he could catch her, the Moon had already risen high into the heavens, clutching the stolen spear.
From that day forward, the Jackal’s life changed. The magical spear had been the source of his hunting success, and without it, he was powerless. Once strong and feared, he now grew thin, weak, and sickly. He could no longer hunt, surviving only on scraps left by other animals.
And so, even today, the Jackal climbs a hill at night and lifts his head to the sky. His mournful howl echoes through the forest as he cries out to the Moon, begging her to return the golden spear she stole so long ago.
Moral Lesson
This Zambian folktale teaches the danger of envy and the cost of greed. The Moon’s jealousy led her to steal what was not hers, condemning the Jackal to weakness and sorrow. At the same time, it reminds us that relying too heavily on possessions can leave one vulnerable when those possessions are lost. True strength lies not in what we own, but in resilience, wisdom, and integrity.
Knowledge Check
1. Why did the Moon envy the Jackal?
Because of his great hunting success with the golden-tipped spear.
2. How did the Moon attempt to steal the spear?
By disguising herself first as an owl, then as a cat, and finally appearing in her true form.
3. Why was the golden-tipped spear important?
It held magical power that enabled the Jackal to hunt successfully.
4. What happened to the Jackal after losing the spear?
He grew weak, thin, and sickly, surviving only on scraps left by other animals.
5. Why does the Jackal howl at the Moon today?
Because he mourns the loss of his magical spear and begs the Moon to return it.
6. What is the main lesson of the story?
Envy and theft bring sorrow, and relying only on material possessions leads to downfall.
Source: Kalulu the Hare and Other Zambian Folk-Tales, Zambia
