Hare and Squirrel

The tale was documented in the Gulu District, situated in the northern region of Uganda, in a cultural domain referred to as Acoliland, which is inhabited by the Acoli people who communicate using the Lëb Acoli dialect. Historically, the Acoli community relied mainly on agriculture, cultivating crops such as sorghum, peas, maize, and sesame. Idleness was frowned upon in the Acoli society since individuals who refused to work posed a threat to the security of the community. Such persons often had no food in their homes and were inclined to stealing to satisfy their needs.

This story centers on the friendship between Hare and Squirrel, who plant peas together during the rainy season. However, Squirrel becomes aware that some of his crops are missing from his garden, prompting him to erect a scarecrow to identify the culprit behind the theft.