newsletter archives

kenyanmoonlong

Kenyan Moon’s story

We are particularly reminded in tough times of the absolute necessity and wisdom of paying thoughtful attention to how giving and taking – to and from others, our environment, our world – can affect the harmony and balance of our personal, national and worldly lives. It is also in tough times that we notice the effects of greed indulged, and how it can wreck absolute havoc with this very balance. This truth is illustrated by one of the Kenyan stories of Hyena and the Moon – a story about greed, the violation of resources and the futility of sticking to unwholesome ways, rather than searching for positive change.

We were inspired both by this story and the one behind the moon-shaped Kazuri beads which provide the focal point of our Kenyan Moon necklace kits and patterns, which are finished off with hand-produced rayon batik fabrics from a small, ethical factory in Bali, the Island of the Gods, in Indonesia. Kazuri, which in Swahili means “small and beautiful,” are, indeed, stunningly beautiful fair trade beads handmade by Kenyan women, many of whom are single mothers, who in some cases sustain extended families of 20 or more with their work.

Here is the story of Hyena and the Moon, re-told to us by Mwezi (m-WAY-zee), the Moon herself:

One night long ago, though it seems only just yesterday, when hyena still had swift legs and smooth fur, I was just coming into my most abundantly full phase as I gently traveled the night sky over Kenya. It was a clear summer night, at the hottest time of the year. Water was scarce, and people and animals were suffering from the drought. Of course, as I travel across the night sky, I not only enjoy the magnificent views of plains, mountains and valleys, but I must admit that I listen into nighttime conversations that waft up towards me. Some are dreamy, some so very intimate, and others, like the one I heard on this particular night I’m telling you about, quite frankly scheming!

On this night, I caught snatches of conversation – “I’m so hungry that…” – floating up towards me – “she’s so plump and full…” – from a group of hyenas huddled together, looking up at me, talking and howling on a vast Kenyan savannah - “...good to eat…” – Good to eat? Who could they be talking about, I wondered? Who is plump and full, and what is good to eat in this time of hunger and thirst? So I listened more carefully.

“Oh, I really am clever!” boasted one hyena at the center of the pack. “It’s so simple – here we are, soooo hungry, our bellies grumbling and rumbling louder and louder each day, and there she is, beautiful Mwezi, so fat and plump that it makes my mouth water!” – Mwezi? they were talking about me, the moon! I listened more carefully, thankful that they obviously did not realize I could hear them. “Let’s climb up to the moon,” continued the hyena, “I’ll break off pieces, and we can eat to our bellies content!” But the other hyenas laughed and laughed.

“You are a fool, Fisi (FEE-see). How can we climb up to the moon?” asked one of them. “And besides, she would be sure to see us coming,” said another. He was right about that. “She would hide.” Cute. “Moon sees everything,” added another. Yes, true.

“Well, then we will disguise ourselves with acacia tree branches,” responded Fisi, “and we’ll stand on each other’s shoulders to make a tower of hyenas that will reach right up to the moon. Easy!” said Fisi. The other hyenas continued to laugh and laugh… “You are such a fool, Fisi…” they said. But Fisi continued to argue, cajole and talk about my power and beauty, and how they would gain some of my strength by partaking of me. As I moved away from them in the night sky, however, I noticed that the other hyenas were beginning to listen to Fisi…

How sad, I mused to myself. I do feel sorry for them. They are hungry and need nourishment. Still… have they thought of asking me if they can break of bits of me? Noooo... how can they even consider, much less believe that they can simply reach up, take, steal, violate me like that? I suppose, at least, that it is a good thing that they are planning to cooperate with each other in this venture – but such greediness and disrespect! Come to think of it, I don’t feel so sad at all – I’m absolutely outraged! Really!...

The next night, just as I came around to the same Kenyan plain where I’d seen the hyenas, I hid behind a cloud and listened. Sure enough, they were making quite a racket – “… ouch! You are stepping on my nose!” – they were climbing one on top of each other, making a tower of hyenas. “Ouch, Ouch! Those thorns hurt!” – oops! They had forgotten that acacia branches have huge, sharp thorns! “Be quiet, all of you,” I hear Fisi say, “She must have heard us – she is hiding behind a cloud and I can’t reach her!”

“Ouch, ouch! Hurry up!” whined another hyena. “Quiet!” said Fisi anxiously, “Quiet! Let’s wait a few minutes and she’ll come out…” They quieted down, and I waited a few minutes. Then I peaked out from behind the cloud – and in so doing, I bathed the savannah with light, clearly seeing the tower of hyenas reaching towards me. Then, three things happened:

Moja – one – Fisi, at the top of the tower, stretched out an eager paw to grab a piece of me.

Mbili – two – the legs of the hyena at the very bottom of the tower began to tremble, and quiver and shake – and the tower began to tremble, and quiver and shake!

And Tatu – three – The legs of the hyena in the bottom collapsed, and with him the tower of hyenas came tumbling down, falling, crashing, sliding, bumping on each other, on acacia thorns and finally, on the hard, parched ground – a mass of broken legs, scratches and torn fur. Then, for a brief moment, all was silent as the animals of the savannah took in what had just happened under the light of the moon that night.

And this is how hyenas were crippled, their hind legs shorter than their front legs, their fur spotted with scars of foolishness. And still, they do not seem to have learned their lesson. They continue to be lazy, as they have always been. They can actually be good hunters, but instead of doing all the work of stalking and hunting, they sneak up and steal their food from the lion and the leopard, and run away laughing, thinking themselves terribly clever…

(based on “Hyena & the Moon”, a story from Kenya retold by Heather McNeil in Hyena & the Moon: Stories to Tell from Kenya. published by Libraries Unlimited, Inc, 1994.)