Once upon a time, in a far-off land, a lioness and a cow struck up an unlikely friendship. They decided to live together in a cozy little house that they built with their own hooves and paws. This odd duo became inseparable, sharing not only their living space but also the joy of raising their little ones – a lion cub and a stubborn calf.
The lion cub, despite being born to the queen of the jungle, was surprisingly gentle and well-mannered. However, the calf proved to be a real headache for its poor mother. It had a habit of causing trouble, especially near a beautiful well that stood not far from their home.
Every day, the calf would hang around the well, stirring up mud and causing chaos. Despite the cow’s best efforts to discipline her unruly child, the little troublemaker continued his mischief. One day, the lion cub, tired of the calf’s nonsense, tried to intervene. This, however, sparked outrage in the calf, and in a fit of anger, he pushed the gentle lion cub into the well, where tragedy struck – the cub drowned.
When it dawned on the calf that he had killed the child of a fierce hunter, fear struck his heart and he raced home to find his mother so that he could confess. The cow, equally terrified, suggested they flee, convinced the lioness would seek revenge.
And so, they embarked on a journey of escape, seeking refuge from other animals in the jungle. Their first stop was at the antelope’s dwelling. The antelope, initially agreeing to protect them, changed its mind upon hearing the distant roars of the distressed lioness. “Run away! If she finds you here, we are all doomed,” the antelope exclaimed, abandoning them in their time of need.
Desperation forced the cow and calf to the buffalo’s abode. “I’ll defend you,” said the buffalo, initially with a lot of confidence. However, he backtracked when the lioness’ roars echoed in the distance. “Run! If she sees you here, she will tear us all apart,” the buffalo urged, leaving them to face the looming danger alone.
With dwindling hope, they sought refuge at the elephant’s home, and he promised to protect them. However, when the lioness drew near, the confident elephant also panicked with fear. “Run! If she finds you here, we will all be dead,” the elephant said, leaving the cow and calf helpless by the roadside.
Exhausted and defeated, the cow collapsed by the roadside. Just then, a tiny but vibrant red bird named Kasanke fluttered by. Touched by the cow’s situation, Kasanke listened to the story and, unmoved by the approaching danger, hatched a daring plan.
Kasanke urged the cow to hide in the bushes as she flew to a nearby banana garden. There, she picked a dark red seed-pod shaped like a heart. Returning to the cow, Kasanke milked her and added red juice to the milk, creating a concoction that resembled blood.
As the lioness closed in, Kasanke confronted her, asking why she sounded so angry. The lioness, whose anger was only worsened by such a question, threatened to eat the cheeky little bird. Without hesitation, Kasanke attacked, pecking the lioness’s eyes and throwing the concoction over her. She declared, “I have killed you! Your heart has fallen out, and you will bleed to death.”
Blinded and terrified, the lioness fled, not stopping until she reached her home. The cow, grateful for Kasanke’s bravery, declared that from that day forth, every kraal would be a home for Kasanke the little red bird and her descendants.
And so, across the vast country of Uganda, as the cows return to their kraals in the evening, little red birds follow. The cows pour a bit of milk on the ground before filling their pails, a gesture of gratitude to Kasanke for her courage against the ferocious lioness many years ago.
