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Hello, this is Jana, and welcome to Storynory. I’m back with another Hausa story from Northern Nigeria. Our friend Umar is on the line from Kano, Nigeria.
"Hi Umar, lovely to have you here.
What story have you picked for us this time?"
"Ok, so let’s start the story, and Umar, please stay around to play the part of Gizo the Spider and the bull."
There was once an old woman who went to the forest daily to look for firewood. One day, she heard a deep groan when she was gathering fallen branches. It sounded like a large animal. At first, she was frightened, but then, when it groaned again, she thought:
"That animal, whatever it is, is in pain." As she had a kind heart towards all living things, she ventured towards the sound. Eventually, she found a large bull who was very sick.
"Don’t you worry," she said, stroking his head. "I will take care of you. I know all sorts of cures for every disease."
Somehow the sick bull understood. He summoned up all his remaining strength and staggered to his feet. Then he followed the old woman towards her home.
On their way, they crossed paths with the bull's former owner.
"Hey, old woman! Where are you taking my bull?" the man called out, with a mix of surprise and annoyance.
The old woman pulled herself up, her ancient back as straight as a sword, and she spoke with a tongue that was just as sharp: "Now listen here, your bull was abandoned and full of suffering."
"You are right," admitted the man. "He is very sick, and he smells rotten. We can’t stand his stench anymore, so we drove him out into the woods to end his days."
When he said this, the old woman’s eyes blazed, she wagged her finger and declared, "It is wrong to abandon a living creature who has served you well, even if he is dying. I’m going to take him home and look after him myself."
The man scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're wasting your time, old woman! He'll never recover."
The old woman continued, leading the bull towards her home. The villagers whispered praises and words of support as she passed by.
When she reached home, she cleaned the bull, gave him water and medicine, and placed him on a comfortable bed of straw. His strength grew daily, and his once-dull coat became radiant. The villagers marvelled at the old woman's good fortune.
Word spread quickly to the bull's previous owner. He came to the old woman’s house and demanded the return of his valuable animal. But the old woman stood her ground, telling him firmly:
"In days of despair and sickness deep,
This bull you abandoned, left to weep.
I nurtured him with love and care,
His strength restored, a majestic affair.
With me, he’ll stay, no more to roam.
No longer yours, he's found a new home."
The villagers cheered for the old woman.