The Couple and the Lion
Copyright © Anike Foundation
A folktale from Kenya
A burned child dreads fire.
In the valley of the Lions, deep in the country side of Mandera, there lived Abdi and his beloved wife, Aisha.
They had no neighbors and lived a pastoral life. They lived in their aqal, a dome-shaped portable hut made of poles, pillars and sisal mats. aqal, a dome-shaped portable hut made of poles, pillars and sisal mats.
They had no neighbors and lived a pastoral life. They lived in their aqal, a dome-shaped portable hut made of poles, pillars and sisal mats.
They kept cattle, goats and sheep. During the day, Abdi would take the animals deep into the jungle for grazing while Aisha would look after the homestead. It was rainy season and the small family flourished – milk and meat were in abundance.
Despite these blessings, roaming lions were a constant menace to the family. Deep in the night, when the couple was asleep, a lion would invade the home and devour one or two animals.
This continued for a while, until one evening, Abdi was finally fed up with the alarming decrease of his herd.
After consulting with his wife, they hatched a plan.
They dug a hole next to the animal shed that the lion usually attacked.
They covered the hole with thatched grass so that the lion would not notice it.
He was thrilled to find a roaring lion in the hole.
Early in the next morning, Abdi ran to the shed to find out whether the plan was successful.
He excitedly called his wife to share the outcome.
‘Aisha, bring me some boiled water,’ he shouted.
Abdi decided to pour boiled water on the lion to teach him a lesson.
Aisha brought some hot water; Abdi poured it on the lion.
The lion raged in pain and anger as the hot water logged into his skin.
His roars could be heard from miles away.
The punishment continued for a while. Finally, the lion managed to jump out of the hole and run into the jungle.
‘Aisha, bring me some boiled water,’ Abdi would shout again. The lion, hearing these words, would anticipate another round of hot water, and roar.
His skin was burnt and he felt pain all over his body.
The lion reached his den. He found his lion friends resting in the sun.
They were shocked at how depressed their friend looked. They sought to find out the reason.
He narrated to them how a well-planned hunting mission turned to a tragedy.
He revealed to them how the couple who lived in the valley laid a trap for him that resulted in the punishment meted against him.
His friends promised to revenge for him.
They teamed up and set out for the couple early the next day.
They found Abdi alone in the homestead.
Abdi, upon seeing the lions, sensed danger and feared for his life. He fled, and they ran after him.
Abdi found a tree and climbed it quickly.The lions couldn’t climb the tree.
They agreed to step on top of each other so that they could reach the man.
The lion who was punished by Abdi and his wife offered to be the first lion to be stepped on to, so that others could reach the man. He gathered strength and they began reaching for the man.
Abdi was terrified. The lions were coming for him up there.
From, there he could see that the lion he punished was providing the ‘foundation’ for the tower of lions.
He thought for a while and screamed, ‘Aisha, bring me some boiled water.’
The words rang in the ears of the hurt lion. He could remember and relate to those words.
It reminded him of his earlier tribulations and feared that another punishment was forthcoming. He did not want a repeat of what happened.
Without notice, he intentionally slipped out, and sped into the jungle.
The tower of lions came crumbling down. Limbs were broken and the sudden thud caused pain. The other lions did not know what befell them.
One by one, they limped to the den, cursing their fate.
Abdi came down the tree and ran to the comfort of his wife and homestead.
Truly, a burnt child dreads fire.