Diocese of Wakefield Education Department
Matengo Folktales recorded and translated by Joseph L. Mbele
Script by ‘Creative Arts Workshops… with Kirsty Johnson’
Hare and the Great
Drought
the script
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HHaarree aanndd tthhee GGrreeaatt DDrroouugghhtt
Contents
Pages 3 – 11
Pages 12 - 13
Page 14
Script
Footnotes
Prop and Scenery List
Notes
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SCENE 1
Narrator
Long, long ago in a certain land, there was a great drought and all
the animals of the land realised that they were in very serious
trouble.
Animal 1
There is hardly any clean water for us to drink.
Animal 2
If we run out of clean water then we won’t be able to survive.
Animal 3
What can we do?
Animal 4
Let’s have a meeting with all of the other animals and see if they
have any ideas.
Narrator
The animals called a meeting and (introduce each character as they
are said by the narrator: see footnote 1), amongst the animals,
there was Tortoise, Crab, Hyena and Crow. In fact, all of the
animals attended the meeting except Hare.
Animal 1
Is everyone here?
Animal 2
Hare is missing.
Animal 3
He never comes to anything – he is so lazy.
Animal 4
Never mind about Hare! How are we going to get more water?
Animal 1
Perhaps we could move to another land -
Animal 2
We could be walking for days and we don’t know if there is any
water away from here.
Animal 3
We can hope that it rains enough to fill the lakes and rivers with
fresh water for us.
Animal 1
But we have been doing that and it hasn’t rained yet.
Animal 4
What about a well?
Animal 3
What is a well?
Animal 4
A well is a hole that is dug deep into the ground to find water. It then
lets us bring water up to the surface.
Animal 2
That’s a fantastic idea!
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Animal 4
We will have to work together to dig the well because we will have
to dig very deep.
Narrator
The animals worked together to dig the well. Then, water came out
and filled the well (animals cheer: see footnote 2). This meant that
the animals could come back from grazing in the wilderness and
have a drink of water after a busy day. However, one day Tortoise
spotted a problem with the water.
Tortoise
The water is dirty! We can’t drink dirty water – we will get poorly!
Animal 1
I thought I saw Hare using the well earlier today.
Animal 2
Why should Hare be allowed water if he was too lazy to help us dig
the well?
Animal 3
It must be Hare who is making the water dirty.
Narrator
The animals decided that a guard was needed to protect the water
in the well and make sure that the water kept clean.
Tortoise
I will be happy to volunteer as a guard!
Narrator
Tortoise took up the position and began guarding the well. In the
middle of the night, Hare came to the well to drink some water. He
was carrying some elephant grass and a gourd. When he
approached the well, he started singing (see footnote 3):
Hare
(elephant grass prop needed in Hare’s hand alongside two gourds)
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
If I had the chance
Ku-ba
kwabatibatibaki,
I would have mixed him some
nga-bi
nabatibatibaki;
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
If I had the chance
Ku-ba
kwabatibatibaki,
I would have mixed him some
nga-bi
nabatibatibaki;
Tortoise
Hare! I have been asked by all of the other animals to guard this
well and stop you from using the water and making it dirty.
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Hare
(cunning/tricking Tortoise) I have heard the animals made you
guard… But I bet they haven’t brought you a present (gives the
elephant grass) I thought you would be hungry.
Tortoise
(Tortoise really likes the elephant grass) Hare! It’s really sweet!
Hare
Sit down and eat as much as you want: I will guard the well for you.
Narrator
(whilst Hare is getting water, Tortoise falls asleep) Once Tortoise
become distracted by the food, Hare began filling his two gourds
with water. He then got into the well and had a bath (see footnote
4)! Finally Hare finished his bath and left with his two gourds of
water, leaving Tortoise fast asleep. In the morning the animals
came to drink the water.
Animal 1
Tortoise! How come the water is so dirty?
Animal 2
Who polluted it?
Tortoise
(embarrassed, he tells a lie) I don’t know who did that. I was asleep!
Narrator
The animals drank the dirty water and hoped that they wouldn’t
become poorly.
Animal 3
We must have another guard.
Crab
I will guard the well!
Narrator
This time, Crab went into the well and stayed quiet so that Hare
wouldn’t know he was here. Much later, Hare came singing his
song:
Hare
(Hare needs to bring two gourds with him)
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
If I had the chance
Ku-ba
kwabatibatibaki,
I would have mixed him some
nga-bi
nabatibatibaki;
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
A mysterious thing – how sweet
Su-mpoumbi kunoga
If I had the chance
Ku-ba
kwabatibatibaki,
I would have mixed him some
nga-bi
nabatibatibaki;
(Spoken and overconfident) Well, today is dull – there is nobody
here to trick!
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Narrator
Hare went to the well and started to take the water. Crab stayed still
and quiet. Hare then got into the well and started to have another
bath! Then Crab caught his leg in his claw and kept a tight grip.
Hare
(pleading with Crab) PLEASE let me go!
Crab
I am not letting you go until all of the other animals are here!
Narrator
And with that Crab and Hare sat there all night. Morning came and
the animals visited the well. They found Crab holding onto a very fed
up Hare!
Animal 4
What are we going to do with Hare?
Animal 1
We could tell him that he isn’t allowed to live here anymore.
Animal 2
That hasn’t stopped Hare coming here in the past.
Animal 3
We could move and make a well somewhere else.
Animal 4
Why should we move when Hare is the one in the wrong?
Animal 1
We could eat him.
Animal 2, 3, 4
(surprised) What?
Animal 1
Well we are all very hungry and thirsty! And it is Hare’s fault that we
have to drink dirty water.
Hare
(Tricking the animals again) Isn’t it silly that you would eat a small
animal like me? I don’t think I am big enough to fill you all up.
Animal 2
He does seem a bit small to feed all of us!
Hare
(Still tricking the animals) I’ll tell you what to do. Tie me to a tree
overnight and I promise that when you come back in the morning
you will find me a million times bigger – maybe even the size of an
elephant!
Animal 3
If he grows then we will be able to have a feast!
Animal 4
And even if he doesn’t, we still will be able to eat a little bit!
SCENE 2
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Narrator
The animals tied the Hare to a tree and left him. Night came and a
hyena was walking past the Hare.
Hyena
How come you’re tied to that tree?
Hare
You won’t believe what they’ve done! They’ve tied me here to catch
an ox for breakfast for tomorrow morning! But I can’t catch an ox
with these teeth – look! (Hyena looks into the Hare’s mouth and
laughs).
Hyena
Those can’t be called teeth! They won’t catch anything!
Hare
Can I see your teeth? (Hyena opens his mouth and exposes huge,
sharp teeth). You see! How am I supposed to catch an Ox? (Thinks
and has an idea to trick the hyena) How about untying me and I
could tie you here so that you can catch the Ox and eat it all to
yourself?
Hyena
That sounds like a brilliant idea!
Narrator
As Hare was tying Hyena to the tree, the chants and drums of the
other animals could be heard. (Once the Hyena is tied, Hare runs
away. The chants/rhythm is to get louder as the animals get closer)
Animals
Ndi! Ndi! Ndi!
Ndi! Ndi! Ndi!
Lelenu kunkoma Kapesa!
Ndi! Ndi! Ndi!
Ndi! Ndi! Ndi!
Lelenu kunkoma Kapesa!
Today, it is the killing of the Hare!
Today, it is the killing of the Hare!
Hyena
(nervous: shouts after Hare) Hare? But they’re saying ‘Today we’re
going to kill the Hare!’
Animal 1
Look! Hare has grown bigger just like he said!
The animals begin to untie Hyena ready to kill him. If you are not having an interval
then Crow
needs to enter with these animals (see footnote 6 for more details on possible
intervals) See
footnote 5
Hyena
(panicking and shouting) Friends! I am not the one you want!
Narrator
The animals were not listening and it was too late for the hyena.
They killed the hyena and ate him for breakfast! After all of this,
Hare appeared.
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Hare
Friends! Please may I take the bones? I don’t want meat I just want
the bones to make a xylophone with: I have always wanted my own
xylophone!
Narrator
The animals were happy to give Hare the bones as they were
grateful for a wonderful breakfast. Hare collected the bones and left,
leaving the animals to talk about his wonderful magic trick. Hare, his
‘magic trick’ and Hare’s xylophone became the talk of the town.
See footnote 6
SCENE 3
Hare
Nduli, ndulinduli, Nduli, ndulinduli
Nu-ulombilombi wangu mee!
Nduli, ndulinduli, Nduli, ndulinduli
Nu-ulombilombi wangu mee,
A-mba muja Kapesa mee,
Nalijembe pa-tumba mee
Pa-tumba naliboleli mee
Ka-be mee!
Ka-be mee!
Nduli, ndulinduli, Nduli, ndulinduli
Nu-ulombilombi wangu mee!
Nduli, ndulinduli, Nduli, ndulinduli
Nu-ulombilombi wangu mee,
A-mba muja Kapesa mee,
Nalijembe pa-tumba mee
Pa-tumba naliboleli mee
Ka-be mee!
Ka-be mee!
The rhythm of the xylophone is stopped by Crow taking away the xylophone.
Hare
(angry) What are you doing? That is my xylophone – give it
back!
Crow
You have been a bully to everybody here in this land!
Hare
Give it back! (Hare throws pieces of flaming firewood at Crow
see footnote 7)
Narrator
Hare threw the firewood so hard that it hit crow and forced the
xylophone out of his grip and back to the ground.
Crow
I will be back and revenge will be had!
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Narrator
Crow was very angry and flew straight to see Thunder who lived
in the clouds. He seemed very annoyed with Hare’s behaviour.
Thunder
Don’t worry. I will take Hare’s xylophone away from him so that
he can’t play it or show off to the other animals anymore.
SCENE 4
Narrator
Thunder came down to Earth and took Hare’s xylophone with
away with him.
Hare
Oh! Poor me! Now can I get it back? Where he stays is too far
away – up in the sky… (thinks and comes up with a plan)
Anyhow, that doesn’t matter. I know that these days Thunder is
gathering grass near here to thatch his house. I’ll get him!
Narrator
Hare went to the place where Thunder had collected his bundles
of thatch. He looked for the biggest bunch to hide in and waited
there to be collected.
Later that day Thunder’s wife came and carried the bundles of
grass to the sky, one after the other.
Thunder’s wife
(gets to the bundle with Hare in) My goodness me! This one is
heavy! (Tries to lift the bundle) This is too heavy for me to lift.
(She picks up the other remaining bundle and takes it to
Thunder’s house in the sky. She speaks to Thunder) I’ve
brought all of the bundles except one – it was far too big and
heavy for me!
Thunder
That’s OK. It’s quite likely that I made that one bigger than the
others. I’ll go and get the last bundle.
Narrator
Thunder went and collected the last bundle, with Hare hiding
inside, and brought it back up to the sky. Whilst Thunder wasn’t
looking Hare jumped out of the bundle and went and sat in the
sengu and waited for Thunder to turn back around.
SCENE 5
Thunder
What a surprise! How are you?
Hare
I’m fine.
Thunder
When did you come up here?
Hare
Just now.
Thunder
How strange! I’ve just finished collecting grass from down there.
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Hare
You were just ahead of me – I saw you.
Thunder
You must be very tired after travelling all the way up here.
Would you like a place to sleep overnight?
Hare
That would be great! Thank you.
Narrator
Hare wasted no time in coming up with another plan to trick
Thunder. He knew that Thunder used to keep the night in a pot
in his house. This pot was opened every morning (see general
footnote 3) at dawn. If the pot wasn’t opened then day wouldn’t
arrive on Earth.
Hare
(secretly and very cunning) Thunder is silly to think that he
would be able to take my xylophone and get away with it! I will
keep night until he gives me my xylophone back.
Narrator
Hare removed the lid, very quietly, took out the night, and ran
away with it back down to Earth.
Thunder
(stressed) Wife! Will you please release the night for the pot:
The morning is running very late!
Thunders wife
(panics) Thunder! The night is missing from the pot!
Thunder
Where is it?
Thunder’s wife
I can’t see it – the pot is empty (turns the pot upside down and
to the audience to see inside).
Thunder
(demanding) Where is Hare?
Thunder’s wife
He’s not here Thunder – he is gone.
Thunder
Hare must have taken the night away. He will want his
xylophone back in return for night. I’ll have to follow him even
though it is very dark (see footnote 8) and get night back.
Narrator
Thunder came down from the sky, carrying Hare’s xylophone.
Hare
Aha! My xylophone! I will trade you night for my xylophone. If I
don’t get my xylophone back then you’re not getting night back
and the Earth can stay dark forever!
Thunder
I will give you your xylophone but I must have night back first.
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Hare
We will trade together. Ready? (Thunder to agree) 1…2…3!
(Thunder and Hare swap props)
Narrator
Thunder returned to the sky and day was brought upon Earth.
Hare smiled as his xylophone lit up. Thunder and Hare stayed in
peace: Thunder was happy because he had night back and
Hare was happy because he had his xylophone back. This is the
end of the tale.
The End
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Script Footnotes
FOOTNOTE NO.
PAGE NO.
(SCENE NO.)
General note 1
n/a
General note 2
n/a
General note 3
n/a
1
2 (1)
2
2 (1)
3
3 (1)
4
3 (1)
5
6 (2)
NOTE
Children enjoy being given a character name rather
than a ‘number’. For example, ‘animal 1’ can be
renamed to an African animal that they choose to be
(zebra, giraffe, ostrich, etc.). This becomes more
personal for the child and allows them to relate to the
role further and, perhaps, research the animal given to
them.
All ‘animal’ characters can be as big or as small a
chorus as you like. For the purposes of this script
animals ‘1-4’ have been used but more animals can be
added making a chorus of 4 to a chorus of 14! This can
be extended to the role of narrator as this can also be
split however it is recommended that this role is split
between a maximum of three people in order to
minimise confusion.
As mentioned in the story, ‘night’ is kept in a pot by
Thunder. To make the story clearer to the audience
you could use this pot throughout the story to represent
the difference between day and night.
More animals can be added to this list. Also, groups of
animals can be introduced making the chorus as big or
as small as your class/school needs.
By using a tiered stage you will be able to create the
idea of digging deep. To enhance the idea of a well,
you may wish to use a prop of a well or a piece of blue
fabric to symbolise water.
This rhythm would be sung and could be done as a
chorus piece and/or a solo. Another idea is to
incorporate the drums which become a key part of the
story into the rhythms found throughout. The English
translation has been included on the right handside:
This doesn’t have to be said!
As mentioned earlier, a tiered stage can be used to
create the idea of a deep well alongside the throwing of
pieces of fabric up in the air: These pieces of fabric can
change colour from blue to brown as he makes the
water dirty. Another idea would be to mime a scrubbing
motion in the middle of the stage.
The killing of Hyena can be done in a number of ways:
 Hyena can be taken offstage, killed and a prop of
meat brought back onto the stage for the animals to
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6
6(2)
7
6(3)
8
8 (4)
eat.
 Animals can surround Hyena causing a wall in which
the audience can’t see allowing Hyena to hide
behind set/sneak offstage.
 Shadow puppetry can be used to represent the
killing and eating of the Hyena (the making of which
is mentioned in the art teacher pack)
 Music can be composed by the children on the
drums to represent the killing of Hyena
 A ‘sacrificial’ dance could be choreographed, by the
children, that represents the killing of Hyena
This would be a suitable place for an interval if needed.
The song would be a good chorus number to open the
second part of the show.
The flaming firewood would be a great affect that
children would look forward to however if time is tight of
the affect isn’t possible a rock or tree branch would
work.
If possible, keep the lights dim throughout this scene as
it will emphasise that idea that morning hasn’t broken.
If you do not have access to stage lighting try using
torches to represent the idea of it being very dark.
Notes
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Props and Scenery List
Props List










Digging materials (ie. shovels)
Honey
Gourd
Elephant grass
Rope (to tie Hare to the tree)
Bones
Xylophone
Flaming firewood
Thatch
Pot (and representation of ‘night’)
Scenery List






Meeting place
Well
Tree
Sky
Earth
Sengu
Notes
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