The Elephant and Erasto
By Kateb Nuri Shunnar
There once was a young boy named Erasto who lived in East Africa. He was the youngest of his father’s five daughters and ten sons. Being the overlooked one, no one paid much attention to Erasto.
One day, while wandering through the jungle, Erasto noticed a group of elephants stomping their feet at the sacred Kuyu tree near the village. This sight angered him. From the top of his lungs, he shouted, “Halt there, elephants! Why do you trample upon our tree? It was a gift from Ori and has given life to this land!”
The elephants immediately stopped. From the rear, a massive elephant emerged, towering fifteen feet tall and wider than two Baobab trees. The great elephant approached Erasto and, to his amazement, spoke:
“We stomp around this tree to make the ground collapse inward. The land is dry, and without water, the tree will not bear fruit. This tree must bear fruit so that goats can climb and feed on its leaves, leopards may find shelter in its branches, and balance may return to the land.”
In disbelief, Erasto ran to the village elders, eager to share his encounter. But when he told his story, the elders laughed at him.
“This child speaks foolishness! Elephants do not speak, and goats do not climb trees! This is the work of our enemies they seek to destroy our sacred tree!”
The elders, filled with anger, gathered their warriors, preparing for war against those they believed to be behind the disturbance. However, one elder, the wisest and oldest, named Ekundayo, remained seated. He looked at Erasto and said,
“Young one, I believe you. You have been blessed to witness Malaika and his helpers. They are elders in Ori’s council, sent every seven thousand years to ensure the Kuyu tree bears fruit, keeping the land pure and sustaining life. Only the offspring of the tree can see them. And Erasto, you are such an offspring.”
Erasto, bewildered, replied, “But I never knew I was chosen for such a destiny.”
Ekundayo smiled. “The success or failure of a man is determined by the choices he made in heaven before he was born. You have chosen wisely. Now, go! Stop your elders before they bring destruction upon themselves!”
Erasto ran to the dry riverbed where the warriors gathered, weapons in hand, ready for battle. He saw the rage in their eyes and knew he had to act quickly.
“No! Stop! If you cross this river seeking war, you will not only lose your lives but also destroy the Kuyu tree and all who depend on it! You fight a battle that does not exist!”
“Foolish boy!” one elder shouted. “We will defend the tree from our enemies!”
Erasto stood firm. “You are the real threat to the Kuyu tree! If you go to war against your own brothers across the river, you will destroy everything the tree, the land, and yourselves!”
He took a deep breath, then shouted with all his might, “GO HOME!”
The ground trembled.
“GO HOME!” he cried again, and out of the jungle ran the gorillas and apes.
“GO HOME!” he shouted once more, and from the earth emerged rodents, spiders, and snakes.
“GO HOME, I SAY!”
The sun burned hotter, the winds howled, and finally, the elders and their warriors lowered their weapons. One by one, they turned back, realizing the truth in Erasto’s words.
As Erasto walked back to his village, a voice from the heavens spoke:
“You are a blessing, my son. For you, the heavens will weep.”
The storm clouds rolled in. Rain poured from the sky, filling the dry riverbed and the basin the elephants had created. The Kuyu tree drank deeply and bore the most beautiful fruit the world had ever seen fruit that would nourish the land for generations to come. The villagers, once blinded by anger and misunderstanding, now rejoiced as they witnessed the miracle before them. The rain cleansed the earth, reviving not only the tree but also their hearts.
The elders, humbled by the events, approached Erasto with newfound respect. The one who had doubted him the most stepped forward and bowed his head. “Forgive us, young one. We were blinded by fear and pride. You have saved us from ruin.”
Ekundayo smiled knowingly. “Wisdom does not always come with age but with understanding. Erasto has shown us the way.”
From that day forward, Erasto was no longer the overlooked boy. He was honored as a guardian of the Kuyu tree, a protector of balance, and a messenger of Ori’s will. The village learned to listen, not just to the voices of men, but to the whispers of the land, the wisdom of the animals, and the guidance of the unseen.
Years later, as Erasto grew into a man, he would often sit beneath the great Kuyu tree, watching its branches sway in the wind, heavy with fruit. He knew that balance had been restored, not just to the land, but to the hearts of his people. And when he listened closely, he could still hear the distant echoes of Malaika and his helpers, reminding him that harmony is a gift, one that must be nurtured and protected for generations to come.
And so, the tale of Erasto and the elephants became legend, a story passed down from elders to children, ensuring that no one would forget the lesson of the Kuyu tree:
True wisdom lies not in power or war, but in understanding, patience, and the courage to listen.
To my readers,
I am peaceful.
I am humble.
I am full of faith.
I am Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
Don’t sleep 😴 💤 on me because I'm not quick and deadly with my mouth..
I wrote this in 2008 It was performed at the Decatur Film Festival.
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