The Hausa Hero Who Outsmarted a King with Nothing But Faith

group of people sitting down listening to a story
Alyssa Guzik
November 21, 2023

One subject refused. Instead, he said, "There is no king like God." Initially, the king found amusement in the defiance, but soon, he grew angry.

He gave “No-King” two silver rings. No-King placed them in a hollow ram's head and gave them to his wife. A week later, the king sent No-King to a distant village. While away, the king bribed No-King's wife with one thousand cowries to return the rings.

The king's servants threw the rings into a lake, where a giant fish swallowed them. On his way home, No-King-as-God caught a large fish. Once home, he inquired about the rings, just as his son, who had been cleaning the fish, found the rings inside the fish. No-King wrapped them in his cloak.

The king summoned No-King and demanded the rings under penalty of Death. When No-King produced the rings, the king declared, "Indeed, there is no king like God." He  gave No-King half of the village to rule.

This cherished folktale from the Hausa people carries a powerful message: that steadfast faith and integrity can triumph even in the face of great trials. It is a timeless reminder that with unwavering belief and resilience, the path to triumph is always within reach.

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