Bukki and the Fish

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

Bukki and the Fish

One year the rains did not arrive, the vegetation was poor, and the epidemics spared neither man nor animal. There was famine everywhere and no one could find enough to eat.

Bukki the Hyena became very thin and sickly and began to spend all of his time wandering in the savannah. This became increasingly difficult and eventually Bukki abandoned his territory to move towards the coast. He walked for many days and nights towards the setting sun.

One afternoon, after passing a thicket of trees, he found himself suddenly face to face with the sea. A group of fish, left by the waves, covered the beach. Bukki then heard a mysterious voice, which whispered,

“Bukki, take three fish for dinner to help you restore your strength.” At first, Bukki thought he was dreaming but he eventually realized that it was real. Bukki began to ask himself various questions at which point the voice interrupted and said,

“Bukki, hurry up before it is too late. Take only your dinner and leave the rest for next time.”
He did not want to listen and climbed up a tree to cut leaves in order to make a basket and take the most fish possible. Suddenly, just as he was cutting the last leaves, he heard a loud noise and saw a giant wave, big as a mountain, coming towards the beach. As it retreated, the wave took the fish with it so that Bukki saw nothing but sand.

Bukki jumped down from the top of the tree and landed heavily. Raising himself, he looked all around but did not see a single fish. The wave had taken them all away. He tried to speak to the mysterious voice but a deathly silence fell over the beach.

Suddenly, a second voice began to echo through the sky, reminding him of an ancient proverb:


“In trying to take too much, you risk losing everything”