In a big forest called Mabira, there lived many animals. They were all unhappy because an old lion ruled over them, and he was very mean. The lion’s only friend was a hyena, who was lazy and laughed at everything, annoying all the other animals, especially the clever hare.
The hare was the wisest in the forest. While most animals hunted at night and slept during the day, the hare stayed awake in his cozy little house, learning things and observing the world. He even knew the language of men.
One day, the hare couldn’t take it anymore. The lion and the hyena were too much trouble for everyone. So, the hare hatched a plan to get rid of them.
Approaching the lion, the hare said, “I bought some land, but I’m weak and foolish. Will you be my partner and protect me?” The lion, thinking he could eat the hare later, agreed. The hare then suggested making the hyena their third partner, sweet-talking him with flattery, as the hyena was too foolish to see through it.
They decided to visit the new land together. As they walked, the hare proposed a game to make the journey more interesting. The game was simple: if anyone tripped, they had to share what they were thinking. If it wasn’t interesting, the others could eat them.
The lion and the hyena agreed, thinking the hare couldn’t eat them. As they walked, the hare purposely tripped and shared clever thoughts about rocks and bark cloth. The lion and hyena found these ideas fascinating, sparing the hare.
A few moments later, the hyena tripped, and so it was his turn to share an interesting thought. But the hyena had never thought about anything in his life, so he just laughed. As the lion pounced on the hyena, the hare offered his own share as well, saying he didn’t eat hyenas. The lion ate his only friend.
Continuing their journey, the hare cleverly suggested a detour to a hill with a beautiful view of the River Nile. The lion, eager to prove that he had time, agreed. As they climbed, the hare led the way between two rocks. The lion, whose belly was now very big due to the hyena he had just eaten, got stuck. Seizing the opportunity, the hare rolled a big rock to block the path. Trapped, the lion roared with rage.
The hare, swift as ever, rushed back to the forest, gathering other animals to come and witness the lion’s demise. When they arrived, they found the lion stuck and angry. The hare explained how the lion had been a tyrant, and the other animals decided it was best to leave him there. The lion roared, but the animals ignored him, choosing a wise elephant as their new king.
And so, the Mabira forest enjoyed peace and happiness, free from the cruelty of the old lion and the foolish hyena. The animals learned that wisdom and cooperation could help them overcome even the mightiest enemies.
