"The Curse of the Chameleon (A Traditional Zulu Story)"

Kids around the world are well known for at least one trait, that trait is best portrayed by one word, why? Filled with questions and needing answers, in Africa one well known tale is told to children to help answer one of the more difficult questions of "why do people grow old and die?"  Now you would expect this tale because of the question being asked to be based on people. Instead, people are the subject matter and a chameleon and snake are the main characters in "The Curse of the Chameleon (A Traditional Zulu Story)". It not only helps to elaborate the age old question but also tells why snakes shed their skin and people don't like snakes as well as why chameleons change colors, move slow, and seem so hidden.

The overview of this tale is that God, the Creator was proud of his work, especially man and woman because they are said to be just like him. Although he noticed they were clumsy and always injuring themselves leaving scars on their skin causing their bodies to become worn out. His solution was, they need new skin! Creator called his friend the Chameleon to help deliver this gift to the man and woman since chameleons were quick, swift and "fast as lightning"! On Chameleons way to deliver the gift, he stopped for water where he ran into his cousin Snake. Now, snake is not a fan of man and woman because of the attention they obtain from Creator. When Snake finds out what Chameleon is doing, Snake jealousy plots a way to stop Chameleon from delivering the gift. Snake tricks Chameleon into coming over for lunch after making Chameleon feel bad about not spending time with his own kin,  delaying the delivery. After food and beer Chameleon fell asleep and Snake opened the gift! Chameleon woke up screaming stop but Snake and his wife stole the new skins for themselves. Afterwards, Chameleon feels sad from betrayal and guilty from letting down Creator. He began moving slower, hiding in trees limbs changing colors in order to hide from Creator. Snake on the other hand, every time he felt old and worn, shed his skin to feel young again. Although, as a consequence from Creator, Creator never stops man and woman from stepping on Snake or worse because Creator believes Snake is getting what he deserves.

In this tale Chameleon is at first speedy and considered very trust worthy, by they end his is slow, hiding from the world and changing colors from his sadness and guilt. Snake is sly, devious and filled with jealousy that eventually results in him being treated poorly by humans as revenge. In reality we do see that chameleons move slowly and change color as well as snakes shedding their skins. Both reptiles are depicted in some ways of how they are in real life. Although because of this tale, children who learn based on stories they hear may as a result look at snakes as evil and bad creatures. In the the chance they run into one, they may react in a ways they should not. This is a common theme in many tales and stories causing people to think poorly of snakes and be afraid of them when many should not be feared at all. Just like people, some people are good and some people are bad. Tales like this one are good to help teach children and carry on traditions but it does not give the best idea of the animal in the real world.

Kimmy Profitko
Herps in Society and Culture

(Link to Tale)
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/africa5.html