Hare and Monster

The account was documented in the Pader District, situated in the northern part of Uganda, in a cultural domain known as Acoliland, which is inhabited by the Acoli people who communicate using the L‘b Acoli dialect. Acoliland boasts of breathtaking landscapes, flora, rivers, fauna, avifauna, and, most importantly, vast fertile land. Among the Acoli community, one of the ways in which young individuals identified and selected their prospective spouses was through social gatherings and dance ceremonies. Some of these courtship dances included larakaraka, ajere, and lacukucuku, among others.

The folktale "Hare and Monster" is an oral tradition passed down through generations in Northern Uganda, providing a glimpse into a past where monsters and animals coexisted peacefully and answering the question of where these creatures have gone. The story imparts valuable lessons that remain relevant even today, as evidenced by the monsters themselves.