In the heart of the Congo, there are countless species of ants, yet two in particular stand out in the daily lives of the people: the Small-ants and the Driver-ants. The Small-ants, tiny though they are, make their homes inside human dwellings, forever invading kitchens and food stores. No matter how carefully people protect their food, it is difficult to keep it safe from these little intruders. The Driver-ants, in contrast, roam the wilderness in great armies. They scour the countryside, leaving nothing behind, and their bite is so fierce and unyielding that every creature, man or beast, fears them.
This difference in habit and character became the foundation of an old dispute, one that led the two species into a contest of wisdom and destiny.
The Challenge of Leadership
One day, the Driver-ants and the Small-ants gathered together in a great assembly. It was no ordinary meeting, for they had come to discuss the most serious of matters: who would rule as chief over the land.
“We will govern the country,” declared the Driver-ants boldly, their voices sharp and confident. “Our strength is feared by all who cross our path. None can stand against us. We are the rightful rulers.”
The Small-ants, though small in body, were not intimidated. They spoke firmly: “We are just as capable of ruling this land. Size and strength alone do not make a true leader. We, too, deserve the right to govern.”
The Driver-ants laughed loudly, mocking their rivals. “You? Rule? You have no strength, no armies to sweep the land, no power to make others tremble.”
As the argument grew heated, an Elder, respected for wisdom and fairness, happened to pass by. Hearing their quarrel, he stopped and asked what troubled them. Each side explained its case, and the Elder listened patiently.
At last, the Elder gave his judgment: “You Driver-ants, and you Small-ants, both desire to be chiefs. But leadership is proven by action, not words. Here is my decree: the first among you who brings me a piece of a man’s skin shall be ruler of the land.”
Both sides accepted the challenge.
READ: The Son Who Tried to Outwit His Father: Congo Folktale
The Driver-Ants’ Attempt
The Driver-ants, confident in their numbers and their fearsome bite, set out immediately. They swarmed to a crossroad and waited in ambush. Soon, a man came walking along the path.
With fierce determination, the Driver-ants rushed upon him, biting at his legs with all their strength. The man cried out in pain, stumbling forward. But though the ants clung tightly, the man soon stopped, tore them off, and crushed them beneath his hands and feet. Many Driver-ants perished in the attack, their bodies left scattered on the ground.
Yet for all their bravery, they had failed in their task. Not a scrap of skin was left for them to carry. Their reliance on brute force had cost them dearly, and their chance of victory slipped away.
The Small-Ants’ Patience
Meanwhile, the Small-ants chose a different path. Instead of rushing into danger, they quietly entered a man’s house and waited. They hid in the corners, silent and unnoticed, watching with patience.
Not long after, a man came home from his work in the fields. On his way, he had struck his foot against a stone, raising a flap of skin. As he sat down inside the house, he reached for a knife hanging on the wall. With careful hands, he trimmed away the loose skin and cast it aside, caring little for what became of it.
The waiting Small-ants seized their chance. They quickly carried off the piece of skin and hurried to the place where the Elder awaited judgment. Placing the scrap before him, they declared: “Here is proof of our wisdom and our success.”
The Decision
The Elder examined the evidence and nodded. “Indeed, the Small-ants have brought what was required. By patience and cleverness, they have achieved what strength could not. Therefore, the Small-ants shall rule over the land.”
From that day forward, the Small-ants were granted their place in human houses, where they continue to dwell, always near the food and lives of people. The Driver-ants, defeated in the contest, were banished to the bush. There, they still roam in their wild armies, feared for their savage bite but denied the honour of rule.
Moral Lesson
This tale reminds us that wisdom and patience often succeed where brute force fails. The Driver-ants, though powerful, relied only on strength, and in their pride, they lost everything. The Small-ants, though weak in appearance, triumphed through quiet observation and timely action.
The story teaches that leadership is not about size or fear but about foresight, patience, and the ability to achieve results wisely. Even the smallest and seemingly weakest can rise to positions of influence if they act with care and intelligence.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Which two species of ants are central to the story?
The Small-ants and the Driver-ants.
Q2: What was the challenge set by the Elder?
To bring back a piece of human skin, with the first to do so declared ruler.
Q3: How did the Driver-ants attempt to win?
They attacked a man at the crossroads, biting his legs.
Q4: Why did the Driver-ants fail?
The man killed them, and they could not secure any skin.
Q5: How did the Small-ants succeed?
They waited in a house and collected a piece of skin a man cut from his injured foot.
Q6: What cultural lesson does this folktale explain?
Why Small-ants live in human houses, while Driver-ants live in the bush.
Folktale Origin
Source: Congo folktale, Central Africa. Congo Life and Folklore
