The Tortoise and the King’s Feast

 


The Tortoise and the King’s Feast

Once upon a time, in a lush village in Nigeria, there lived a tortoise named Mbeku. He was known far and wide for being clever, but he was also notorious for his trickery and selfishness. While his wit often got him out of trouble, it also made him many enemies.

One day, the king of the land announced a grand feast to celebrate the harvest. All the animals were invited to attend the feast, and the king promised that there would be enough delicious food for everyone. But there was one rule: everyone had to contribute something to the feast.

Mbeku, always looking for a way to gain without giving, began plotting. “Why should I share my food when I can enjoy the feast for free?” he thought.

The Tortoise’s Plan

On the day of the feast, Mbeku pretended to be very concerned. He approached the other animals and said, “My friends, I’m worried about one thing. The king’s feast will be attended by animals from all over the land. How will the king know who we are and ensure we get our fair share of the food?”

The other animals agreed this was a good question. Mbeku smiled slyly and said, “I have an idea! Let us each choose a special name to present ourselves to the king. That way, he’ll know exactly who we are.”

The animals thought this was a wonderful suggestion, and they eagerly began choosing names for themselves. Mbeku, however, chose the name ‘All of You.’

When the other animals asked why he chose such a strange name, he replied, “It’s unique and will surely make me stand out.” The animals shrugged and continued their preparations for the feast.

The Feast Begins

When the day of the feast arrived, the animals gathered at the palace. The king welcomed them warmly and instructed his servants to bring out the food. There were yams, plantains, jollof rice, stews, and all kinds of tasty delicacies.

The king then announced, “The food is ready, but it will only be served to the one whose name is called!”

Mbeku’s clever trick was about to unfold.

The servants began calling the animals by their chosen names. “Lion!” they called, and the lion stepped forward to collect his portion. “Elephant!” they called, and the elephant received his share. This went on for a while, and each animal enjoyed their meal.

Finally, the king’s servants called out, “All of You!”

Hearing his name, Mbeku stepped forward with a smug grin. “That’s me!” he declared.

The servants, bound by the king’s instructions, handed over all the remaining food to Mbeku, as his name sounded like it applied to everyone. The other animals watched in shock and anger as Mbeku dragged the food away and began eating greedily, leaving nothing for the others.

The Animals Teach Mbeku a Lesson

The animals were furious but decided to teach Mbeku a lesson. While he was busy gorging himself, they quietly gathered leaves, sticks, and mud. They created a huge fake mound that looked like food and set it near Mbeku’s home. Then they called out, “Mbeku! There’s even more food left over from the feast!”

Greedy and excited, Mbeku ran toward the pile. Without looking closely, he jumped straight into the mound, expecting a delicious meal. Instead, he landed in the sticky mud and got covered in leaves and dirt. The animals laughed as Mbeku struggled to free himself.

Embarrassed and humiliated, Mbeku realized his greed and trickery had gone too far. From that day on, he was more careful about his schemes and learned to share with others—at least for a little while!

Moral of the Story:

This Nigerian fairy tale teaches that greed and selfishness can lead to one’s downfall, and it is better to be honest and considerate toward others. It also highlights the power of community and cleverness in dealing with deceit.

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