12/05/2025
The Monkey and the Drums
Theme: Empty noise brings no respect
Deep in the heart of the rainforest, where the trees echoed with birdsong and the rivers hummed gentle tunes, there lived a monkey named Jaku. Jaku loved to beat drums. He found old hollow logs, stretched bark across them, and made a grand set of instruments. Morning, noon, and night, he pounded away—loud, wild, and boastful.
“Listen to my power!” he would shout as he danced from branch to branch, beating his drums.
At first, the animals watched in awe. But soon, the constant noise gave them headaches. “Jaku,” the old tortoise said gently, “your drums are loud, but what do they say?”
Jaku scoffed. “They say I’m the best! The strongest! The king of rhythm!”
One day, the lion king announced a celebration to honor the river’s return after a long drought. All animals were to bring something meaningful: stories, songs, dances, or gifts from the land.
Jaku brought only his drums.
When it was his turn, he leapt onto a stage of stones and played loudly. He jumped, howled, and beat until sweat flew from his fur. But the crowd was silent.
Then the bushbaby sang a soft song about the rain. The parrot told an ancient tale. The tortoise recited wisdom from long ago. Each one moved the crowd to tears or laughter.
Jaku looked around. “Why don’t they cheer for me?”
The lion king rose and said, “You made the most noise, but shared the least meaning. A loud drum with no message is just an echo.”
Ashamed, Jaku sat quietly. That night, he didn’t drum. He listened. And for the first time, he heard the rhythm of others.
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Moral: Empty noise brings no respect.
Kwa George kwatu