The Man who saw with his Ears

Art: Anna Lemos, 11, India

In the forests of Western Africa live many wild animals and a variety of birds. 

Some tribal villages lie on the edge of these forests.

A blind man named Chinedu lived in one such village. Although he was blind, he was very wise. He sat outside his house all day. Young and old from far and near came to him for advice on various topics – which crop to plant, which girl to marry, and so on.  Chinedu always gave them good advice.

People often asked him,

“Chinedu, how are you so wise?”

The blind man would reply,

“I can see with my ears.”

Chinedu had a young sister. She fell in love with a hunter from a neighbouring village. They got married, and as was the tradition in their tribes, the hunter came to live with his wife and her brother.

The hunter would go hunting in the forest every day. Chinedu also wanted to go to the forest. So every evening, when the hunter returned from the forest, Chinedu would request him,

“May I please come to the forest with you tomorrow?”

The hunter would laugh and say,

“What use is a blind man?”

The hunter was a strong and healthy fellow and thought that blind people were of no use.

Yet, every day when the hunter would return from the forest, Chinedu would plead,

“Please may I come to the forest with you tomorrow?”

And every day the hunter would laugh and say,

“What use is a blind man in the forest?”

It continued like this for many weeks.

Then a day came when the hunter was in a very good mood. He came home and announced,

“Chinedu, you can come with me to the forest tomorrow.”

Early the next day, the hunter gathered his traps and tools and set off to the forest with the blind man. He held Chinedu's hand because there were many turnings and bumpy roots on the way.

After they had gone a little distance, Chinedu said,

“Shh...there is a lion there.”

Then he added, “But he is fast asleep. He will not harm us.”

As they go on their way, they see a sleeping lion.

The hunter is puzzled.

He asked Chinedu,

“How did you know that there was a lion?”

Chinedu replied,

“It is because I see with my ears.”

They walked on and reached a clearing in the forest.

Chinedu stopped and said,

“Walk slowly, there is an elephant there.”

Then he added, “But he is enjoying a shower in the river. He will not come our way.”

They walked on and find an elephant relaxing in the cool river.

The hunter asked Chinedu,

“How did you know that there was an elephant?”

Chinedu replied,

“It is because I see with my ears.”

When they come to the middle of the forest, the hunter set up his trap and guided Chinedu to set up his. Then they returned to their village.

The next day, Chinedu walked ahead of the hunter.

“I know my way now” he said happily.

Chinedu did not miss a single turning or stumble over any bumpy roots.

When they reached the middle of the forest, the hunter noticed that a big colourful bird was trapped in Chinedu’s trap. And a small brown bird was trapped in his own trap.

As he loosened the traps, he thought – “If I give the small brown bird to this blind man instead of the big colourful one, he will not know.”

So he gave the small brown bird to Chinedu and kept the big colourful bird for himself. He described the birds because Chinedu could not see them.

As they walked home, the hunter asked the blind man,

“Chinedu, people say that you are wise. Then tell me this – why is there so much hatred and anger in this world?”

Chinedu replied,

“It is because the world is full of people like you who take what is not theirs or what is not given to them.”

The hunter was ashamed of himself. He took the small brown bird from Chinedu’s hands and gave him the big colourful bird.

After walking some distance, the hunter asked,

“Chinedu, why is there still so much kindness and love in this world?”

Chinedu answered,

“It is because there are people like you in this world who learn from their mistakes.”

After this hunting trip, Chinedu continued to sit outside his house every day.

People would ask him, “Chinedu, how are you so wise?”

Chinedu would say, “It is because I see with my ears.”

The hunter would then put his arm around the blind man’s shoulders and say, “And he listens with his heart.”

(Adapted from a Western African Folktale)