Writers 
In the mountain village of Kuru, an elderly woman named Mama Safiya was known as "the Wise One." She had no official title, but people trusted her judgment. The village was actually led by Chief Danladi, a strong, brave leader who was always quick to act — whether clearing rockslides or protecting the village from wild animals.
One day, a large crack appeared across the mountain overlooking the village. Rocks started falling, and everyone grew afraid. Chief Danladi called an emergency meeting and announced a bold plan: send fifty young men up the mountain to build a strong wall of timber and stone to stop the rocks from sliding down.
The crowd cheered — it was the kind of action they understood. But Mama Safiya, sitting quietly, asked a simple question: when something cracks, should you just push against the outside, or find out what's causing it from within?
Danladi didn't think her question applied to a mountain, but out of respect, he agreed to let her, along with a few others, check the high ridge before starting the work.
At dawn, Safiya climbed up with Danladi and two others. She knelt by the crack, listened carefully, and heard the faint sound of water trickling deep inside the mountain. She lowered a weighted string into the crack and pulled it back covered in wet mud — proof that water was leaking into the mountain.
She realized the real problem: two years earlier, the village had built a water pool on the high plateau above. Without anyone noticing, water from that pool had been slowly seeping into the mountain, softening the clay beneath the rock and causing the crack.
She warned Danladi that his plan — sending men to build a wall with heavy tools and timber — would actually cause the unstable rock to collapse on them.
Shocked, Danladi asked what they should do instead. Safiya explained that instead of fighting the mountain with force, they needed to solve the real cause. She suggested digging a small drainage canal to redirect the water away from the mountain, and temporarily moving the homes closest to the slope until the ground dried out and became stable again.
Danladi didn't argue or try to take credit. That afternoon, he stood before the whole village and admitted that his first plan, driven by pride and urgency, would have put everyone in danger. He said real leadership means knowing when to stop, listen, and follow wisdom — even if it comes from someone others might overlook.
The village worked together for a few days, digging the canal and redirecting the water. Slowly, the sounds inside the mountain quieted, the crack stopped growing, and the danger passed. Months later, once the ground had dried and settled, the families safely moved back to their homes.
To remember the lesson, Chief Danladi had a small iron plaque placed at the site of the crack. It read:
*When the storm blows, the oak stands tall to fight.*
*When the mountain moves, the reed bows low to hear.*
*Strength can move a stone today;*
*Only wisdom saves tomorrow.*
