Long ago, in the reign of King Eyo III, harmony and rivalry walked side by side in the land of men and animals. King Eyo, wise and respected, ruled over all creatures. To strengthen unity among his subjects, he often hosted great feasts in his vast palaver house. These gatherings were more than meals; they were ceremonies of laughter, tombo drinking, storytelling, and, above all, speeches.
On one such day, after the feast was done and the sweet palm wine had loosened tongues, the animals began to boast of their strength. Among them, the head of the driver ants rose, full of arrogance. His voice carried sharpness, his words dripping with pride.
“We, the driver ants, are stronger than any other creature,” he declared boldly. “Not even the mighty elephant can resist our power. And as for the worms, those pitiful, wriggling things, they are nothing at all!”
His insults echoed across the palaver house. The worms, humiliated and seething, protested immediately. Their voices may have been soft, but their anger burned.
The king, seeking fairness, raised his hand for silence. “Enough,” he said firmly. “This quarrel shall be settled not by words, but by battle. On the third day from now, the worms and the driver ants shall meet on the open road. There, we will see with our own eyes who is truly stronger.”
And so the challenge was set. News of the coming fight spread across the land, and every creature, curious and eager, prepared to witness the spectacle.
The Day of Battle
When the appointed day arrived, dawn had barely touched the sky before the driver ants began their march. In their countless thousands, nay, in their millions, they poured from their nests. As was their custom, they moved in a dark, dense column, no wider than an inch yet flowing endlessly like a living river. Scouts ran ahead, an advance guard fanned out, flankers spread to the sides, and behind them pressed the mighty core of the army, close-packed and unstoppable.
The ground seemed to crawl with them, their dark bodies glistening, their jaws sharp and eager. A hush fell among the gathered animals as the driver ants arrived at the battlefield.
Soon, the worms too appeared, wriggling nervously upon the soil. They were far fewer, their soft bodies unprepared for the brutal clash that awaited them. Yet they stood their ground, bound by pride and honor.
At a signal, the battle began.
Defeat of the Worms
The ants swarmed forward with terrifying speed. The earth became a moving sea of brown, waves of ants rolling endlessly upon the worms. In moments, the clash turned violent. The worms twisted and writhed desperately, but they were no match for the razor jaws of the ants. One by one, they were bitten into pieces, their bodies torn apart by the relentless army.
The struggle lasted only minutes. Soon, the battlefield was nothing but a writhing carpet of ants and the broken remains of worms. Those few worms who managed to escape squirmed frantically into the soil, burying themselves deep in the earth to hide from further destruction.
When silence finally returned, King Eyo stepped forward. His judgment was swift.
“The contest is ended,” he declared. “The driver ants have won with ease. Let all know from this day that the worms are defeated. Their fate is to live beneath the ground, hiding from the eyes of men and beasts.”
The Lesson Written in the Soil
From that day to this, worms have never dared to dwell openly upon the earth. They live in the hidden darkness beneath the soil, surfacing only when the rains soften the ground. Even then, should any creature draw near, they wriggle back underground at once, for the memory of their defeat still lingers.
Moral of the Story
This folktale reminds us that arrogance may wound, but weakness without preparation leads to ruin. The driver ants triumphed through unity and ferocity, while the worms, though offended, lacked the strength to defend themselves. Pride must be balanced with wisdom, for battles are not won by words but by readiness.
Knowledge Check
1. Who was the ruler during the time of this tale?
The story takes place under the reign of King Eyo III, who ruled over both humans and animals.
2. Why did the quarrel between the ants and worms begin?
The head driver ant insulted the worms, mocking them as weak and insignificant.
3. How was the dispute between the ants and worms to be settled?
King Eyo decreed that they must fight a battle on the road to prove their strength.
4. Why did the worms lose the battle so quickly?
Their soft bodies could not withstand the sharp pincers of the driver ants, who fought in overwhelming numbers.
5. What consequence did the worms face after their defeat?
From that day forward, worms lived underground, surfacing only briefly and hiding when danger approached.
6. What is the main lesson of the story?
The folktale teaches the dangers of pride and the importance of preparation, true strength is not claimed by words but proven in action.
Source: Nigerian Folktale
