The lion and the jar - African folklore

Africa

A long time ago in Tuli in Southern Africa there lived a boy called Lulama. He was the only boy in his family. His father had wanted more children but his dreams were shattered because of an accident a few years back. Lulama was only 14 year old and even though he was still a child he was mature enough to look after his father’s cattle and farm.

Like any day Lulama set off with the cattle early at dawn to a distant grazing field where he would spend the day. This was an unusually hot day. To keep him company he had asked his friend Sipho to be with him. They reached the Mpoeng valley at noon. As the cattle grazed the boys sat under a Mopane tree overlooking the valley below. The breeze kept them cool and the sounds of the birds broke the otherwise familiar routine.

Sipho the talkative of the two boys took his turn and walked to a stream to look for drinking water. Carrying the empty jar he made his way down the steep path until he reached the bottom of the valley. The overgrowth made walking difficult but he managed to reach the stream.

“muntu muntu, help me please” pleaded a lion from a round a thicket. “Who is there” said Sipho. “Its me Sam the lion” “What are you doing there” said Sipho as he walked to where the lion was. As he reached the place he realised that the lion was trapped in a cage set up by hunters. “As you can see, I am trapped here, and its been 3 days since I had a meal” “I will give you anything to get me out of here, otherwise I will starve with hunger”

“Ok then” said Sipho “ it will take only a minute to remove this lock to realease you”. Sipho removed the lock and opened the trap door. As soon as the lion was free he jumped on Sipho. “Grr, you will be my meal today” “But I just freed you from the trap, How can you do that”

“I am so hungry, Grr . . ”. said the lion “Ok” said Sipho “But before you do that, lets go to Lulama and give him the water in the jar, after that you can have your wish”

“That’s fine with me” said the lion. They walked up to where Lulama was. And he was supprised to see the lion with Sipho.

“What is the mater” asked Lulama. “I freed the Lion from a trap but now he wants to eat me” replied Sipho as he handed Lulama the jar full of water. He took a sip and then paused for a minute. “I do not understand what you two are saying” said Lulama. “Can you please go and show me what you were doing.”

The three of them walked back to the valley to the place where the trap was. “Lion, can you show me how this trap was like” said Lulama. The lion walked into the trap and Lulama closed the trap door behind him.

“Sipho, are you sure that this is what it was like” said Lulama. “Not exactly, the lock was placed like this” He got the lock and put it on the trap door.

“Sipho, please stand where you were” said Lulama. He then went to stand near the river bank.

“This is how we were before ” said the Lion. “And this is the way we are leaving you” Said Lulama “I now understand, you were very selfish.”

At this the Lion realised that he had been tricked back into the trap. Sipho was very happy to see the Lion was back in the trap. The two boys went home very happy indeed and Told Sipho’s father about the Lion.

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