The Story of Fox and the Lion King

Once upon a time, a fox came to the Lion King with an intention of borrowing from him. The fox wanted to barter his balanites (اللالوب) for dry meat. He was given dry meat and promised to pay lion some Balanites in equivalent. Unfortunately, the fox defaulted.

Repeatedly, the lion kept coming to see the fox to pay him. Most of the time he comes to visit fox’s den, and he was not at home. The lion was angered and stared calling Fox names. The message was taken to the fox, and the fox was seriously alarmed.

Anticipating the worst that he could be attacked with his children, the fox decided to move his family to the tree’s trunk. The fox spent most time at home to avoid running into the risk. The fox device a way to be lifted up by his wife when he come back from his daily routine search for food. The lion was puzzled to ascertain how the fox managed to climb onto the tree. The lion kept coming to the fox’s residence (now on a tree trunk), but he stays underneath with no idea how to get to the top of the tree.

One sunny morning, the lion came and hide under the fox tree to find how does fox climb. Suddenly the lion saw the fox rushing to climb up. He called his wife; Maan-Kudhojo cuat wien piny, literally Dinka for my wife Maan-Kudhojo throw the rope down”. The rope was thrown down and the fox was lifted up by his wife. The lion left satisfactorily and planned to imitate these words tomorrow.

In the following day, the lion came and said “Maan Kudhujo cuat wien piny” and the rope was thrown down. The lion was lifted up before fox return. When the fox came and said the same thing, the rope was thrown down and the fox was lifted. On seeing the lion, he advised his wife to return him down, so that he could climb with the right foot. The lion said no —- all the foots are yours. Now, thing are not good with fox.

However, given Fox always tricking nature, he welcomed the lion to his residence, then gave him a small sip of honey. The lion was excited and his moot changes. Where do you get this, he (lion) asked? Fox replied, I will send youngest son to bring more. Then he sends his younger son, please go to the field of no-return and bring more honey”. The young child went and did not come. The fox lamented the boy not returning, he sent the other and all the children went in turn to no avail. He (Fox) then said to his wife, Maan Kudhujo, go and bring honey please, your children don’t always come out from the field of no return (panhom ce ben ban).

The fox’s wife went and never returned herself. Now alone with the lion, the fox said, “uncle look the children, and my wife will never come, as that field is difficult for anyone to leave”. The lion said, can we go together. The fox said no. I have the alternative. Just sit on the opposite side of the tree trunk and I will cut the part you are seated with axe to produce more honey. The lion agreed.

The fox started cutting, and when the lion feel he would fall, the fox assured him with few sips of honey. The cutting continued until the lion felt and broke its neck. The end of the story.

Moral of the story, fighting with brain is always better than physical fight. Also, the things obtained through deceit don’t last for long. You can deceive repeatedly until your end comes. The rest is left for the readership to ponder. All other interpretations at your own risk.

The writer is the former Press Secretary in the Office of the President and the story written above is a famous Dinka Folklores. The writer doesn’t own the interpretations as this should come at each interpreter’s own risk. He could be reached by email: atenypiokerwek