The Clever Crow and the Boastful Leopard

The Clever Crow and the Boastful Leopard

In the heart of the great Savannah, there lived a leopard named Kunto, whose fur gleamed like golden fire and whose pride roared louder than any lion. Kunto believed he was the smartest, fastest, and most powerful animal in the whole forest.

“I don’t take advice,” he would say. “I give it!”

But not far from Kunto’s tree slept a black-feathered crow named Nyame, old and quiet, but wise. While Kunto bragged, Nyame watched.

One dry season, food became scarce. The rivers dried. The trees bore no fruit. The animals were hungry—but Kunto was furious.

“What use is being the strongest,” he growled, “if there’s nothing left to eat?”

So he came up with a plan.

“I will challenge the other animals,” Kunto roared at the forest square. “Whoever can find more food than me by sunset will rule the waterhole!”

The animals murmured. No one dared face Kunto.

Except Nyame.

“I accept,” the crow said, hopping down from a baobab tree.

The animals gasped. “A bird versus the leopard?”

Kunto laughed. “I eat birds for breakfast.”

Nyame smiled. “Then you’ll enjoy losing to one.”

⸻

The Challenge Begins

By midday, Kunto had already hunted a squirrel, two rabbits, and was eyeing a porcupine.

“Too easy,” he said, licking his lips.

But Nyame didn’t hunt.

Instead, he flew over the villages at the edge of the forest. He spotted a woman pounding yam and a boy roasting corn. With a loud caw, he landed nearby and began dancing—flapping his wings and hopping in circles.

The boy laughed. “Mama, the crow is dancing!”

The woman chuckled and threw him some crumbs.

Nyame danced more.

He cawed. He bowed. He spun in the dust.

The villagers clapped and gave him roasted corn, pieces of yam, palm nuts, and even bits of dried fish.

By sunset, Kunto returned to the waterhole with three animals and a torn ear from fighting a badger.

But Nyame? He returned with a gourd full of cooked food, spices, and even a fresh coconut.

The animals stared.

Kunto growled. “That’s cheating!”

Nyame raised a wing. “You said find food—not how.”

⸻

The Forest Learns a Lesson

The elders declared Nyame the winner. The animals cheered. Even the monkeys sang a song about “The dancing crow who beat the leopard.”

And Kunto? He sulked under his tree for days.

But from that day, he listened more. Talked less. And when he saw Nyame, he nodded respectfully.

Because in the forest, everyone now knew:

Wisdom will always fly higher than pride.

⸻

Moral of the Story:
Never underestimate the quiet ones. Strength may open the hunt, but wisdom wins the feast.

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