African Proverb of the day: “Until a lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter” a life lesson on the power of perspective

African Proverb of the Day: “Until a lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter” is a widely circulated African proverb about the power of perspective and the importance of being able to tell one's own story. The saying uses the relationship between a lion and a hunter to illustrate how narratives can favour the person who has the opportunity and authority to record events.

The meaning behind “Until a lion learns to write”

The proverb begins with a hypothetical situation in which the lion cannot write its own account of what happened.

The lion represents the side of a story that has not been able to document or communicate its experience. The hunter, meanwhile, represents the person who has the opportunity to describe events from their own perspective.


If the hunter is the only one recording the encounter, the resulting story is naturally likely to focus on the hunter's actions, achievements or victory.

The proverb therefore asks readers to consider what may be missing when only one perspective is preserved.

Why “every story will glorify the hunter”

The second half of the proverb explains the consequence of that imbalance.

To “glorify the hunter” means that the hunter becomes the central figure in the story, while the lion's perspective remains absent. The saying does not necessarily claim that every account is deliberately dishonest. Instead, it highlights how the identity of the storyteller can influence which events receive attention and how those events are interpreted.

The hunter may describe courage, skill or triumph. Without the lion's account, however, readers may never know how the encounter looked from the other side.

The proverb turns this simple conflict into a broader lesson about storytelling.

What “the lion learns to write” represents

The lion learning to write represents the ability of previously unheard people to communicate their own experiences.

Writing here is not limited to the literal act of putting words on paper. It can represent having a voice, access to communication, the ability to preserve one's history and the opportunity to challenge an established narrative.

Once the lion can tell its own story, the account no longer depends entirely on the hunter's perspective.

The proverb therefore presents storytelling as a form of agency.

The lesson behind “every story” and perspective

The saying also highlights the importance of perspective.

Two people can experience the same event and remember or describe it differently. Each account may emphasise different details, motivations and consequences.

When only one account survives, that version can become the accepted understanding of what happened. The proverb encourages people to ask whose voice is missing before accepting a single narrative as complete.

This lesson can apply to historical accounts, personal experiences and ordinary disagreements.

Why “the hunter” becomes the hero

The hunter occupies the position of the storyteller in the proverb, which gives the character an important advantage.

Because the hunter controls the narrative, the encounter can be presented in a way that places the hunter at the centre. The lion, despite being equally involved in the event, has no opportunity to explain its own actions.

This illustrates a broader principle: having the ability to tell a story can influence how other people understand the people and events within it.

The proverb therefore separates the experience of an event from the power to describe that event.

Why “Until a lion learns to write” remains relevant

The proverb remains relevant because people continue to encounter situations in which only one version of an event receives attention.

In everyday life, disagreements can be shaped by who speaks first or who is more confident in explaining what happened. In workplaces, one person's account of a dispute may be heard more widely than another's. In personal situations, an individual may feel misunderstood because they have never had an opportunity to explain their side.

The saying encourages people to look beyond the most visible account and consider whether another perspective exists.

The timeless lesson of “the lion learns to write”

“Until a lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter” turns a simple image of a lion and hunter into a lasting lesson about voice and perspective.

The proverb reminds people that the stories preserved and repeated are often shaped by those who have the ability to tell them. Giving unheard perspectives an opportunity to be expressed can reveal details that a single account may leave out.

Its message is ultimately about more than writing. It is about having a voice, preserving one's own experience and recognising that every story may contain perspectives that have not yet been heard.