Clever Jackal and Foolish Crow

Clever Jackal and Foolish Crow, a fable by Kholeka Mabeta

Once upon a time, Jackal was walking around the bush. He was very hungry. He saw Crow flying above the trees with a big piece of meat in his mouth.

"Hmmm, that meat looks delicious!," thought Jackal. "I must find a way to get it... oh, I have a plan!" He quickly wiped his mouth with his paw, as he did not want Crow to notice how hungry he was.

Crow was tired as he had been flying the whole morning. Scouting the ground below, he glided down to rest on a tree branch. Jackal trotted over and lay down beneath the branch where Crow was sitting.

Jackal looked up and, wearing a huge smile, said "Hello Crow! You're looking very good today. Your feathers look so glossy and healthy. You must be taking very good care of yourself."

Jackal knew that Crow thought he was the most beautiful of all the birds. "I hear you also have the most beautiful singing voice of all the birds," added Jackal. "Won't you sing a song for me?"

Feeling flattered and proud, Crow puffed out his chest, stretched his wings and began to sing... and the meat fell out of his beak and tumbled to the ground, right in front of the grinning Jackal.

Shocked into silence, Crow looked down helplessly as Jackal quickly grabbed the precious morsel and ran off into the bush, cackling with glee. Crow was left alone, ashamed, angry... and hungry.

(via African Storybook, adapted from an original story by Kholeka Mabeta)

(images via Kandukuru Nagarjun and African Storybook)