African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

The Journey of the Dog, Hawk, Eagle, and Rat

The Journey of the Dog, Hawk, Eagle, and Rat

In this story, a Dog, Hawk, Eagle, and Rat embark on a journey together, promising not to abandon or fight each other. However, they encounter delays as each animal wants to wait for a specific food source or desire to be fulfilled. When they reach a forest, the Dog's constant wetting of her nose annoys the others, and they abandon her. The Dog becomes angry and chases after the Rat. This story highlights the importance of keeping promises and the dangers of letting impatience and anger control our actions.

Why Dog hates the Hawk, Eagle and Rat African Folklore Story

One day a Dog, Hawk, Eagle, and Rat planned to take a trip together, but before starting they promised not to abandon and fight each other in any matter that comes up during the journey.

They had not gone very far when Eagle saw a bunch of unripe palm-nuts, and said "When these palm-nuts are ripe, and I have eaten them, then we will proceed on our way."

They waited many days until the palm-nuts ripened and were eaten by the Eagle, then they started again.

A little while later, the Hawk caught sight of a large land covered with tall grass, canes, and stunted trees, and said "When this land is burnt, and I have eaten the locusts, then we will go."

So they waited while the land was burnt, and Hawk ate her locusts from the burning grass, they were ready to start again.

But when Rat saw the land was burnt, she said "We remain here until the grass and canes have grown again, so that I may eat the young canes, for remember we agreed not to oppose or fight each other on this journey."

They waited there for six months until the canes grew again, and Rat had eaten the young stalks.

Once more they started on their travels, and on reaching a large forest Dog said "Now I will dry my nose."

Her companions answered "All right, while your nose dries we will look for firewood."

The Rat and Hawk collected the firewood, and the Eagle lit a huge fire.

The Dog put her nose near the fire, but every time it dried she made it wet again by licking it. They remained in the forest for a long time, but the Dog's nose never became dry.

Her friends became annoyed, and Hawk and Eagle flew away, leaving the Rat and the Dog alone.

At last the patience of the Rat was exhausted, and she, too, ran away but the Dog chased her to kill her out of anger, and this is the reason why Dog hates Eagle, Hawk and Rat.

They broke their promise not to abandon and fight each other in any matter that comes up during the journey, however they would not wait until the Dog's nose was dry.

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