Folktale: The Chameleon and the Lizard
Story time: this is our retelling of a Zulu people of South Africa folktale, told in many versions across generations. Read it aloud with the children in your life.
Long, long ago, when the world was new, Unkulunkulu, the first ancestor and creator in Zulu stories, looked at the people he had made and wanted to give them a message. He called Chameleon to him.
“Go to the people,” he said, “and tell them this: you shall live forever.” Chameleon nodded slowly, rolled one eye forward and the other back, and set off.
But Chameleon was in no hurry. He stepped carefully, one slow foot after another. When he came to a bush full of sweet berries, he stopped to eat. When he found a warm rock, he stopped to rest. When the wind blew, he swayed with the leaves and forgot where he was going.
Time passed, and Unkulunkulu changed his mind. He called Lizard, who was quick and sharp. “Go to the people,” he said, “and tell them this: you shall not live forever. Every life will have an end.”
Lizard ran. He ran over rocks, across rivers and through the long grass, and he passed Chameleon still munching berries by the path. Lizard reached the people first and gave them his message. They listened, and they accepted it.
When Chameleon finally arrived, he cleared his throat and said, “You shall live forever.” But the people shook their heads. “We have already received a message,” they said. “The first word is the one we keep.” And so it has been ever since. That is why, the story says, every life has an end, and why some people still shoo chameleons away when they see them on the road.
The lesson
Some things cannot wait. When you are trusted with something important, do it well and do it on time. Being late can change everything.
Talk about it
- Why did Chameleon arrive too late?
- Why do you think the people kept the first message?
- What is something important you should never put off?
Over to you: Did you hear a different version of this story growing up? Tell us in the comments or share your story.
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