Story Summary
In the classic Swahili tale The Monkey's Heart, a clever monkey uses his wits to escape a treacherous shark who intends to steal his heart for a king's cure.
A monkey lived in a magnificent mkuyu tree by the shores of the Indian Ocean, sharing its sweet fruit with a shark who visited daily. They became the best of friends, until one day the shark invited the monkey to visit his underwater kingdom, promising a feast. The monkey hopped onto the shark's back, and they set off across the deep blue waves. Halfway there, the shark turned solemn and confessed: the Sultan of the sharks was gravely ill, and the only cure was the heart of a monkey. Though his blood ran cold, the monkey remained calm. 'My dear friend,' he replied, 'why did you not say so sooner? We monkeys do not carry our hearts within us; we leave them hanging in the branches of our trees for safekeeping while we travel.' The shark, believing the tale, turned around and swam back to the shore. As soon as they reached the beach, the monkey scrambled to the highest branch of his tree and laughed. 'Do you take me for a fool? A creature cannot live without its heart, and I shall never trust a friend who seeks to destroy me.'
The Moral
Presence of mind and quick wit can save one from even the most treacherous traps.
“Do you take me for a fool? We monkeys do not leave our hearts in trees.”
Fun Fact
In the Swahili version of this tale, the shark is used instead of a crocodile because the story originated among coastal people for whom the ocean was a primary part of their world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Monkey's Heart?
The moral is that intelligence and quick thinking are more powerful than physical strength or betrayal. It teaches us to stay calm under pressure and to be wary of those who would profit from our misfortune.
Is The Monkey's Heart a Swahili story?
Yes, it is a famous Swahili fable known as 'Kisa cha Nyani na Papa.' While it shares themes with stories from the Indian Panchatantra, it has been a staple of East African oral tradition for centuries.
How does the monkey outsmart the shark?
The monkey convinces the shark that he left his heart hanging in the branches of a tree on land. This trick plays on the shark's gullibility, allowing the monkey to safely return to the shore.
Why did the shark want the monkey's heart?
In the story, the shark tells the monkey that his Sultan is deathly ill. According to the shark, a monkey's heart is the only medicine capable of curing the ruler's ailment.
What is the cultural significance of this tale?
This story reflects the coastal culture of East Africa, where the ocean and its creatures are central to life. It emphasizes the Swahili values of cleverness (werevu) and the importance of recognizing true friendship.
Does the monkey's heart story appear in other cultures?
Yes, variations of this story appear in Buddhist Jataka tales and the Indian Panchatantra, where the shark is often replaced by a crocodile and the fruit tree is a mango tree.
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