Long ago, in the deep forests of Equatorial Guinea, where rivers shimmered like polished bronze and the air rang with bird calls, Tortoise (Kudu) and Leopard (Nja) built a great town together. But pride divided them from the start. Leopard declared, “Kudu, I will live with you, but I am a great man. I eat alone.”
Tortoise nodded, hiding his thoughts behind his shell. He soon married a wife, and when hunger pressed upon her, he ventured into the forest. There he gathered mushrooms and fed her. But after many days of the same fare, she grew weary and demanded meat.
The First Deception of Tortoise
Determined to please his wife, Tortoise wandered further and came upon a strange town. From his hiding place, he saw men depart for hunting. Slipping into their houses, he discovered meat drying on the shelves. Greedy, he stole it and carried it home. His wife rejoiced, and when their child was born, she urged him, “Bring meat every day!”
So Tortoise returned again and again, warning his wife, “Do not show Nja this meat.” Yet children are careless. One day, little Tortoise walked with meat in hand to Leopard’s home. Suspicious, Leopard demanded, “Where does your father get this meat?” The child had no answer.
Leopard’s Suspicion
Leopard invited Tortoise to dine. Over food, he pressed him, “Where did you get the meat I saw with your child?” Tortoise lied, “I picked it up.” But Leopard’s eyes burned with doubt. Later, he sent his own children to sabotage Tortoise’s hunting bag, filling it with ashes.
READ THIS: Leopard’s Hunting Companions: An Equatorial Guinean Folktale of Greed, Deception, and Consequences
At dawn, Tortoise unknowingly carried the bag into the forest, leaving a trail of ash. Leopard followed and caught him at the very town of men. There, once again, Tortoise led the way inside, and the two feasted on stolen meat. But when Leopard lingered to cook, the men returned.
Tortoise hid in cassava leaves. Leopard, proud, claimed the bedroom. The men’s sick child shared the room, and Leopard, desperate, stole the child’s food twice until the boy cried. His mother discovered Leopard and called the hunters. Leopard was killed.
The Flight of Tortoise
From his hiding place, Tortoise heard everything. Fearing blame, he told Leopard’s children, “Your father is dead.” They laughed, refusing to believe. That night, Tortoise fled with his family to a distant town. But Leopard’s children swore revenge: “The day we see Kudu, we will kill him.”
Tortoise soon traveled again, this time to Boa (Mbama). “If Nja’s children come, hide me,” he pleaded. Boa placed him on a rock in the middle of the river. There, Tortoise laid a strange egg-like object and tossed it into the water. It floated downstream to Crocodile (Ngando).
The Final Deception of Tortoise
Crocodile demanded, “Did you make this thing?” Tortoise, sly as ever, said, “Yes. Bring me plantains, and I shall make many more.” Crocodile obeyed, giving him a room and food. But Tortoise idled and ate the plantains. At last, he asked to cross the river, choosing Igwana (Ngambi) as his paddler.
When Crocodile shouted after them, Tortoise tricked Igwana, saying, “He tells you to paddle faster!” Believing him, Igwana sped to the far shore, and Tortoise escaped.
But fate is patient. On the path, a child of Leopard met Tortoise. “You killed my father,” the child declared, “and now I shall kill you.” With no more tricks left, Tortoise was slain.
Moral of the Tale
This Equatorial Guinean folktale teaches that deceit may bring short-lived gain, but it breeds distrust, danger, and inevitable downfall. Tortoise’s cunning could not save him forever. Pride, greed, and lies eventually lead even the cleverest trickster to ruin.
Knowledge Check
Who were the two animals that built a town together at the beginning?
– Leopard (Nja) and Tortoise (Kudu).
What food did Tortoise first bring his wife before stealing meat?
– Mushrooms from the forest.
How did Leopard discover Tortoise’s thefts?
– His children filled Tortoise’s bag with ashes, leaving a trail.
Where did Leopard meet his death?
– In the bedroom of the men’s house, discovered while hiding.
What trick did Tortoise play on Igwana during the canoe crossing?
– He lied that Crocodile’s shouts meant “paddle faster.”
What is the main lesson of the tale?
– Deception and greed ultimately lead to destruction.
Source: This folktale is from Equatorial Guinea, part of the rich oral traditions of Central Africa.
