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.