The Hyena and the Jackal's Wedding

The Hyena was invited to the wedding of the Jackal's daughter. He was determined to be the most impressive guest. He spent a week practicing a dance and a praise-song. When he arrived, he saw that the Jackal had prepared only a small meal of millet and fish. The Hyena was disgusted. During the celebration, he began to sing his praise-song, but he changed the words. Instead of praising the bride, he sang about the pathetic feast and the poverty of her father. The other guests were shocked and insulted. The Jackal's family, deeply shamed, drove the Hyena away from the wedding. Later that night, the Jackal, who was a clever trickster, led the entire wedding party to the Hyena's den. They stole all of the Hyena's own stored food, leaving him with nothing. The story teaches a key lesson in Songhai and Sahelian culture: it is a terrible crime to insult the hospitality of your host, no matter how humble the offering. A guest who brings shame upon his host will receive a much greater shame in return.