Gather round, my young ones, and listen well to the tale of Adenkyemfuom—the chameleon—and how this humble creature came to possess one of the most wondrous gifts in all creation: the ability to wear any color of the rainbow and blend with the beauty of the world around him. This is a story that teaches us about the power of humility, the wisdom of adaptability, and the divine rewards that come to those who dedicate their lives to serving others without seeking glory for themselves.

The Time of the Great Color Ceremony

Long, long ago, when the world was still young and fresh from Nyame’s creative hands, all the animals of the forest possessed only single colors. The leopard wore his golden coat spotted with black, the elephant displayed his magnificent gray hide, the parrot showed off brilliant green feathers, and the zebra proudly strutted in his black and white stripes.

In those days, there lived a small chameleon named Kwaku Adenkyemfuom, whose dull brown-gray skin made him nearly invisible among the trees and rocks where he made his home. Unlike the other animals who took great pride in their distinctive colors and patterns, Kwaku Adenkyemfuom was humble and quiet, never calling attention to himself or complaining about his plain appearance.

While other animals gathered in the sunny clearings to display their beautiful colors and compete for admiration, Kwaku Adenkyemfuom spent his time helping others in small, unnoticed ways. He would guide lost young animals back to their families, share information about where the sweetest fruits could be found, and warn others of approaching dangers.

One day, Nyame looked down from the heavens and decided it was time to hold a Great Color Ceremony—a magnificent celebration where all animals would have the opportunity to request new colors or enhancements to their existing ones. The Sky God announced through his messenger bird that any animal who wished to participate should come to the Sacred Clearing at sunrise on the day of the full moon.

The Gathering of Requests

News of the Great Color Ceremony spread throughout the forest like wildfire. Animals became excited and began planning elaborate presentations to convince Nyame why they deserved more beautiful colors. The peacock, already gorgeous, practiced spreading his tail to demonstrate how much more stunning he could become with additional brilliant hues. The tiger sharpened his claws and rehearsed his most impressive roar to show why he merited deeper orange stripes.

The monkey gathered the reddest flowers to show what shade of fur he desired, while the elephant collected mud of different colors to demonstrate the patterns he wanted painted on his hide. Every animal seemed to have grand plans for improving their appearance and making themselves more magnificent.

Every animal, that is, except Kwaku Adenkyemfuom. The humble chameleon had heard about the ceremony, but instead of planning his own presentation, he spent his time helping other animals prepare for theirs. He helped the butterfly practice her flight patterns, assisted the bee in polishing his stripes, and even helped the snake practice the graceful movements he planned to show Nyame.

When other animals asked Kwaku Adenkyemfuom what he planned to request, he would simply smile and say, “I am content as I am. My purpose is to help others shine their brightest.”

The Day of the Ceremony

On the morning of the full moon, animals from throughout the forest gathered in the Sacred Clearing. The site was magnificent—a perfect circle of emerald grass surrounded by flowering trees, with a crystal-clear stream running along one side and smooth, sun-warmed rocks scattered throughout.

As the sun rose, painting the sky in brilliant shades of pink and gold, Nyame descended from the heavens in a shower of light that made every dewdrop sparkle like diamonds. The Sky God took his place on a throne formed from living trees, their branches intertwining to create a seat worthy of the Creator of all things.

“My beautiful creatures,” Nyame announced, his voice carrying the warmth of summer sunshine and the authority of thunder, “today you may request changes to your coloring. Present your cases wisely, for each of you will receive exactly what your heart truly desires.”

One by one, the animals came forward to make their presentations. The peacock danced magnificently, requesting more eye-spots on his tail and deeper blue and green shades. Nyame granted his wish, and the peacock’s tail became even more spectacular than before.

The tiger demonstrated his power and grace, asking for stripes that would be blacker than night and orange brighter than fire. Nyame smiled and enhanced the tiger’s coat until he looked like a living flame moving through the forest.

The parrot sang beautiful melodies while requesting additional colors for his plumage—brilliant reds, sunshine yellows, and ocean blues. Nyame was pleased with the performance and granted the parrot a rainbow of feathers that would make him the most colorful bird in the sky.

Animal after animal approached the divine throne, each receiving enhancements that made them more beautiful, more striking, more impressive than they had been before.

The Forgotten Request

As the ceremony progressed, Kwaku Adenkyemfuom remained quietly in the background, genuinely happy to see his friends receiving their heart’s desires. He made no move to approach Nyame’s throne, content to watch others receive their blessings.

It was only when the ceremony was nearly over, and almost all the animals had received their new colors, that Nyame’s divine gaze fell upon the small chameleon who had remained in the shadows throughout the entire proceedings.

“Kwaku Adenkyemfuom,” the Sky God called gently, “you have not yet approached my throne. Do you not wish for any change to your appearance?”

The humble chameleon slowly came forward, his plain brown-gray skin even more noticeable now that it was surrounded by all the newly enhanced beautiful colors of his fellow animals. He bowed deeply before Nyame and spoke in a quiet, respectful voice.

“Great Nyame, I am honored that you remember me. But I have no request for myself. I am content with the form you originally gave me. If I may be so bold, I would only ask that you continue to grant me the ability to serve others and to help make their lives better in whatever small ways I can.”

Nyame studied the little chameleon with growing interest and pleasure. Here was a creature who, when given the opportunity to ask for anything he desired, chose instead to request the ability to serve others. The Sky God’s heart was touched by this display of pure humility and selfless love.

The Divine Insight

“Tell me, faithful Kwaku Adenkyemfuom,” Nyame said, “what has brought you the greatest joy in your life?”

The chameleon thought for a moment before answering. “Great Creator, my greatest joy comes from seeing others happy and helping them succeed. When I can guide a lost young animal home to its worried parents, when I can warn someone of danger, when I can share knowledge that makes someone’s life easier—these moments fill my heart with more satisfaction than any beautiful color could provide.”

“And what do you see as your greatest challenge in serving others as you wish?” Nyame continued.

“Sometimes,” Kwaku Adenkyemfuom replied thoughtfully, “my plain appearance makes it difficult for others to notice me when I’m trying to help them. And there are times when I wish I could better blend into different environments so I could observe and understand the needs of others without making them uncomfortable with my presence.”

Nyame nodded slowly, a smile beginning to form on the divine face. “I see. So your desire to serve others is sometimes limited by your visibility and your inability to truly understand the perspectives of those who live in different environments.”

“Yes, great Nyame, that is correct. But I do not wish to complain—I am grateful for the opportunities I have to help, even if they are limited.”

The Perfect Gift

“Kwaku Adenkyemfuom,” Nyame announced, his voice taking on a tone of special significance that made all the other animals stop their admiring of their new colors and listen carefully, “you have demonstrated wisdom far beyond what I have seen in any other creature today. While others sought beauty for their own pleasure, you sought only the ability to serve. While others focused on their own appearance, you focused on the welfare of others.”

The Sky God stood from his throne and approached the small chameleon, divine light radiating from his form and creating patterns of color that danced across the Sacred Clearing.

“Because your heart is pure and your intentions are selfless, I will grant you a gift that is greater than any single color or pattern. You, Kwaku Adenkyemfuom, and all your descendants, will have the ability to take on any color you need at any moment.”

The chameleon looked up in amazement as Nyame continued, “When you need to blend with green leaves to observe and understand the lives of insects, your skin will become the perfect shade of green. When you need to match brown bark to better help tree-dwelling creatures, you will become brown. When you want to camouflage yourself among flowers to learn about the needs of birds and butterflies, you will take on whatever colors will serve your purpose.”

The Transformation Begins

As Nyame spoke these words, a warm, tingling sensation began to spread through Kwaku Adenkyemfuom’s body. He felt as if gentle streams of liquid color were flowing through his skin, awakening abilities that had always been present but never activated.

“But that is not all,” Nyame continued. “Your ability to change colors will also allow you to communicate in ways no other animal can. When you are happy, your colors will radiate joy that others can see and feel. When you are warning of danger, your colors will become urgent and alarming, ensuring that your message is received. When you are offering comfort, your colors will be soothing and peaceful.”

The Sky God placed a gentle hand on the chameleon’s head, and immediately Kwaku Adenkyemfuom’s skin began to shift and change, cycling through brilliant greens, warm browns, bright yellows, deep blues, and vibrant reds—a living demonstration of the miraculous gift he had received.

“Your colors will not just be for camouflage or communication,” Nyame explained. “They will also reflect the beauty you see around you and help you appreciate the divine artistry in all creation. When you see a magnificent sunset, you will be able to wear its colors. When you witness the delicate beauty of a flower, you can honor it by taking on its hues. You will become a living celebration of all the beauty in the world.”

The Wisdom Behind the Gift

The other animals watched in amazement as Kwaku Adenkyemfuom demonstrated his new ability, his skin flowing through colors like a living rainbow. But more than the visual spectacle, they began to understand the deeper wisdom behind Nyame’s gift.

“See how perfectly this gift matches the character of its recipient,” Nyame addressed all the gathered animals. “Kwaku Adenkyemfuom asked for the ability to serve others, and I have given him the ultimate tool for service—the ability to adapt to any situation, to understand any perspective, and to communicate with perfect clarity.”

The Sky God continued his teaching, using the moment to share important wisdom with all the animals. “True beauty comes not from fixed colors or patterns, but from the ability to adapt, to change, to grow, and to serve. Kwaku Adenkyemfuom will now be able to help others in ways he never dreamed possible, and his gift will multiply his ability to spread joy and assistance throughout the forest.”

“Moreover,” Nyame added, “his gift teaches us that the most powerful abilities are those that come from love and humility rather than from pride and self-seeking. Because Kwaku Adenkyemfuom’s heart was focused on others, he has received a gift that will benefit not just himself but everyone he encounters.”

The New Life of Service

From that day forward, Kwaku Adenkyemfuom’s life became a symphony of service and adaptation. He could now blend perfectly into any environment, allowing him to observe and understand the needs of creatures he had never been able to help before.

When young fish were lost in cloudy water, he could change to match the riverbed and guide them safely back to their schools. When birds were building nests but couldn’t find the right materials, he could shift to colors that helped them locate what they needed. When night-dwelling animals faced dangers they couldn’t see clearly, his ability to glow with soft, helpful colors provided the light they needed to find safety.

His gift of color-communication proved even more valuable than the camouflage abilities. When he needed to warn a group of animals about approaching predators, his skin would flash urgent reds and oranges that immediately conveyed danger. When he wanted to comfort a frightened young animal, his colors would shift to soft, soothing blues and greens that naturally calmed anxiety.

Most remarkably, his ability to take on the colors of his surroundings helped him develop unprecedented empathy and understanding. By literally sharing the visual experience of different environments, he began to truly comprehend the challenges and perspectives of creatures who lived in habitats very different from his own.

The Spreading Wisdom

As word of the chameleon’s remarkable gift and his continued dedication to serving others spread throughout the forest, animals began to seek him out not just for practical help but for wisdom and guidance. They recognized that his unique ability to see the world from many different perspectives gave him insights that no other creature possessed.

Kwaku Adenkyemfuom became known as the Great Mediator, helping to resolve conflicts between different species by literally showing each side what the world looked like from the other’s perspective. When territorial disputes arose, he could demonstrate the genuine needs and fears of both parties by taking on colors that reflected their experiences.

His example also began to inspire other animals to think more deeply about their own gifts and how they could use them in service of the community. The peacock began using his magnificent display not just for personal pride but to create beauty that lifted the spirits of other animals. The tiger used his impressive presence to protect weaker creatures rather than intimidating them.

The parrot’s new colorful plumage became a tool for bringing joy to animals who were sad or lonely, and the elephant’s enhanced gray hide reflected a dignity that inspired respect for wisdom and gentle strength.

The Eternal Teaching

And so it is, my children, that when you see a chameleon today, changing colors as he moves from leaf to branch to flower, you are witnessing the living legacy of humility and service. Each color change reminds us that true beauty lies not in staying the same, but in our ability to adapt, to grow, and to meet the needs of each moment with wisdom and grace.

The chameleon teaches us that the greatest gifts come to those who seek to serve rather than to be served, who focus on understanding others rather than demanding to be understood, and who find their joy in contributing to the happiness and wellbeing of their communities.

When you face changes in your own life, remember Kwaku Adenkyemfuom’s example. Instead of resisting change or demanding that the world adapt to you, consider how you might adapt to serve better, love more deeply, and contribute more effectively to the good of all.

The chameleon’s gift of color-changing also reminds us that we each have the ability to reflect the beauty we see around us and to communicate our hearts through our actions and attitudes. Just as the chameleon can take on the colors of a sunset or a flower, we can take on the qualities we admire in others and in creation itself.

Nsem huonhuan ho nni agyae - There is no end to learning and growing.

The chameleon’s story teaches us that growth and adaptation are not signs of weakness or inconsistency, but demonstrations of wisdom and strength. The ability to change, to learn, to adapt, and to serve in new ways is one of the greatest gifts any being can possess.

So when you see the chameleon tomorrow, shifting through his rainbow of colors as he moves through his daily life of service, remember that you too have been given gifts that are meant to benefit others. Your talents, your insights, your abilities to adapt and grow—these are not meant for your glory alone, but for the betterment of all life around you.

The fire burns low, but the truth burns bright: humility and service unlock the greatest treasures of existence, and those who seek to lift others will themselves be lifted higher than they ever imagined possible.