The Hare and the Lion (or Leopard)
Zulu folktale · izinganekwane
Kwesukasukela. The Hare, uNogwaja, was the most cunning of the small animals, forever matching his wits against the strong. One season a great beast, in some tellings a lion, in others a leopard, terrorised the animals of the veld, demanding that one of them be given to him each day to eat, lest he hunt and kill them all at his pleasure.
When at last the lot fell upon the Hare, he did not despair. He went slowly to the beast and arrived late, and when the angry lion demanded why he had kept him waiting, the Hare said that another great beast on the way had stopped him and claimed to be the true king of that country. The lion roared that there could be no other king and demanded to be shown this rival at once.
The Hare led him to a deep, still pool of water and told him to look in. The lion peered down and saw his own reflection glaring back, a great beast baring its teeth. Enraged, certain it was the rival king, he sprang upon it, plunging into the water, and so drowned. The Hare went home and told the other animals that the tyrant was no more, and they lived in peace, marvelling that so small a creature had freed them all. Cosu cosu, iyaphela.
The lesson: Brains overcome brawn; a tyrant's own anger and pride can be turned into the instrument of his downfall.