1. Mutongi Gava is a song based on a folk tale where the jackal finds a man and a leopard in a vicious argument because the leopard wants to eat the man. But it was the man who, out of misguided kindness, has helped the leopard out of the trap.
2. Leopard had pleaded with the man to be helped out of his predicament. The man was doubtful but eventually he gave in. However, as soon as the leopard got out, he went after the man. He was, after all, very hungry after days caught up in that trap!
3. The man was shocked and asked leopard for arbitration. Several animals that came by didn’t care. “Dyiwa uri nyama iwe!” said the cow has she reminded the man how he milks her and slaughters cows when he wants meat. They had no sympathy at all for him.
4. As those who know the tale recall, it was the jackal, Gava, who saved the day for the man. He asked the two to assume their original positions so that he could understand what really happened. With the Leopard back in the cage, Gava told the man that he was now free to go!
5. The story has several lessons. The wisdom of Gava is the most well known. One of them is the problem of foolish kindness. Man found himself as Leopard’s dinner soon after taking pity on him and helping him out of the trap. It was foolish kindness which nearly cost him his life
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