In a far-off village, Gazelle and Leopard once decided to live side by side as neighbours and kin. Together, they built a town: Leopard took his place at one end, and Gazelle settled at the other. After clearing the surrounding forest for their plantations, each married a wife and began a peaceful life, resting contentedly in the homes they had made.
Yet beneath this calm, a quiet tension waited. Gazelle had married Leopard’s sister, a woman with a proud and defiant nature. Leopard, devoted to her and protective of his family’s honour, had made a bold proclamation before the people of the town: “Whoever dares bring trouble upon my sister, I will show him the strength of my claws.” His warning carried weight, for all feared Leopard’s might.
One day, the fragile peace between Gazelle and his wife shattered. She began to mock him with sharp, impertinent words. Gazelle, wearied of her insolence, snapped back, “Keep quiet!” But she refused, boldly declaring, “I will not! Beat me if you dare! You will see my brother come and chew you to pieces!”
Her defiance only fuelled Gazelle’s temper. He sprang forward in a rush of fury. With a sharp blow, ndo! he struck her, knocking her to the ground. She fell with a thud, ndi! yet Gazelle’s anger was not quenched. He struck her again and again, repeating with every blow, “Who has married? Who has not married? Who is the husband here?” His words rang through the air, as if to remind her that the authority of marriage was his.
News of this outrage quickly reached Leopard. His mane bristled, his eyes flared with fire, and his muscles tightened with wrath. The insult to his sister was an insult to him, and he rose in full fury, prepared to storm Gazelle’s end of the town and avenge her humiliation.
But as he moved, the elder men of the town gathered around and restrained him. They spoke with calm but firm voices: “Leopard, did you not hear the words of Gazelle? He said, ‘Who has married? Who has not married?’ This is not a quarrel for claws and blood. It is the quarrel of a husband and wife.”
Leopard stopped. His rage faltered, and the fire in his chest cooled. He realized there was no battlefield here for his pride. However mighty he was in strength, he could not fight in place of his sister within the bond of her marriage. His mane slowly settled, his anger dissolved, and he withdrew, chastened by the wisdom of the elders.
And so, the quarrel ended, not with violence, but with reflection. Gazelle and his wife remained in their home, Leopard returned to his, and the community remembered the lesson: not all disputes are for fists, claws, or teeth.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that some battles are not meant to be fought with anger or force. Pride and wrath can blind even the strongest, but the voice of wisdom can prevent unnecessary conflict. The quarrels of family, especially between husband and wife, are not for outsiders to fight. True strength lies not in aggression but in knowing when to step back and let peace prevail.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who were the main characters in this folktale?
A1: The story centres on Gazelle (Iheli) and Leopard (Nja), along with Leopard’s sister, who was Gazelle’s wife.
Q2: Why did Leopard threaten the community before the quarrel?
A2: Leopard warned that anyone who troubled his sister would face his anger, showing his protective pride.
Q3: What sparked the conflict between Gazelle and Leopard’s sister?
A3: Gazelle’s wife mocked him with defiant words, refusing his command to be quiet.
Q4: How did Gazelle react to his wife’s defiance?
A4: In anger, he beat her while shouting, “Who has married? Who has not married?” to assert his authority.
Q5: Why did Leopard hesitate to attack Gazelle?
A5: The elders reminded him that the quarrel was a marital issue, not one to be solved with violence.
Q6: What is the cultural lesson of the story?
A6: The tale emphasizes that family disputes require wisdom and restraint, not pride or force, reflecting the community values of Equatorial Guinea.
Folktale Origin
Source: Traditional folktale from Equatorial Guinea.
