The lion king and his daughter
Audio 09:06
The lion king and his daughter © FMM
15 mins
Do you know why the hare always has erect ears?
so prick up your ears, and listen to my story.
Publicity
Once upon a time there was a Lion, King of the forest, and his daughter Nana.
They lived in good friendship with all the other animals.
Nana, the daughter of the Lion King was beautiful, very beautiful, very attractive yes, of a special beauty: a real Princess.
She was so beautiful that everyone who saw her for the first time rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren't dreaming.
One day, Nana the beautiful, felt the need to get married.
So she went to her father to tell him about her decision.
The King was surprised: “Really?
Are you sure ?
"
But since he could not refuse his daughter anything, he began to think about how to choose a husband for her.
He sent his spokesperson to invite all the animals of the forest to a great gathering that would take place in seven days.
Nana, the beautiful, the seductive, the lovely knew that the lucky one would be chosen from the assembly, but she still did not know how.
During this time in the forest, all the animals with hair, feathers, scales wondered: what could be the cause of this great meeting, so urgent for the King?
But their questions remained unanswered.
The big day has arrived!
All the animals were gathered in the large village square and were impatiently waiting for the King to speak.
This majestically stood up and said:
“If I have brought you together here, it is to give you some very good news.
I will give my daughter in marriage to the most cunning, bravest animal in the race organized this day.
"
The animals call out to each other, in the hubbub we hear:
- "What, a race?
no, but it is not possible!
"(...)" Hey, I'm not running "(...)" I want to run alone "(...)" But what have you come here to do?
»(…) Hey but you want to stay single, you?
"
The King added:
"Whoever loses this race, I will have him killed, prepared and eaten."
"
At these words, all the animals fled, with the exception of the hare and the tortoise who agreed to confront each other.
To these courageous competitors, the King announced that the winner would receive the hand of his daughter, the beautiful and lovely Nana.
Convinced that the victory was won for him, the hare organized a big party to which he invited all the other animals.
They ate, drank, danced, oh yes it was the biggest party we had at that time in the forest!
The turtle :
“Nana, will become my wife tomorrow.
I will be the happiest animal and husband on earth, ”he repeated to whoever wanted to hear him until the drunken guests went to bed.
For its part, the turtle was worried: how was it going to do to win this test?
Knowing that she wasn't fast, especially compared to the hare.
She began to think with her friend the monkey: they worked out a plan.
Knowing that the hare was an incorrigible foodie, the monkey helped the turtle to arrange thirty carrots throughout the race track.
The next morning, competition day, the tortoise and the hare showed up.
At the start, the hare started to run at a brisk pace and left the turtle behind.
It moved at its own pace.
Arrived at the point where the first carrot was, the hare stopped dead.
Considering his lead, he might well give himself a little break before continuing.
While he was munching, the turtle caught up with him.
Surprised, the hare resumed its course to overtake its competitor, before stopping again at the next carrot.
Singing:
“The hare runs, stops.
The turtle catches up with him and he sets off again.
The hare runs, stops.
The turtle catches up with him and he sets off again.
"
This scene was repeated until the seventeenth carrot when, satiated, the hare fell asleep.
Slowly, the Turtle came up to him, passed him, and while the hare still slumbered, the Turtle crossed the finish line to the applause and cries of joy from all the other animals.
Euphoric, the animals sing and comment:
“Congratulations, dear Turtle, I really liked the way you would run!
"
"And you did not let yourself go (...) you took one assured step after another"
"Long live the Turtle!"
"
“Well done, really well done!
"
“Long live the newlyweds!
"
The King and his daughter Nana, amazed that the turtle had won this race against a competitor so blessed by nature, asked the animals present to wake up the hare.
Three of them took him by the ears to lift him.
The hare was so surprised and ashamed of his defeat that his ears did not come back down.
That is why, since that day, they have remained erect on his head.
The hare scampered out of the village, the tips of his ears were seen to disappear into the undergrowth, and he never came back.
The King gave his daughter Nana in marriage to the Turtle.
Both spouses lived happily and had three children.
It is said that the one who has not yet crossed the shore should never laugh at the one who is drowning. Like what, you should never take victory for granted, and underestimate your opponent.
Credits:
The lion king and his daughter
Performed by Rebecca Kompaoré with the voices of Charles Kouhoury, Reine Leticia Azi, Vincent Kouamé, Jean-Marc Kouasi Kouadio.
Music: Jean Sempé Ake Olloé.
Storytelling research and adaptations: Flore Kra, Valérie Gobey, Eugène Konan and Elvis Tanoh.
Associate production company: Sonia Arruda Touré, Romain Masson
Production assistant: Romain Chmiela, Eugène Konan,
Assistant director: Elvis Tanoh.
Director: Laure Egoroff and Tidiane Thiang.
Thanks to Thomas Weill, Yanick Zagba, Sony Music Africa, Stéphane Dogbo, and the RFI teams.
With the support of the "Accès Culture" program of the French Development Agency and the French Institute.
A
Making Waves
and
Books For All production - Côte d'Ivoire
.
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