Long ago, in the villages of Equatorial Guinea, Dog and Leopard were close friends. They built a town together, shared one great table, hunted in the same forests, and feasted side by side with their families. For a time, harmony ruled their lives, until pride and rivalry crept in like a shadow. What began as playful competition soon grew into jealousy, proving that pride destroys friendship. From that moment on, their bond would be tested by cunning, envy, and the consequences of unchecked ego.
One day, Leopard boasted, “If I hide myself, you will never be able to find me.” Dog laughed in reply, “There is no place you can go that my nose will not discover.” Thus began a dangerous game of hide-and-seek that would test the strength of their friendship.
Leopard’s Hiding Game
The very next morning, Leopard left his home in Batanga and traveled north, as far as Bahabane, near the plantation lands, almost fifteen miles away. Dog awoke, lifted his nose to the wind, and sniffed carefully. Following the scent, he tracked his friend until he reached the tree where Leopard was hiding. Standing beneath the branches, Dog barked triumphantly, “Is this not you, chum Nja?”
They returned home together, where food was waiting. Yet Leopard, his pride wounded, said, “Tomorrow, you will not find me again.”
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The following morning, Leopard slipped southward to Lolabe, another fifteen miles away. Dog again raised his nose to the air and followed the scent until he reached the tree. “Is this not you?” he called, and Leopard was forced to climb down in shame.
Time after time, Leopard tried to outwit Dog. He traveled farther, from Batanga to Campo River (forty miles) and then north to Lokonje (another forty miles). Yet always, Dog’s keen nose betrayed him. At last Leopard admitted, “It is useless. I cannot hide from Mbwa.”
Dog’s Turn to Hide
Now it was Dog’s turn. “Let us see,” he said slyly, “if I hide from you, whether you will ever find me.” Leopard scoffed. “Even if you can see me, surely I can find you.”
At dawn, Dog slipped like a shadow into Leopard’s house. Quiet as a whisper, he crawled beneath Leopard’s bed and lay waiting. Leopard, not seeing him, went to Dog’s home and demanded of the women, “Where is Mbwa?” They replied, “He left very early.”
Leopard fumed. He traveled south to Lolabe, north to Boje, down to Campo, east to Nkamakak, north to Ebaluwa, and even to distant Lokonje, miles upon miles without rest. Exhausted and angry, he returned home, cursing Dog’s cleverness. Throwing himself onto his bed, Leopard growled, “If I had found him today, you would be feasting on his meat now.”
At that moment, Dog leapt from beneath the bed, pwa! Leopard stared in disbelief. “Where have you been?” Dog grinned. “I saw you the moment you left.”
Betrayal and the Pit
Realizing Leopard’s envy and growing hatred, Dog gathered his children and said, “We must prepare for his treachery. Let us dig a pit on the road.” His wives and children moved ahead, while Dog stayed behind with one young pup.
He warned the pup, “When they chase you, leap across the pit.”
Meanwhile, Leopard, suspecting Dog’s movements, muttered to himself, “Where will Mbwa and his family go today?” Soon Leopard and his children found only the little dog left behind. They cried, “Let us catch this one and eat him!”
Leopard gave chase, but the pup ran swiftly, leaping across the hidden pit. Leopard, blinded by rage, did not see the trap. He tumbled headlong into the pit with a loud crash, volom!
Hot on his heels came Gorilla, Leopard’s ally, also chasing the little dog. Unaware of the pit, he too plunged inside, volom!
The Pit of Shame
Inside the pit, Leopard stood on one side, Gorilla on the other. Each snarled when the other moved closer. Neither dared attack, yet neither trusted the other.
Above them, Dog stood laughing. “Fight each other if you must! Was it only me you sought?” he mocked.
But Leopard and Gorilla did not fight. Their pride and mistrust trapped them more than the pit itself. Dog walked away, leaving his enemies to stew in their humiliation. From that day, enmity burned between Dog and Leopard, a hatred passed down through generations.
Moral of the Story
This tale teaches that friendship built on pride and rivalry cannot endure. Dog and Leopard began as companions, but jealousy and mistrust turned them into lifelong enemies. True friendship requires humility, honesty, and goodwill, not competition or deceit. Those who allow envy to rule their hearts dig pits not only for others, but for themselves.
Knowledge Check
Who were the main friends in the story?
Dog (Mbwa) and Leopard (Nja).
What skill allowed Dog to always find Leopard?
His keen sense of smell.
Where did Dog hide from Leopard?
Under Leopard’s bed in his own house.
Why did Dog’s family dig a pit?
To protect themselves from Leopard’s treachery.
Who accidentally fell into the pit with Leopard?
Gorilla (Ngiya).
What is the main lesson of the story?
Pride and envy destroy friendship, while humility preserves it.
Source: Equatorial Guinean folktale
