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Ouedraogo, Sauodogo and the Chobbal

Two Mossi merchants were travelling to Ouagadougou together, a journey of two days through the semi-desert. Their names were Ouedraogo and Sauodogo. Ouedraogo had brought provisions for the journey, Sauodogo had not.

By the afternoon of the first day the merchants were hungry. Seeing a well not far off, Ouedraogo decided to stop and eat. He sat down on the ground and took off his turban. Sauodogo did likewise. Ouedraogo opened his bag and took out four balls of chobbal. (Chobbal is a mixture of cooked millet and herbs. You mix it with water or milk and eat it like porridge).

When he saw the chobbal, Sauodogo's eyes lit up and he licked his lips.
'You aren't going to eat that all by yourself, are you?' he said.
Ouedraogo certainly was going to eat it all by himself. But he said nothing.

'Shall I go and draw the water?' said Sauodogo.
Clever, thought Ouedraogo. If he draws the water he will claim that part of the chobbal is his by right.
'No,' he said. 'I will draw the water. Stay here and do not touch the chobbal until I get back.'

Ouedraogo started off towards the well, but his mind was not at peace. He did not trust Sauodogo one little bit. He turned round and walked backwards so that he could keep an eye on Sauodogo and the chobbal. Yes, he was right to take precautions; he could tell by the look in Sauodogo's eyes that he wanted to eat that chobbal, even without water if necessary. He should have brought the chobbal with him, he thought. Were all four balls of chobbal still there? He could only see three. Perhaps one was behind the others out of sight…

Unfortunately, Ouedraogo was concentrating so hard on the chobbal that he did not realize he had arrived at the well. He walked backwards right into the open hole.

'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh –'

Sauodogo saw Ouedraogo fall into the well.
'Zorki,' he said.

He should go and help Ouedraogo, he thought.

Or perhaps he should eat the chobbal first.

Sauodogo ate the chobbal without water. It made his mouth dry but it tasted wonderful. He ate one ball, then another. He should save the other two for Ouedraogo.

Or perhaps he should eat them himself. After all, he would need all his strength to pull Ouedraogo out of the well.

Sauodogo ate all the chobbal, then sat back and sighed. It was then that he saw the fly.

A crumb of chobbal had fallen onto Sauodogo's chest and on top of it was sitting a little fly. Sauodogo was incensed. How dare he eat my chobbal, he thought. What an impertinent fly. What a wicked, greedy fly.

Instinctively, Sauodogo drew his knife and struck viciously at the fly, which flew off into the air. The blade of Sauodogo's knife went through the chobbal, through his robes and into his heart.
'Zorki,' he said, and died.

That is the end of the story. Now here are two questions for you:

Who do you think was more selfish – Ouedraogo or Sauodogo?

And who do you think was more stupid?

Three Truths

Another poem based on a Fulani folk story. Hey, I'm on a roll...

Three Truths

A hyena wandering in the bush
Did catch a young goat by its toe.
“Salaam Aleykum, Goat,” laughed he,
“Give me three truths and I'll let you go.”

“Aleykum athalaam,” said Goat
“I think I've got the firth thing:
If you were truly ravenouth
We wouldn't be converthing.”

“Extremely good,” Hyena laughed,
“I like your ready caprine wit,
But if you do not add two truths
You'll watch the sunset from a spit.”

“When you get home tonight,” said Goat
“And tell your kin the thtory,
They won't believe you met me here
Unleth the endingth gory.”

Hyena clapped his horny hands,
“Al Hamdilillalay,” he cried.
“Now just one truth to go, my friend,
You might still save your smelly hide.”

“Give me a thecond,” said the goat.
I know I'm going to get it -
Ah, yeth! - if you releath me now,
You'll thertainly regret it.”

“I won't deny,” Hyena laughed,
“I want to roast you to a crisp.
But you have spoken truth – go forth,
And madden others with your lisp.”

Lippety-clippety, off Goat ran,
But at dusk the smell still lingered,
Hyena moaned, “How could I let
Hors d'oevre slip through my fingers?”

And so, enraged by hunger pangs,
Hyena went in hot pursuit.
But Goat, he knew the desert well,
And chose a labyrinthine route.

“At Tinnakof Hyena fell,
He'd had a three-day run,
And to thith day his boneth are there,
A-laughing in the thun.”

Donkey Lore

Did you know: You will never see a donkey give birth, even if you herd donkeys for a living.

The Fulani of West Africa tell a story to support this claim. I put it into verse:

The Seeker

A seeker in an ancient desert land,
Determined to discover and lay bare
All nature's secrets, met a holy man
Renowned for wisdom, said, "Please tell me where
Your knowledge ends; I aim to understand
What lies beyond your dim myopic stare."
The hermit's bony shoulders shook with mirth;
He said, "I've never seen an ass give birth."

The seeker scoffed, continued on his way
And found a pregnant ass on which to prove
Man's greatness; he resolved that come what may
He'd follow her: “Forgive me, donkey, you've
Got company. I'll track you night and day
Until the birth; I'll match your every move."
The ass led northward, placid and resigned.
The seeker trotted earnestly behind.

He followed past exotic trees whose rare
Delicious fruits hung low along the track,
Ignored the smooth dark skin and shining hair
Of maidens beckoning from bivouacs.
He met a wild-eyed boy who wailed, "Beware
The dancing demons of the north - turn back!"
Yet neither fear nor lust nor greed could wrest
The seeker from his donkey-trekking quest.

Three days the donkey wandered, then at last
Lay panting on a dune; with deep delight
The seeker watched the beast, till sudden blast
Of wind and stinging sand obscured his sight
And made him cringe and stagger - when it passed
A scrawny foal lay blinking in the light.
Marvel at nature's intricate design,
Be humble, lest your hunt be asinine.

Blog Launch

I have a blog. I am happy about this, for now.

There is not much content, yet - just a poem about a man following a pregnant donkey through the desert. I promise to add more.

If you can´t wait, look at this.