Long ago, among the Bakongo people of the Congo, it was said that there was a time when the proud Leopard humbled himself before the Goat, mistaking his beard and horns for signs of great power. But as events unfolded, the Leopard would discover the true measure of strength, learning that appearances alone do not guarantee authority.
The story begins with the Leopard, who one day was busy cutting down a palm tree to tap its sweet sap for wine. As he worked, he suddenly heard a loud, commanding bleat:
“Be—e, Leopard!”
Startled, the Leopard paused and muttered to himself, “What mighty chief calls out to me in such a voice?”
Again, the cry echoed through the clearing:
“Be—e, Leopard!”
This time, the Leopard climbed down softly from the palm tree and approached his wine-booth. There he found a strange figure waiting, a Goat with a long flowing beard and great curved horns. The Goat’s bearing seemed imposing, his beard lending him the air of wisdom, and his horns suggesting power.
The Goat spoke with authority: “Pour me out some palm wine.”
Immediately, the Leopard obeyed. Bowing low, he poured the sweet drink into a glass, and with deep humility, he presented it on his knees as though serving a mighty ruler. The Goat drank deeply, glass after glass, while the Leopard crouched humbly before him.
READ: The Gazelle Is at Last Punished : A Bakongo Folktale from DR Congo
This ritual continued day after day. Each time, the Goat appeared, ordering wine as though it were his right, and each time, the Leopard poured and knelt in reverence. The Leopard was convinced he was serving a great chief, and his awe only deepened with each visit.
One afternoon, while this strange display was taking place, a Gazelle happened upon the scene. He stood in shock as he watched the mighty Leopard bowing before the Goat. When the Goat had finished his wine and departed, the Gazelle could not hold back his laughter.
“Uncle Leopard,” the Gazelle said, “do you even know who that creature is?”
The Leopard shook his head solemnly. “No, I do not know him at all, but look at his long beard and those great horns. Surely, he is a chief of high rank.”
The Gazelle laughed louder. “Foolishness! You have been deceived by empty size. His beard and horns make him look grand, but he has no strong teeth for biting or for fighting. If you doubt me, test him tomorrow.”
The Leopard’s pride was wounded by the Gazelle’s words, but he agreed to put the Goat to the test.
The next day, as expected, the Goat came striding into the booth, demanding his wine. But this time, the Leopard and the Gazelle were waiting with a plan. The Gazelle drew out a kola nut from his bag and carefully broke it into three sections. He handed one piece to the Goat, another to the Leopard, and kept one for himself.
Without hesitation, the Leopard crunched his section into bits with his powerful jaws. The Gazelle too chewed his part with ease. But when the Goat placed his section in his mouth, he could do nothing. He rolled it from side to side, turned it over and over with his tongue, but his weak teeth could not crack it.
The Gazelle gave a sly look to the Leopard and signalled with his lips: “Do you see now? He has no teeth. His strength is only an illusion.”
Enraged at having been tricked for so long, the Leopard sprang upon the Goat. With no power to resist, the Goat was swiftly killed. From that day forward, the Leopard no longer feared the Goat’s beard or horns, for he had learned that true strength lies not in appearances but in what one can actually do.
Moral Lesson
This folktale reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. The Goat’s beard and horns created the illusion of power, but they concealed weakness. The Leopard’s mistake was to judge by what he saw, while the Gazelle revealed the truth: authority and respect cannot rest on empty show. Real strength lies in ability, not in appearance.
In life, people may boast, dress impressively, or present themselves as powerful, but such pomposity without substance is short-lived. True authority comes from real capability, honesty, and strength of character.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Why did the Leopard pay homage to the Goat?
A1: Because he mistook the Goat’s beard and horns as symbols of great power.
Q2: What role did the Gazelle play in the story?
A2: The Gazelle revealed the Goat’s weakness and encouraged the Leopard to test him.
Q3: How was the Goat’s weakness proven?
A3: By giving him a kola nut he could not chew due to his weak teeth.
Q4: What is the main lesson of this folktale?
A4: Appearances can deceive; true strength lies in substance, not show.
Q5: Which culture does this folktale come from?
A5: It originates from the Bakongo people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Q6: What symbols were misleading in this story?
A6: The Goat’s beard and horns, which looked powerful but did not reflect real strength.
Folktale Origin
Source: Bakongo folktale, Democratic Republic of Congo.
