African Legends

you, man is not good in any way. My friend, if you are clever, just disappear, because, if he finds you, do not call me, when he shoots you.’

The lion left the goat. He walked a certain distance telling himself, ‘When shall I see man they talk so highly of?’ Then the lion met a sheep. The lion greeting it saying, ‘What is the news, my friend?’ The sheep answered, ‘We are fine, my friend.’ The lion asked the sheep, ‘Are you a man?’ The sheep replied, ‘Man does not play or joke. If you are clever, disappear before he finds you here. Do you hear me?’

The lion continued his stroll looking for man. He walked for a long time. Then he met the cow whom he asked whether he was man. The cow replied, ‘No, I am not man. Man is no joker. He is my boss. After I have produced calves, he waits for them to grow up.

Then he eats them. Man also milks me. When I refuse, he canes me. Therefore, man is not good. If you have ears to listen, just disappear. If he finds you here. you will regret it,’ When the lion left the cow, he asked himself all the way, ‘When shall I meet that man whom they all praise so much?’ The lion walked for a long time and then he met a man collecting firewood. The lion greeted the man, saying, ‘My friend, is there any news? My friend, are you a man?’ The man answered, ‘I am not the one.’ The man asked the lion, ‘Why are you so anxious to see a man?’ Before the lion could answer, the man asked him, ‘Come a bit closer and help me to load this firewood on my head.’ When the lion had approached, the man took a rope and using all his strength he tied him up. the man picked up two canes and started beating the lion. The lion began to cry, ‘Dear me, dear me, I wish I had known; I would not have asked who you were.’ The man continued caning the lion whilst telling him, ‘I am the man, whom you have been looking for.’ The lion continued lamenting: ‘Mother, mother, I shall never despise you; surely you are my master.’ The lion stopped crying. He had become unconscious.

When the man saw the lion lying unconscious with its legs up in the air, he untied him.

He knelt down and prayed, ‘God almighty, I have come so that you would listen to my prayers. Please, heal this angry lion. When the lion quits this spot, he will tell other creatures to fear man.'

Explanations 1. Bantu usually direct their prayers to the ancestors. If you address yourself to God, you wish for the moon.

2. The animals regard the man as a cruel being. Man acts like a big boss and a real danger. Man is a despot.

3. The story indicates us not to be too curious. ‘The honey bird usually fishes with drugs, where its sister goes’ (PK1493). It is not good to go fishing where women go naked and one sees one’s sister naked.

4. ‘The one who warns you, is your friend’ (CRC306). When people warn us about a certain danger, we should take their advice seriously.

86