Leuk the Hare and Bouki the Hyena
Told by Veillées wolof
In the savannah of Senegal, everyone knows Leuk the hare, the cleverest of animals, and Bouki the hyena, as greedy as he is naive. The two called themselves friends, but Bouki always sought to take advantage of Leuk.
In a year of famine, Leuk found a field of groundnuts and invited Bouki to feast — on condition he eat only what was ripe. But Bouki, unable to restrain himself, devoured everything and even tore up the young plants, so much so that the furious farmer set a trap. Leuk, cautious, had stopped in time; Bouki, his belly too full, got stuck and took the beating.
Ever since, they say in Senegal that Bouki always pays for his greed, while Leuk escapes through his wits. And when a child is too greedy or too hasty, the elders smile: 'Careful not to end up like Bouki!'
The tale's moral
« Cunning and moderation prevail over strength and greed. »
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