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A lion watching people dancing around a fire.

Lion’s fire sticks Lion's fire sticks

Written by Traditional San story

Illustrated by Manyeka Arts Trust

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 4

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


A lion, a fire, and fire sticks.

This story starts in the old times when animals and people lived together. In those days people did not have the right to fire. They ate their food raw. Only Lion had the power of fire.

This story starts in the old times when animals and people lived together. In those days people did not have the right to fire. They ate their food raw. Only Lion had the power of fire.


People and animals standing together.

The people and the animals came together to make a plan. “What can we do to get the fire from Lion so that we can cook our food?” they asked. They decided to wait until evening and started singing and singing, clapping and clapping, calling everyone together. “Come dance with us. Come dance with us. Come dance with us.”

The people and the animals came together to make a plan. “What can we do to get the fire from Lion so that we can cook our food?” they asked. They decided to wait until evening and started singing and singing, clapping and clapping, calling everyone together. “Come dance with us. Come dance with us. Come dance with us.”


People and animals dancing around a fire.

Many animals came from the bush to join in the dancing and singing. Lion brought his fire sticks. He rubbed the sticks, rubbed and rubbed. Soon a little smoke appeared beneath the sticks. Lion blew on the smoke and added some dry grass. A little flame appeared and everyone brought a piece of wood. Soon everyone was dancing around a fire.

Many animals came from the bush to join in the dancing and singing. Lion brought his fire sticks. He rubbed the sticks, rubbed and rubbed. Soon a little smoke appeared beneath the sticks. Lion blew on the smoke and added some dry grass. A little flame appeared and everyone brought a piece of wood. Soon everyone was dancing around a fire.


A rabbit walking with fire sticks on its back.

Rabbit was a cunning and fast animal. The people said to him, “While we are singing here and while Lion is dancing with us, you must take his fire sticks and run.” So Rabbit grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran. He did not make it because Lion caught up with him and brought the fire sticks back.

Rabbit was a cunning and fast animal. The people said to him, “While we are singing here and while Lion is dancing with us, you must take his fire sticks and run.” So Rabbit grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran. He did not make it because Lion caught up with him and brought the fire sticks back.


A lion with fire sticks.

The lion sang a boastful song: “To me it does not matter. I don’t have a problem. I can eat you with hair, I can eat you without hair. I don’t have a problem. All of you are food to me.”

The lion sang a boastful song: “To me it does not matter. I don’t have a problem. I can eat you with hair, I can eat you without hair. I don’t have a problem. All of you are food to me.”


People dancing around a fire and a springbok looking at them.

Springbok could run and jump very fast. The people said to him, “While Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run.”

Springbok could run and jump very fast. The people said to him, “While Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run.”


A springbok walking with fire sticks on its back.

When they were dancing and singing, Springbok grabbed the fire sticks and jumped away into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear the clippety-clop clippety-clop of Springbok’s hooves behind me?”

When they were dancing and singing, Springbok grabbed the fire sticks and jumped away into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear the clippety-clop clippety-clop of Springbok’s hooves behind me?”


A springbok walking away from a lion with fire sticks.

Lion turned and saw Springbok running into the veld with his fire sticks. So he ran after Springbok, caught him and came back with his fire sticks. Again, Lion sang his boastful song.

Lion turned and saw Springbok running into the veld with his fire sticks. So he ran after Springbok, caught him and came back with his fire sticks. Again, Lion sang his boastful song.


People dancing around a fire and a duiker looking at them.

Then the people whispered to each other. They said, “Let us ask Duiker. He is small and very fast.” “Duiker,” they said, “while Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run away.”

Then the people whispered to each other. They said, “Let us ask Duiker. He is small and very fast.” “Duiker,” they said, “while Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run away.”


A duiker walking with fire sticks on its back.

When they were dancing around the fire, Duiker grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear Duiker snort-snorting behind me as before?” He turned around and chased after little Duiker who was leaping into the veld. Lion caught up with him and returned to the fire with his sticks.

When they were dancing around the fire, Duiker grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear Duiker snort-snorting behind me as before?” He turned around and chased after little Duiker who was leaping into the veld. Lion caught up with him and returned to the fire with his sticks.


A lion with fire sticks.

Again, Lion sang his boastful song. “To me it does not matter. I don’t have a problem. I can eat you with hair, I can eat you without hair. I don’t have a problem. All of you are food to me.”

Again, Lion sang his boastful song. “To me it does not matter. I don’t have a problem. I can eat you with hair, I can eat you without hair. I don’t have a problem. All of you are food to me.”


An ostrich.

“Oh,” sighed the people, “Which animal can help us now? Ostrich has the longest legs of all, let us ask him.” They explained the plan to Ostrich and he grabbed Lion’s fire sticks this time.

“Oh,” sighed the people, “Which animal can help us now? Ostrich has the longest legs of all, let us ask him.” They explained the plan to Ostrich and he grabbed Lion’s fire sticks this time.


A lion and an ostrich with fire sticks on its back.

Lion said, “Why do I not hear Ostrich’s high singing voice behind me anymore?” He looked around, saw Ostrich and chased after him.

Lion said, “Why do I not hear Ostrich’s high singing voice behind me anymore?” He looked around, saw Ostrich and chased after him.


A person holding fire sticks surrounded by animals, and a lion looking at them.

After a long time, Lion returned with a tired face, for Ostrich ran too fast for him. “From this day on,” he said, “I will not leave any of you alone. I will hunt you and chase you and eat you!” And this is how Lion came to be everyone’s enemy and how people got the power of fire.

After a long time, Lion returned with a tired face, for Ostrich ran too fast for him. “From this day on,” he said, “I will not leave any of you alone. I will hunt you and chase you and eat you!” And this is how Lion came to be everyone’s enemy and how people got the power of fire.


Written by: Traditional San story
Illustrated by: Manyeka Arts Trust
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 4
Source: Lion's fire sticks from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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