How a Mother Fooled a Hyena

A Runyoro-Rutooro Folktale

~ By Isaac Kalembe Akiuki

You might be aware of the Runyoro-Rutooro proverb:

“Akagambo karungi kakaraaza empisi ha rugo.”

(A good promise is very tempting.)

However, few people know the story behind it.

One night, a hungry hyena was prowling through the darkness, hunting for food.

As it passed by a home, it heard a baby crying loudly inside.

Inside the house, a tired mother struggled to soothe her child. The more she pleaded and comforted the baby, the louder the stubborn child cried.

Confused and frustrated, the mother finally resorted to a desperate threat:

“Culeera, empisi etakulya!”

(If you don’t stop crying, I will throw you outside to a hyena!)

Outside, the prowling hyena heard the mother’s words clearly.

Without a doubt, it believed she meant exactly what she said.

“What a golden chance!” the hyena thought gleefully, as it positioned itself nearby, waiting to pounce on the child.

The hyena tried to remain perfectly still so as not to be noticed. But there was a problem — it could not keep its eyes open forever. Its natural blinking made stealth difficult So it devised a strategy. From time to time, it would quietly move a short distance away, blink rapidly, then return silently to its waiting position.

Minutes turned into hours.

Still, nothing happened.

The baby was never thrown outside.

By the time dawn arrived, the hyena realized something important: The mother had never meant her words.

It had been fooled.

Hungry, tired, and frustrated, the hyena gave up. In anger, it stopped trying to hide and began blinking loudly.

It was then that the people inside the house realized they had unknowingly had a dangerous visitor all night.

The Lesson : This is not just a story about a disappointed Hyena.

This story explains the meaning of the proverb:

“Akagambo karungi kakaraaza empisi ha rugo.

A tempting promise can easily deceive.

But not every promise is empty.

Some promises bring people together, celebrate identity, and strengthen community.

If you’re looking for something real, meaningful, and exciting, the Empaako Celebration in New York is one such promise — a vibrant gathering of the Bunyoro Kitara North American community, honoring culture, heritage, and unity.

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