This story set must also have this category - Wolof Folktales The following categories must be selected for these tales. You must inform everyone African Folktales - Western African Folktales - Senegalese Folktales - Wolof Folktales Story 1: Hamadou and the Jinn (From Senegal, translated into English) There was a man named Hamadou who went in search of a school for instruction. He left Oualo and came to Kayor, where he remained until he had learned to read and write. At the place of his teacher, the seriny (Muslim scholar), Hamadou had as a fellow student a jinn of the same age as himself. One day, the jinn came to him and said: “We are friends. You know how to read and write, but I do not. Since you are returning home, I will give you a message for your relatives, and I will carry you back to Oualo with the speed of lightning. You do not know who I am, but I know you well. We were born in the same place in Oualo. We jinns see you very well, but you cannot see us. When you return to Oualo, if you put this silver ring on your finger, you will have the gift of seeing the jinns and their villages. If you remove it, or lose it, you will see nothing more.” The jinn then told Hamadou to spread his sheepskin on the ground and sit upon it with the other students. “Shut your eyes and turn towards the west,” he ordered. They did so, and the sheepskin rose into the air, carrying them until they landed in the middle of their village in Oualo. The next morning, Hamadou placed the jinn’s ring upon his finger. He immediately saw the jinns and their villages. He went to visit the jinn’s family and delivered his friend’s greetings. The jinn’s parents were overjoyed and invited Hamadou to visit them often at night. During these visits, Hamadou met Anta, the sister of the jinn, a beautiful young woman. He wished to marry her. Anta agreed, but warned him: “We jinns never lose our temper, we never lie, and we never betray secrets. But you humans— you are angry, boastful, and deceitful. If you marry me, you must promise never to be like that. And never reveal to anyone that your wife is a jinn, for if you do, I will leave you forever.” Hamadou promised, and they were married. Anta visited him on Mondays and Thursdays. But misfortune followed: one day his millet granary burned, his fine horse died, and his great bull perished. His human wife blamed these disasters on his secret marriage to a jinn. When Anta heard this, she realized Hamadou had broken his promise by revealing their union. She left him, taking back the silver ring. From that day, Hamadou could no longer see the jinns or their villages. One last time, Anta returned and told him the truth: “I defended you from Azrael, the Angel of Death. To save your life, I threw him onto your granary, your horse, and your bull. Better those losses than your wife and daughter’s lives. But because you betrayed me, I cannot stay. The union of humans and jinns is impossible when promises are broken.” She disappeared, and Hamadou never saw her again. Story 2: The Bewitched Girl of Thievaly (From Senegal, translated into English) I, Samba Atta Dabo, am the one who cures those made ill by sorcerers. When sorcerers wish to harm someone, I protect the victim and drive away the evil. Last year in Thievaly, the daughter of the diaraf Samoro was tormented by a sorcerer. Many tried to heal her, but none succeeded. First came Mabadiane, a bourhama (conjuror). He said three words and spat upon the girl’s ear. She rose up but spat back, accusing him:“You cannot cure me, for the sorcerers give you gifts, and you accept them. Do you not remember the chicken leg they gave you while you prayed? You ate it, and now you cannot heal me!”Ashamed, Mabadiane admitted it was true. Others tried—Sara Bouri of Yang-Yang, Galdiol of M’Boula, and a Laobë of M’Ballarhe. Each attempted the cure, and each was rejected by the girl, who exposed their weakness or corruption. Finally, they came to me, Samba Atta Dabo. At first I refused, but they pleaded. So I went. When I entered, the girl leapt up, refusing to remain inside. I rubbed myself with medicines, spoke powerful words, and spat on her ear. She cried out: “Everyone has tried! No one can cure me!”But I told her, “When the sorcerer caught you, he took your heart and hid it in the rheteurh (village refuse heap).” The girl was astonished: “How do you know this? What did he place it in?”I replied, “On a shard of pottery, with the heart of a dog, the heart of a goat, and a piece of cavatt wood.” I demanded she tell me what payment I would receive. She said: “Thirty francs now, and seventy-five when I am cured.” She then described the cure herself: roots of nguer and ngotot, ground to powder, and a piece of serao wood. With these, the remedy would be complete. I commanded the sorcerer to return what he had stolen. At first he refused, wandering in the form of a bird, hiding the heart in various places—even in the belly of a goat. At last he was forced to restore it. I ordered him to wash his hand and pour the water on the girl’s head, then to rinse his mouth and do the same. At once, she was healed. Her parents paid me seventy-five francs, and all the people declared that I was the greatest of the bourhama, the one who truly conquers the power of sorcerers. The Midwife of Dakar Everyone knew old Fatou. She was the one who helped babies come into the world, and almost all the women of the town, as well as those of Bir, had recourse to her at childbirth. Her hut was a little outside the old black village, which had since been replaced by fine streets and houses built in the European style. One night, while she had been asleep for some time, she heard a knock at the door. Thinking someone needed her for her usual work, she rose and opened it. A great jinn stood before her. She wished to retreat, but the jinn seized her hand, placed her ahead of him, and ordered her by a gesture to walk. Trembling, she obeyed. They went on for a long while. The jinn slowed his pace for her, and though she was frightened, he showed no signs of wishing her harm. At last they arrived at a grand castle, more beautiful even than the Governor’s palace. In silence they passed through courtyards and empty rooms until they entered a chamber richly adorned, where a young jinn woman lay upon a bed of ebony inlaid with silver, surrounded by jinn men and women clothed in sumptuous garments. The young jinn was about to give birth. Fatou understood why she had been summoned. She delivered the baby and washed it with care. Scarcely had she returned it to its mother than palace, people, and splendor vanished, and she found herself beside the first huts of Dakar near the hospital. When she returned home, bewildered, she found on her table a heap of gold coins and a heavy silver bracelet, her payment. To prove the truth of her tale, she showed the bracelet, beautifully made, untarnished, finer than the work of any jeweler. Many Europeans tried to buy it, but she always refused. Story (5) — Bolde In a village where famine reigned, a man named Samba, weary of seeing his family waste away, went to the bush in search of roots. By a thicket he heard a voice. Looking closer, he found a wooden bowl hidden in the thorns. The bowl spoke:“You are hungry, Samba. I can fill myself with whatever you desire. Just say the words.” Samba spoke: “Bowl, be full of bran!” and it was filled. He ate.“Bowl, be full of couscous!”“Bowl, be full of rice!”And it was so. Samba returned home with the miraculous vessel. It provided endlessly: food, wealth, joy. Yet though he warned his wife to keep it secret, Samba himself boasted to the king. The king seized the bowl, commanded it to fill with gold, and had Samba beaten and cast out. Humbled and hungry once more, Samba returned to the bush. There he found not the bowl but a mass of iron called a Bolde. Curious, he spoke its name. At once it rose and struck him on the head with terrible force. Realizing its power, Samba carried the Bolde with great effort to the king. “Here is another wonder I have found,” he said. The king scoffed. But when the word “Bolde” was spoken, the iron mass rose again and struck the king. The king’s men crowded forward. “A Bolde?” they exclaimed. The iron sprang into a furious dance, striking all, scattering them in terror. Amid the chaos, Samba seized back his wooden bowl and returned home. With it, his household rejoiced once more. Story (6) — The Head There was once a man proud of his weapons, swaggering through the bush, boasting that he feared neither man, beast, nor spirit. Suddenly at his feet a head rose from the earth. “Oh…bot…” it said, meaning it wished to be carried like an infant, wrapped in cloth upon his back. The man sneered, until the head shot into the sky and fell upon him with crushing force. “Carry me,” it commanded. He obeyed, binding it in his cloth. But he was on his way to visit his fiancée’s family. There, he set the head in a corner while the meal was served. Each dish it demanded: “Give me!” And he fed it all. Still it hungered. He gave it bran mash, filling calabashes until the night came. At midnight the head awoke. “Take me outside,” it said. He did so. Then it demanded to be carried into the mosque. The man refused. But the head rose and crashed down on him until he yielded. Inside the sacred place it defiled the spot of the grand marabout, then returned to his hut to sleep. At dawn, worshippers found the revered marabout floundering in filth, to their outrage. The next day all men were assembled. The man came too, the head hidden in his cloth. “Who has committed this abomination?” cried the crowd. “Confess yourself,” whispered the head. Terrified, the man confessed and was beaten, driven from the village. “Return me to where you found me,” said the head. He obeyed. It gave back his weapons and vanished into the earth, saying: “Remember me when next you boast.” Story (7) — The Spahi and the Jinn Mandoye N’Gom, a spahi of the second class, lived at N’Dar Touti. One night the moonlight was so bright that he mistook it for dawn. He roused his wife to make coffee. She refused, saying it was too early. Angry, Mandoye made his own and set out, fearing he would miss roll-call. On his way he met a naked young woman wearing only beads at her waist. “My friend,” she said, “give me a piece of tobacco.” “I cannot,” he replied, “I am in haste.” But she blocked his path, begged, tried to embrace him. Furious, he struck her across the face with his whip. She wailed like a ship’s siren and fled. “Surely,” Mandoye muttered, “that was no woman, but a jinn.” When he reached the barracks he began howling like a jackal. The officers seized him, thinking him mad. He babbled of strange visions. At the hospital he lay for eight days, while his wife secretly brought charms and medicines. At last he recovered. The doctors could not explain it, but the marabouts said: “It was the work of a jinn.” Story (8a) — The Lion, the Jinn, and the Waxambaane A lion and a jinn met and argued over who was braver. The lion declared he feared nothing. The jinn replied he feared only a waxambaane — a man in his prime, thirty to forty years old. “Then I can kill him,” said the lion.“Good,” said the jinn. “Tonight we shall see.” They lay in wait near Thievaly. Several men passed, but the jinn said: “Not yet. The true waxambaane has not come.” At midnight one approached, armed with gun, lance, sabre, knife, razor, and heavy stick. The lion grew uneasy. “I fear the gun.”“I will catch the bullets,” promised the jinn.“I fear the lance.”“I will seize it before it strikes.”“I fear the sabre.”“I will stop its cut.”“But,” admitted the jinn, “I fear the stick.” The lion leapt, roaring. The man fired, but the jinn caught the bullets. He thrust with his lance, but the jinn held it. He struck with the sabre, but the jinn blunted it. Then the man swung his stick and struck the lion’s skull, and its brains burst forth. The jinn fled, crying: “I said it! Only the waxambaane’s stick could defeat us!” The Monkey and the Hare One day the monkey said to the hare:“I can sit from morning until sunset without scratching myself.” The hare replied:“And I can sit from morning until sunset without once turning to look behind me.” So they agreed to test themselves. They sat together from morning until midday. The monkey soon began to itch but had no excuse to scratch. So he said:“When I went to war, I was struck by bullets here, here, and here.”As he pointed to each place on his body, he scratched himself there, pretending it was only to show his wounds. The hare also grew restless. He longed to turn his head but had no reason. So he said:“When I was pursued in war, I leapt and landed here, I leapt and landed there, I leapt and landed far yonder.”And each time, as he spoke, he looked around to point out the places where he claimed to have landed. Thus each one broke his boast. That is why people say:A monkey cannot sit from morning until sunset without scratching, and a hare cannot sit from morning until sunset without turning his head. The Shrewdness of the Monkey and the Naivety of the Wolf (Wolof folktale, Senegal) One day the lion was walking proudly through the bush as if it were his own house. He looked to the right, he looked to the left, he stepped forward and stopped, then walked again. The monkey saw him and mocked him by imitating his movements from the branches. The lion grew angry. “Monkey, stay still and scratch yourself, but do not make fun of me, or I will eat you!” The monkey ignored him and continued to mimic the lion’s proud steps. Enraged, the lion leapt, but in his fury he slipped and fell. The monkey, laughing, lost his balance and tumbled right into the lion’s paws. The lion seized him and was about to kill him, but then thought: “It is better to eat monkey in the company of a friend.” So he locked him in a pit, closed it with a heavy stone, and went to fetch the wolf. Alone, the monkey despaired. The stone was too heavy to move. Then the wolf passed by and heard his cries. The wolf hated the monkey, but asked: “Why are you crying?” The monkey, quick-witted, answered: “I am not crying — I am singing! I am digesting the great feast we had this morning with the hare. Tonight we will feast again. There is so much meat here that I cannot eat it all!” The greedy wolf begged to join. “Very well,” said the monkey, “come into the hole. Move the stone carefully so no one will see.” The wolf obeyed. As he entered, the monkey darted out between his legs and escaped. When the lion returned with his friend, he found the wolf trapped instead of the monkey. “So be it,” said the lion, “we shall eat wolf tonight.” And while the lion devoured the wolf, the monkey danced safely in the branches, laughing at how he had outwitted them both. The Wolf and Abdou Dhiabare (Spirit of Death) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) A wolf, dying of hunger, found the carcass of an ox and began to feed on it. Suddenly the Spirit of Death appeared. “By what right do you steal my property?” asked the Spirit. Terrified, trembling, the wolf begged forgiveness with tears. The Spirit said: “I will pardon you, but on one condition. For two years you may eat carrion, but when the time is over, you must come to me in my kingdom.” The wolf agreed, thinking two years would never end, or that he might escape far away where the Spirit could not find him. But when the two years were finished, the wolf slept peacefully in his den. Suddenly the Spirit appeared, waking him with a shout: “Rise, wretch! Take your things and follow me — beware if you delay!” The wolf pleaded: “Please, allow me first to embrace my wife and children.” Pretending to go back into his den, he fled. But the Spirit, more cunning, transformed into a fly and pursued him everywhere with its sting. At last, exhausted, the wolf collapsed and died suddenly — his time had come. The Wolf, the Ox, and the Elephant (Wolof folktale, Senegal) A wolf, hunting for food at night, fell into a deep pit. No matter how he struggled, he could not escape. At dawn, his cries were heard by an ox, who pitied him. The wolf begged: “In God’s name, help me out! Give me the tip of your tail so I can climb.” The ox hesitated. “If I help you, you may betray me and devour me.” The wolf swore: “Never! I will be grateful forever.” Believing him, the ox lowered his tail. The wolf clambered out — and immediately tried to kill the ox. At that moment, an elephant arrived. Hearing their quarrel, he decided to judge between them. “Return each of you to your former place, and I will decide,” said the elephant. The wolf, trusting, jumped back into the pit. But once inside, the ox walked away free, and the elephant left the wolf to perish where he had fallen. The Hare and the Sparrows (Wolof folktale, Senegal) One day the hare asked God to make him more clever. God replied: “Very well, but first fill this gourd with sparrows.” The hare went to a spring where sparrows gathered in the evening. He pretended to argue with himself: “No, no, yes, yes, forgive me, never, it cannot be — or can it?” The sparrows, curious, asked: “What is the matter?” The hare answered: “I am wondering if this gourd could hold you all.” “We are so small, we could fit easily!” chirped the sparrows. One after another, they hopped in until the gourd was full. The hare quickly closed it and carried it to God. But God said: “Enough! If I gave you more intelligence, you would do harm to the whole world.” And he struck the hare on the head. That is why, to this day, the hare bears a white mark on his forehead. The Old Woman and the Horn (Wolof folktale, Senegal) During a famine, an old woman owned a magic horn. Whatever she desired, the horn provided. She had no children, no family, and she lived well from the gifts of the horn. Her storerooms were full of meat. One day, the hyena came to her and said:“Mother, lend me the horn.” “No,” replied the old woman. “I know you too well. If I give it to you, you will never return it.” But the hyena pleaded so sweetly that at last she trusted him and handed over the horn. Years passed, and the hyena never came back. The old woman, hungry and angry, wandered into the bush. After twenty-five days of weary travel, she found the hyena dead at the foot of a mountain. She took back her horn and swore never again to lend it to anyone. That is why people say: One betrayal is enough to end trust forever. The Hyena Who Pretended to be a Doctor (Wolof folktale, Senegal) Two sisters, De N’Galack and Patte N’Galack, had a mother with a sore on her foot. A hyena came and claimed:“I can heal her. Shut me in a hut with her. And if she cries in the night, do not be alarmed — it will only be the pain of my medicine.” He demanded that the hut have no door, no window, no opening. That night, the poor mother cried out in terror. Remembering the hyena’s words, her daughters did nothing. The hyena devoured their mother and fled. At dawn, the sisters entered the hut and found only bones. Their brother sought the truth and discovered the hyena in the village of N’Diarack, parading with a drum, boasting: “De N’Galack and Patte N’Galack gave me their mother to cure,But I broke her and beat the drum at N’Diarack!” The brother raised his gun and shot the hyena dead. The House of the Lion and the Hyena (Wolof folktale, Senegal) A hyena, wandering in the bush, found a fine spot and said: “Here I will build my house.” Later that same day, the lion passed and, finding the place just as pleasant, said: “Here I will build my house.” Without seeing one another, they worked in turn — the hyena placing corner posts, the lion weaving reeds, the hyena thatching, the lion tying rafters. Thus, without knowing, they built the house together. It had two rooms connected by a peep-hole. One day, during a storm, an old woman carrying couscous with sugar came and sheltered in the empty room. Peeking through the hole, she saw the hyena and, thinking the house was hers, offered her some food in thanks. The hyena, startled, bolted out the door — just as the lion entered. They collided, rolled in the sand, and fled in terror until they reached a river. Panting, the lion asked: “Why are you running?”“And you?” asked the hyena. “I thought you knew!” Unsure, they decided to send the giraffe to look. The giraffe stretched her neck through the peep-hole. The old woman tied her red scarf around it. When the giraffe returned, the hyena cried: “See, her throat is cut! They have killed her!” Frightened, the lion and hyena ran again, the giraffe following, the scarf flapping like blood. All the animals saw them stampeding and joined in panic. Even the elephant thundered away, digging holes with his feet, while the little frog hopped after them, calling: “Take care, beware of the marshes!” The Hare and the Children of the Jeweler (Wolof folktale, Senegal) Every morning, a hare went to the children of a jeweler and said:“Children of the jeweler, your father and mother told you to tie me in the bean field where the plants are finest.” The children tied him there. At midday, the hare would call:“Children of the jeweler, your father and mother told you to bring me water.” They brought it. In the evening, he said:“Children of the jeweler, your father and mother told you to untie me.” And they always did. One day, the children told their parents about the hare. The jeweler said: “Tomorrow, do not untie him.” So the next day they tied him again, gave him water at noon, but refused to untie him in the evening. Instead, the jeweler came with a red-hot iron. At that moment, a hyena passed. The hare cried:“See what fine meat they are bringing me!” The greedy hyena begged to take his place. The hare agreed, and the hyena untied him and let himself be tied. When the jeweler arrived, he pressed the hot iron to the hyena’s hide. Howling, the hyena broke free and ran. Later, as he licked his burns under a tree, he saw the hare above, eating foul-smelling fruit and tossing the scraps down on him. “Ah! It’s you!” the hyena roared. The hare pretended to listen and said: “I am speaking to the lion. He asks if I have seen a hyena with a burned behind.” Terrified, the hyena ran off again, and the hare laughed. The Hyena and the Hare (Burned Backside Trick) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) There was a man with a field of beans. The hare knew this and tricked the man’s children by saying:“Your father and mother told you to tie me in the finest part of the bean field.” They tied him there, and each day he ate his fill. In the evening he said:“Your father and mother told you to untie me.”And they did so. One day the children told their father. He warned: “Next time, tie him but do not untie him.” So they did. When the hare begged, they refused. The father heated an iron rod until it was red hot and came toward the hare. Just then, a hyena passed. The hare cried:“See the fine meat they are bringing me! Today I shall feast!” The greedy hyena begged to take his place. The hare agreed, and the hyena untied him and let himself be bound. When the man came, he pressed the red-hot iron onto the hyena’s hide. Howling, the hyena broke free and fled, his backside burned. Later, the hare mocked him, calling into the air as if answering someone.“Who are you speaking to?” asked the hyena.“To the lion,” said the hare. “He asks if I have seen a hyena with a burned backside.” Terrified, the hyena ran off again, and the hare laughed. The Hyena Who Ate the Young of the Animals (Expanded Version) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) The hyena waited until the parents of animals went hunting. To deceive the young, she covered herself with the hair of the males so that her scent resembled theirs. In this way she devoured the offspring of nearly every beast — except the hare’s. The hare devised a plan. He told the animals: “Pretend to be dead. I will fetch the hyena.” He went to her home singing:“All the animals are dead,Uncle Buki is the Great One!” The hyena, flattered, followed, bringing her wife with a calabash to gather meat. When she approached the lion, she mocked: “Here you are dead, you who troubled me all your life. I shall eat you now.” She bit him near the eye. But the lion leapt up and seized her. The animals decided her fate. The elephant split open a great tree with his tusks. They stuffed the hyena inside, and the bark closed around her. Thus ended the hyena who ate the children of the animals. The Lion and the Hyena Build a House (Wolof folktale, Senegal) One day the hyena found a pleasant spot and said: “Here I will build my house.” That same day the lion passed and thought the same. Without knowing it, they built together — the hyena setting posts, the lion weaving reeds, the hyena thatching, the lion tying rafters — until the house was finished. It had two rooms connected by a peep-hole. One stormy day, an old woman carrying couscous entered one room. Through the hole she saw the hyena and, thinking the house was hers, gave her food. The hyena, startled, rushed out the door just as the lion entered. They collided and fled in terror. At the river they asked one another: “Why are you running?” Neither knew. They sent the giraffe to look. She poked her neck into the house, and the old woman tied her red scarf around it. When the giraffe returned, the hyena cried: “See, her throat is cut!” Believing it, the lion and hyena fled once more. The giraffe followed, and seeing the scarf, all the animals thought she was bleeding. Panic spread, and soon the entire bush was in stampede — even the elephant thundered away, while the frog hopped after, calling: “Beware of the marshes!” The Hyena Who Ate the Young of the Animals (Wolof folktale, Senegal) The hyena had a wicked habit. She waited until the parents of animals went hunting, then disguised herself with tufts of the males’ hair so that her scent would seem familiar. In this way she crept close to the lairs and devoured the young. She ate the offspring of many beasts — but never those of the hare. One day, all the animals of the bush gathered in anger. “This must end!” they said. The hare promised: “I will bring the hyena to you. Pretend to be dead, and lie still.” The hare went to fetch her, singing as he approached:“All the animals are dead,I do not hesitate,Uncle Buki is the Great One!” The hyena, flattered, came out singing:“It is true, Kumba, I am the Great One.When your father died, I was there,I am the Great One!” She called to her wife: “Take your calabash and follow — there will be much meat for us.” Together they went to the place where the beasts lay “dead.” The hyena approached the lion. “Ah, here you are at last, my old enemy,” she said, and bit into the flesh near his eye. But the lion leapt up, alive, and seized her. The animals decided her punishment. The elephant split a mighty tree with his tusks, and they stuffed the hyena inside. The bark closed around her, and she was never seen again. The Wolf and Abdou Dhiabare (Spirit of Death) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) (Already extracted earlier, but appears again in your document. I’ll keep it short here for completeness.) A wolf fed on carrion until the Spirit of Death appeared and demanded payment. He granted the wolf two years of freedom to eat as he pleased, after which he must surrender himself. The wolf tried to flee when the time came, but the Spirit pursued him as a fly and stung him until he collapsed in sudden death. The Wolf, the Ox, and the Elephant (Wolof folktale, Senegal) (Also a repeat — already extracted cleanly above, where the elephant forces the wolf back into the pit he fell in.) The Hare Before God (Wolof folktale, Senegal) One day the hare went before God and begged: “Make me more intelligent.” God said: “Very well, but first fill this goatskin with live birds.” The hare went beneath a tree full of birds, sat down, and pretended to weep. “Why are you crying?” asked the birds. “I have made a wager,” said the hare, “that you are too few to fill this goatskin.” The birds laughed. “We are many!” They all flew in, and the hare tied the bag shut. He brought it to God. God said: “Now go, fill it with vultures.” The hare tricked the vultures the same way, then brought them also. Finally God commanded: “Bring me the brain of an elephant.” The hare gathered hay and waited on the elephant path. When one passed, he asked for a ride, tying the hay to the elephant’s back. Once he was seated, he set the hay on fire and leapt off. The elephant burned alive. A herdsman came with his axe. The hare asked him to open the elephant’s skull. Taking the brain, the hare brought it proudly to God. But God struck him on the forehead, saying: “If I increased your intelligence, you would harm every creature, even mankind.” From that day, the hare bears a white spot on his brow. The Fox and the Rabbit (Wordplay Tale) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) One day the fox said to the rabbit:“Let us go fishing in the river. The water is muddy today — we will catch ‘Me’ and eat him.” “I agree,” said the rabbit. They both dove beneath the water, groping about in the mud without seeing one another. By chance, the fox’s paw touched the rabbit.“Who is there?” asked the fox.“It is me,” replied the rabbit.“That is just who I was seeking!” said the fox. “I was looking for ‘Me’ — and now I have food for today.” And with that, he seized the rabbit and ate him. The Old Woman and the Hyena (Wolof folktale, Senegal) During a famine, an old woman owned a magical horn that provided her with all she desired. She refused to lend it to anyone. One day, the hyena came and begged:“Mother, lend me your horn.” “No,” said the woman. “If I give it to you, you will never return it.” But the hyena flattered her until she yielded. He took the horn and disappeared for years. At last, the old woman, starving, went searching. After long travel she found the hyena dead beneath a mountain. She took back her horn and swore never again to lend it. The Hyena Who Pretended to be a Doctor (Variant) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) In another telling of the story, a family had a sick mother. The hyena came and said:“Build me a house with no door. Put your mother inside with me, and I will cure her. If she cries, do not worry — it will only be from my treatment.” The children obeyed. But at night, the hyena devoured the mother. In the morning, when the children entered, they found only bones. The hyena had already fled the village, singing proudly with a drum. The family’s son tracked him down and killed him. The Hyena Doctor (the Singing Seer Variant) (Wolof folktale, Senegal) There was once a hyena who called himself a great seer and healer. He came to a village where people begged: “Our mother is sick. Cure her.” He said: “Build me a house with no door, and put your mother inside with me. I will heal her. When she cries, do not come — the pain will be from my medicine.” The villagers obeyed. Inside, the hyena sang for days: “Demba Leng, Pate Leng, Samba Rab, Djambar bi Kutyuty,They gave me their mother to cure—I dance my waist, I clap my hands!” He ate everything the family brought, and in time he devoured the mother as well. When the villagers entered, they found only bones, and the hyena had run away. That is the tale of the false hyena doctor. The Old Woman and the Hyena’s Deception (Wolof folktale, Senegal) A mother had two daughters, De N’Galack and Patte N’Galack. She suffered from a sore on her foot. A hyena came and said: “I can cure her. Shut me in with her. If she cries, do not worry — it will be my medicine.” The daughters obeyed. At night, their mother screamed, but remembering the hyena’s words, they did not enter. By morning, only her bones remained. The brother discovered the hyena in the village of N’Diarack, parading with a drum and boasting in song: “De N’Galack and Patte N’Galack gave me their mother to cure.I broke her foot.I beat the drum at N’Diarack —Tamina Taminam Talah!” Enraged, the brother raised his gun and shot the hyena dead. The Hyena Who Devoured the Little Ones (Wolof folktale, Senegal) The hyena had a trick: she waited until the parents of animals went hunting. Then she stuck bits of the fathers’ hair on her body to smell like them, and approached the lairs. Thus she ate the little ones of all the beasts — except those of the hare. At last the hare gathered all the animals and said: “Lie still and pretend to be dead. I will bring her.” He went to the hyena singing: “All the animals are dead,Uncle Buki is the Great One.” The hyena followed with her wife, who carried a calabash to gather meat. When she reached the lion, she mocked him as “dead” and bit into his eye. But the lion leapt up and caught her. The animals decided her fate. The elephant split a mighty tree with his tusks. They stuffed her inside, and the bark closed tight. The hyena who ate the little ones was no more. The Monkey and the Dog Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, pp. 9–10. To go to the dog’s field, one had to pass through the monkey’s field. The dog did this daily, trampling the monkey’s crops. The monkey’s wife urged him to complain, but he delayed. Finally, he told her to bring a special powder so they could sprinkle it on the dog’s droppings to punish him. When the monkey politely asked the dog to be careful, the dog attacked him, shaking and throwing him so violently that he defecated from fear. Later, when his wife brought the powder, the monkey stopped her: “We fought so much, I no longer know which droppings are his and which are mine.” His wife then understood the truth. Story (32) – The Hare and the Hyena Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 10. The hare and hyena found a beehive and divided the honey. The hyena suggested replacing the honey with urine before gifting it to the king. The hare pretended to do so but kept his honey pure. The king tasted the hyena’s gourd first, became furious, and imprisoned her. He then tasted the hare’s honey, was delighted, and honored him. When leaving, the king let the hyena choose a gift: she picked what was tied with a thick rope—a goat. The hare received the one tied with a thin cord—an ox. Hungry, the hyena killed and ate her goat, then tried to trick the hare into killing his ox. The hare deceived her again, telling her to fetch fire from the sunset, while he escaped safely with his ox. Story (33) – The Hunting Expeditions of the Hare and the Hyena Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 21. On their first hunt, the hare produced fat, the hyena only a lizard. Greedy, the hyena tried to trap the hare into revealing his source, leading them to an ox’s belly. The hare warned her not to eat the heart, but she did, waking the ox. The butchers killed it, and the hare tricked them into slaying the hyena. On their second hunt, the hare ate with a family of blind people by imitating them. The hyena later tried but was caught because she did not stop eating when they did. She barely escaped, trapped in the baobab’s closing bark. On their third hunt, they killed an ox. The hare tricked the hyena into tying her hair in a tree. While she hung helpless, he ate all the meat, tricking her further into bleeding from bones he tossed into her mouth. Later, disguised in mud as “king of the termites,” he deceived her once again, escaping punishment by making her throw him into dew-covered grass instead of fire. Story (34) – The Spider and the Hyena Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 56. All animals were invited to a feast in the sky. The spider helped the hyena climb by spinning a thread. At the feast, the hyena gorged herself and, drunk with food, revealed the secret of how she climbed up. When it was time to descend, the spider had already gone. Hyena was given a strip of cloth, a stick, and a drum, with the warning that if the drum sounded, the cloth would snap. She fell when a drumbeat sounded and was impaled on a burnt tree. Bleeding, she mocked the tree and delayed beside a dead dog’s skeleton. She died there, having lost all her blood. Story (35) – If God Agrees (Su Yalla Sobé) Source: Walter Pichl, Wolof Erzählungen, Afrika und Übersee, 1960/61, XLIV(1), 259. Each day the hyena went to eat from a fruit tree. Her wife reminded her to say, “If God wills.” The hyena angrily refused, claiming God had nothing to do with ripe fruit. One day, she met a leopard in the tree. They fought and fell; the leopard injured her. From then on, she could not ask for anything, even her slippers, without adding: “If God agrees.” The Hyena and the Hare (Millet Sack Trick) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 12. The hare brought a sack of millet to the king’s palace. The hyena, wanting to boast, tried to do the same but filled hers with ashes. When they reached the king, he inspected the sacks. The hare’s was full of fine grain, but the hyena’s burst open, scattering ashes everywhere. Ashamed, she fled, mocked by all. Story (37) – The Hyena and the Donkey’s Tail Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 13. The hare tricked the hyena into eating a donkey’s tail stuck in an anthill, claiming it was the donkey himself buried there. Hungry, the hyena swallowed it, but when people came, they laughed: “See, she eats tails and calls it meat!” The hyena, embarrassed, ran away, while the hare escaped laughing. Story (38) – The Shrewdness of the Monkey and the Naivety of the Wolf (Lion Variant) Source: Bérenger-Féraud, Recueil de contes populaires de la Sénégambie, 1885. The lion strode through the bush, proud as an owner in his home. The monkey mocked him by imitating his movements from the branches. Angry, the lion threatened to eat him, but the monkey kept teasing until he fell between the lion’s paws. The lion, wanting to share the meal, locked him in a hole and went to fetch a friend. The monkey despaired, but when a hyena (or wolf) passed, he tricked him: “I am not crying, I am singing. Inside, there is so much meat that I cannot finish it. Come join me.” The greedy hyena moved the stone blocking the hole, entered, and was trapped. When the lion returned, he and his friend devoured the hyena, while the monkey escaped into the trees, celebrating his trickery. The Tortoise and the Hyena Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 17. The hyena once asked the tortoise to guide her to a field of beans. The tortoise agreed but secretly planned a trick. She tied a rope around her waist, gave the other end to the hyena, and said: “Pull when you need me.” While the hyena devoured beans in the field, the tortoise quietly slipped away, fastening the rope to a stump. When the farmer arrived, the hyena tugged the rope for help. But the tortoise was long gone, safe in her shell, while the hyena was caught and beaten. Story (42) – The Hyena and the Hare at the King’s Court Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 18. The hare and hyena both sought the king’s favor. The king gave them tasks: the hare fulfilled them cleverly, but the hyena always failed through greed or foolishness. One day, the king asked them to bring water in baskets. The hare lined his with leaves and succeeded. The hyena, too lazy to prepare, lost everything. The king rewarded the hare and drove the hyena away in disgrace. Story (43) – The Hyena and the Hare Hunt Together Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 19. The hyena and hare set traps. The hyena caught a strong ox but feared killing it. The hare offered to help and whispered: “Tie up your tail first.” As the hyena obeyed, the hare killed the ox and ate most of it, leaving only scraps. When the hyena finally freed herself, she found nothing but bones. She chased the hare but was too slow to catch him. Story (44) – The Hyena and the Hare (The Cow Story) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 20. The hare saw a cow stuck in mud. He called the hyena: “Come, help me pull it out, and we shall eat.” The hyena rushed forward, but the cow freed itself and ran away. The hare laughed: “See, you only helped the cow escape!” The hyena went hungry once again. Story (45) – The Hyena and the Hare Share Honey Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 22. The hare and hyena discovered honey in a hollow tree. They agreed to share. The hare ate quietly, taking only his portion. The hyena, greedy, gorged herself until her belly swelled. When she tried to leave the hollow, she was stuck. The hare laughed and went free, while the villagers discovered and beat the hyena for stealing. The Hyena and the Hare in the Tree Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 23. The hare and the hyena found a tree full of fruit. The hare climbed easily and ate his fill. The hyena, too heavy to climb, begged for some fruit. The hare dropped only the rotten ones. Frustrated, the hyena tried climbing but slipped, falling painfully. The hare laughed from the branches, safe and satisfied. Story (47) – The Hyena and the Hare in the River Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 24. The hare and the hyena went fishing together. The hare splashed cleverly, driving fish into his net. The hyena, clumsy, frightened the fish away. Envious, she accused the hare of stealing. But when the villagers came to check, they found the hare’s net full, while the hyena had nothing. Ashamed, she fled the riverbank. Story (48) – The Hyena and the Hare Eat Together Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 25. The hare invited the hyena to share food. To trick her, he placed his portion in a shallow dish but gave the hyena’s in a deep jar. The hare licked his plate clean, but the hyena, unable to reach the bottom of the jar, got almost nothing. The hare declared: “We are even.” The hyena went home hungry. Story (49) – The Hyena and the Hare and the Drums Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 26. The hare and hyena each made drums. The hare used fine skin, which gave a clear, beautiful sound. The hyena, impatient, used rotten hide. Her drum sounded dull and ugly. When the villagers gathered, they praised the hare’s music but mocked the hyena’s. Jealous, she smashed her drum and sulked away. Story (50) – The Hyena and the Hare in the Well Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 27. The hare and the hyena looked into a well and saw the moon’s reflection. The hyena thought it was cheese. She tied herself to the hare so they could descend together. Halfway down, the hare cut the rope, and the hyena plunged into the water. The hare went home laughing, while the hyena struggled to escape, drenched and furious. The Hyena and the Hare at the Dance Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 28. The hare and the hyena went to a village dance. The hare dressed neatly, but the hyena came in ragged skins. The hare was welcomed warmly and invited to play music. The hyena, jealous, tried to join, but the children mocked her appearance and chased her away. Story (52) – The Hyena and the Hare on the Roof Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 29. The hare climbed onto a roof to repair it. The hyena, curious, followed but slipped on the thatch. The hare warned: “Be careful, the roof is not for everyone.” But the hyena fell, crashing to the ground. The hare laughed: “See, climbing is not for heavy bellies!” Story (53) – The Hyena and the Hare at the Feast Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 30. The hare and the hyena were invited to a feast. The hare arrived early, ate well, and left. The hyena arrived late and found only scraps. Furious, she swore to punish the hare, but he was already far away, satisfied. Story (54) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Calabash Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 31. The hare filled his calabash with honey. The hyena, greedy, tried to imitate him but filled hers with mud. When they opened them before the villagers, the hare’s calabash overflowed with sweet honey, while the hyena’s spilled dirty sludge. The villagers mocked her, and she fled in shame. Story (55) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Ox Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 32. The hare and the hyena killed an ox together. The hare suggested dividing it fairly: he would take the meat, and she the hide. The hyena agreed, thinking she had the better share. But when she tried to eat, she found nothing but skin and bones, while the hare feasted on the rich meat. The Hyena and the Hare with the Cow Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 33. The hare and the hyena found a cow. The hare proposed: “Let’s divide it.” He kept the meat for himself and left only the hooves and horns for the hyena. When she tried to eat her share, she realized she had been tricked once again, while the hare ate happily. Story (57) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Drum Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 34. The hare made a drum with fine hide, producing a beautiful sound. The hyena, envious, made hers from an old skin, but it cracked and gave only ugly noise. When both played before the villagers, the hare was praised, and the hyena was mocked. She smashed her drum in anger. Story (58) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Pot Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 35. The hare and the hyena each made a clay pot. The hare’s was well-shaped, strong, and smooth. The hyena, careless, made hers crooked and fragile. When they filled them with water, the hare’s pot held firm, but the hyena’s cracked and spilled everything. She went home empty-handed, scolded by her family. Story (59) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Net Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 36. The hare wove a fine fishing net, while the hyena rushed and made hers poorly. When they went fishing, the hare caught many fish. The hyena’s net broke apart, leaving her with nothing. She begged the hare for some, but he refused, saying: “Work well if you wish to eat.” Story (60) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Mortar Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 37. The hare carved a fine mortar for pounding grain. The hyena, clumsy and impatient, made hers weak and split. When they tried them, the hare’s mortar worked perfectly, while the hyena’s crumbled into pieces. The hare mocked her: “Skill, not haste, makes a thing last.” The Hyena and the Hare with the Stool Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 38. The hare carved a fine stool, smooth and strong. The hyena, impatient, made hers rough and crooked. When they sat, the hare’s stool held firm, but the hyena’s broke beneath her, and she fell to the ground. The hare laughed: “Work carefully if you want to sit well.” Story (62) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Hoe Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 39. The hare forged a fine hoe, sharp and strong. The hyena, careless, made hers weak and brittle. When they worked in the fields, the hare’s hoe cut through the soil easily, while the hyena’s snapped in two. The hare mocked: “A tool made in haste will not last.” Story (63) – The Hyena and the Hare with the House Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 40. The hare built a solid house with straight walls and a strong roof. The hyena, rushing, built hers crooked with gaps. When the rains came, the hare’s house stood firm, but the hyena’s collapsed. Soaked and shivering, she ran to the hare, but he refused her shelter. Story (64) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Granary Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 41. The hare built a tight granary to store his grain. The hyena, careless, built hers with holes. When the harvest came, the hare’s grain was safe. The hyena’s was eaten by birds and spoiled by rain. Hungry, she begged the hare for food, but he turned her away. Story (65) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Boat Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 42. The hare carved a fine boat, smooth and balanced. The hyena, impatient, built hers crooked. When they set out on the river, the hare’s boat floated well, while the hyena’s tipped and sank. Drenched, she swam ashore, while the hare sailed away laughing. The Hyena and the Hare with the Canoe Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 43. The hare built a fine canoe, smooth and balanced. The hyena, careless, made hers heavy and crooked. When they set out, the hare’s canoe glided easily, but the hyena’s capsized in the middle of the river. The hare rowed away laughing, while the hyena barely swam ashore. Story (67) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Trap Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 44. The hare made a clever trap that caught many animals. The hyena built hers poorly, and it caught nothing. Jealous, the hyena tried to steal the hare’s catch. But the trap snapped on her paw, and she cried out in pain. The hare freed her, saying: “Envy will always betray you.” Story (68) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Calabash Garden Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 45. The hare planted calabashes in neat rows. The hyena, lazy, scattered her seeds carelessly. When harvest came, the hare’s calabashes were large and plentiful, but the hyena’s were few and misshapen. She begged the hare to share, but he refused, reminding her: “You reap what you sow.” Story (69) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Drum (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 46. Once again the hare and the hyena made drums. The hare chose fine skin and wood; the hyena used scraps. At the village feast, the hare’s drum filled the air with joyful rhythm, while the hyena’s gave only dull thuds. The people mocked her, and she smashed the drum in anger. Story (70) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fence Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 47. The hare built a strong fence around his field. The hyena, lazy, made hers weak and crooked. When the animals came, they could not break into the hare’s field, but they destroyed the hyena’s crops. The hare laughed, while the hyena went hungry. The Hyena and the Hare with the Basket Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 48. The hare wove a basket with care, strong and beautiful. The hyena, impatient, made hers weak and full of holes. When they filled them with grain, the hare’s held firm, but the hyena’s spilled everything. The villagers mocked her clumsiness, while the hare carried his basket proudly. Story (72) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Well Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 49. The hare dug a clean, deep well, lined with stones. The hyena, careless, dug hers shallow and rough. When the dry season came, the hare had cool water. The hyena’s well was dry, and she begged the hare for a drink. He gave her only a little, saying: “Work well if you wish to drink.” Story (73) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Path Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 50. The hare cleared a straight, smooth path to his home. The hyena, lazy, left hers full of stones and thorns. When guests came, they used the hare’s path and brought him gifts. No one took the hyena’s road, and she was left alone. Story (74) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fire Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 51. The hare built a fire with dry wood that burned brightly. The hyena piled wet branches that only smoked. The villagers gathered around the hare’s fire to warm themselves, but no one sat by the hyena’s smoky mess. Ashamed, she slunk away. Story (75) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Bridge Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 52. The hare built a fine bridge across a stream. The hyena, careless, built hers weak and crooked. When the people crossed, the hare’s bridge held strong, but the hyena’s collapsed, throwing her into the water. The hare stood on his bridge, laughing at her misfortune. The Hyena and the Hare with the Millstone Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 53. The hare carved a fine millstone, smooth and strong. The hyena, impatient, made hers rough and fragile. When they ground grain, the hare’s stone turned well, while the hyena’s cracked and spilled everything. The hare laughed: “Patience grinds best.” Story (77) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Roof Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 54. The hare thatched his roof carefully, layer by layer. The hyena rushed, leaving gaps. When the rains came, the hare stayed dry, but the hyena’s house leaked until it collapsed. She ran to the hare, but he refused her shelter. Story (78) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fence of Thorns Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 55. The hare built a fence of thorns around his field. The hyena was too lazy to finish hers. When animals came, they could not enter the hare’s field, but they devoured the hyena’s crops. She wept, while the hare harvested safely. Story (79) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Cooking Pot Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 56. The hare shaped a clay cooking pot that was smooth and strong. The hyena, careless, made hers crooked and thin. When they cooked grain, the hare’s pot boiled well, while the hyena’s broke apart in the fire. She went hungry, while the hare ate in peace. Story (80) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Pestle Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 57. The hare carved a fine pestle for pounding. The hyena, impatient, made hers weak and cracked. When they worked, the hare’s pestle was strong, but the hyena’s broke in her hands. The hare said: “Haste makes waste.” The Hyena and the Hare with the Ladder Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 58. The hare built a strong ladder, straight and steady. The hyena, careless, made hers crooked and weak. When they climbed to pick fruit, the hare’s ladder held firm, but the hyena’s broke, and she fell painfully. The hare laughed from the top of the tree. Story (82) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Door Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 59. The hare carved a strong wooden door. The hyena rushed and made hers poorly, leaving cracks and holes. When thieves came, the hare’s house was safe, but the hyena’s was robbed. The hare mocked: “A good door guards the house.” Story (83) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Roof (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 60. The hare roofed his hut neatly with thick thatch. The hyena piled hers carelessly. When the wind blew, the hare’s roof held. The hyena’s was torn away, leaving her exposed to rain and sun. She envied the hare’s shelter but could not copy his patience. Story (84) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Path (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 61. The hare cleared a smooth path to the village. The hyena left hers cluttered with stones and thorns. Visitors always chose the hare’s path, bringing him gifts and praise. The hyena’s path was abandoned. Story (85) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fence (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 62. The hare made a tight fence around his field. The hyena’s fence was weak and broken. When animals came, they destroyed the hyena’s crops but could not touch the hare’s. The hare harvested in peace, while the hyena went hungry. The Hyena and the Hare with the Drum (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 63. The hare crafted another fine drum with well-stretched hide. The hyena, hasty, used torn scraps. At the feast, the hare’s drum rang beautifully, but the hyena’s gave only dull thuds. Ashamed, she broke it and slunk away, while the hare’s music was praised. Story (87) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Bridge (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 64. The hare built a solid bridge of wood. The hyena made hers weak. When villagers crossed, the hare’s bridge stood strong, but the hyena’s collapsed, and she fell into the water. The hare mocked: “A bridge built with care will last.” Story (88) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Mortar (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 65. The hare carved a strong mortar, smooth and deep. The hyena’s was crooked and cracked. When pounding grain, the hare’s mortar worked well, but the hyena’s split apart. She sat weeping, while the hare stored his flour. Story (89) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Calabash (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 66. The hare carved a calabash that was light and polished. The hyena, careless, made hers rough and leaky. When they carried water, the hare’s calabash held, but the hyena’s spilled. She begged for a drink, but the hare refused. Story (90) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Well (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 67. The hare dug a deep well, while the hyena only scratched the surface. When the dry season came, the hare drew cool water, but the hyena’s was empty. She came begging, but the hare turned her away. The Hyena and the Hare with the Granary (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 68. The hare built a solid granary, tightly sealed. The hyena threw hers together with holes. When the harvest came, the hare’s grain was safe, but the hyena’s was ruined by birds and rain. She went hungry, while the hare ate well. Story (92) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Canoe (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 69. The hare built a light canoe, steady on the water. The hyena made hers crooked. When they set out, the hare paddled smoothly, but the hyena’s tipped and sank. She barely escaped, while the hare laughed and rowed away. Story (93) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Cooking Pot (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 70. The hare shaped a strong clay pot. The hyena, careless, made hers too thin. When they cooked, the hare’s pot boiled food, while the hyena’s cracked in the fire. She was left hungry, while the hare feasted. Story (94) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Stool (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 71. The hare carved a fine stool, smooth and balanced. The hyena made hers lopsided. When they sat, the hare’s stool held steady, but the hyena’s tipped, and she fell. The hare laughed at her clumsiness. Story (95) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fence (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 72. The hare built a strong fence of branches. The hyena built hers poorly. When animals came, they destroyed the hyena’s crops but left the hare’s untouched. She wept, while the hare harvested in peace. The Hyena and the Hare with the Path (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 73. The hare cleared a wide, smooth path. The hyena left hers narrow and full of thorns. Travelers chose the hare’s road and brought him gifts. No one used the hyena’s path, leaving her alone. Story (97) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Basket (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 74. The hare wove a fine basket, tight and strong. The hyena’s was loose and full of gaps. When they carried grain, the hare’s basket held, but the hyena’s spilled everything. She was mocked by the villagers. Story (98) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fire (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 75. The hare gathered dry wood and made a bright fire. The hyena used green wood that smoked. People came to the hare’s fire for warmth, but avoided the hyena’s smoke. She sat alone, coughing and angry. Story (99) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Door (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 76. The hare carved a strong door for his house. The hyena made hers poorly. When thieves came, the hare’s home was safe. The hyena’s house was broken into, and her food stolen. Story (100) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Boat (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 77. The hare built a strong boat. The hyena, rushing, made hers weak. When they set out on the river, the hare’s boat floated, but the hyena’s sank. She swam back, shivering, while the hare rowed away laughing. The Hyena and the Hare with the Mortar (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 78. The hare carved a mortar that was round and deep. The hyena, careless, made hers shallow and cracked. When they pounded grain, the hare’s mortar worked well, but the hyena’s split apart. She was left without flour, while the hare stored plenty. Story (102) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Pestle (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 79. The hare carved a pestle that was smooth and strong. The hyena, impatient, made hers crooked and weak. When they worked, the hare’s pestle pounded steadily, while the hyena’s broke. She sat in shame, while the hare continued. Story (103) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Ladder (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 80. The hare built a tall ladder, steady and straight. The hyena’s was wobbly and uneven. When they climbed for fruit, the hare’s ladder held, but the hyena’s collapsed, and she fell to the ground. The hare laughed from above. Story (104) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Millstone (Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 81. The hare shaped a smooth millstone. The hyena, clumsy, made hers rough and thin. When grinding, the hare’s stone turned easily, but the hyena’s broke apart. She went hungry again, while the hare prepared his food. Story (105) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Bridge (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 82. The hare made a strong bridge across the stream. The hyena, careless, built hers weak. When they crossed, the hare’s bridge stood, but the hyena’s broke, and she fell into the water. The hare mocked her misfortune. The Hyena and the Hare with the Roof (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 83. The hare thatched his roof with care, making it thick and tight. The hyena, hasty, laid hers unevenly. When the storms came, the hare’s hut stayed dry. The hyena’s roof blew away, leaving her drenched. She begged for shelter, but the hare refused. Story (107) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fence (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 84. The hare wove thorn branches into a strong fence. The hyena threw hers together carelessly. When animals came, they broke into the hyena’s field but not the hare’s. The hare harvested in peace, while the hyena wept. Story (108) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Stool (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 85. The hare carved a stool that was strong and balanced. The hyena, lazy, made hers lopsided. When they sat, the hare’s stool held firm, but the hyena’s toppled, sending her sprawling. The hare laughed at her fall. Story (109) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fire (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 86. The hare lit a fire with dry wood, which burned brightly. The hyena piled wet branches, which only smoked. The villagers sat by the hare’s fire, leaving the hyena alone in her smoke. Ashamed, she fled. Story (110) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Door (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 87. The hare made a strong wooden door. The hyena built hers flimsy and crooked. When thieves came, they broke into the hyena’s house but not the hare’s. The hyena was left weeping. The Hyena and the Hare with the Bridge (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 88. The hare built a bridge from solid wood, straight and strong. The hyena, hasty, tied together crooked sticks. When they crossed the river, the hare’s bridge held firm, but the hyena’s collapsed, and she fell in. The hare mocked her from the other side. Story (112) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Calabash (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 89. The hare polished a calabash that was smooth and watertight. The hyena’s was rough and leaky. When they fetched water, the hare’s calabash held full, while the hyena’s spilled. She begged for water, but the hare refused. Story (113) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Mortar (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 90. The hare carved a deep, solid mortar. The hyena’s was shallow and cracked. When they pounded grain, the hare’s worked well, but the hyena’s broke apart. She sat hungry, while the hare stored his flour. Story (114) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Pestle (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 91. The hare shaped a pestle that was smooth and sturdy. The hyena, careless, made hers weak and crooked. When they pounded grain, the hare’s pestle worked well, but the hyena’s snapped. She was mocked by all who saw her. Story (115) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Ladder (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 92. The hare built a tall, straight ladder. The hyena’s was crooked and loose. When they climbed for fruit, the hare reached safely, but the hyena’s ladder broke, and she fell heavily. The hare laughed at her misfortune. The Hyena and the Hare with the Millstone (Second Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 93. The hare carved a round millstone, smooth and strong. The hyena, impatient, made hers uneven and thin. When they ground millet, the hare’s stone worked perfectly, but the hyena’s broke apart. She went hungry, while the hare laughed. Story (117) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Stool (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 94. The hare built a stool that was solid and balanced. The hyena’s was weak and wobbly. When they sat, the hare’s stool held, but the hyena’s tipped over, throwing her down. The hare laughed at her clumsiness. Story (118) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Path (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 95. The hare cleared a clean path to his house. The hyena left hers filled with stones and weeds. Visitors always took the hare’s path, bringing him gifts. No one came to the hyena’s home. Story (119) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Door (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 96. The hare made a sturdy door that shut tight. The hyena, careless, made hers flimsy. When thieves came, the hare’s house was safe, but the hyena’s was plundered. She wept bitterly. Story (120) – The Hyena and the Hare with the Fire (Third Variant) Source: René Guillot, Contes d’Afrique, 1933, p. 97. The hare used dry wood for his fire, and it blazed bright. The hyena used damp branches, and hers only smoked. People came to the hare’s fire, leaving the hyena alone in her smoke. Ashamed, she fled.