In the distant past, when the world was young and the forests of the Congo echoed with the voices of animals, the Leopard and the Gazelle were neighbours. Both decided to make new maize farms, each preparing their land with care. The earth was tilled, the ashes spread, and the soil dark and rich, ready for planting. The Gazelle, sly and clever, devised a trick to deceive the Leopard, who was strong but not always wise.
When the Gazelle had prepared his land, he placed some maize in a saucepan to boil, hiding the rest of his seeds in another place. As the steam rose from the pot and the scent of maize drifted through the air, the Leopard came to visit. His sharp eyes glinted with curiosity, and his deep voice rumbled:
“Friend Gazelle, what are you boiling in that saucepan?”
The Gazelle, feigning innocence, replied, “Some maize. When it is cooked, I shall plant it in my farm.”
The Leopard blinked in surprise. “Indeed! Do you plant boiled maize?”
“Yes,” the Gazelle said confidently. “I boil all my maize before planting, for it grows much better that way.”
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The Leopard, trusting his friend’s words, hurried home at once. He stripped all his maize from the cobs and boiled every grain. The following morning, both animals went to their farms and planted their seeds.
But the Gazelle had more cunning in mind. Under the cover of night, he crept silently into the Leopard’s farm and secretly planted some unboiled maize among the Leopard’s boiled seeds.
A few days later, the two friends returned to inspect their farms. In the Gazelle’s field, strong green shoots covered the land, each stalk pushing proudly toward the sun. But in the Leopard’s farm, only a few stalks grew, the ones planted secretly by the Gazelle. The rest of the soil lay barren, the boiled maize lifeless.
The Leopard shook his head in bewilderment. “I boiled all my maize,” he muttered, “and yet it does not grow. I do not understand.”
Time passed, and soon the Gazelle’s farm was full of ripe maize, golden and plentiful, while the Leopard’s remained almost empty. The Gazelle and Leopard each harvested their crops, but greed soon consumed the Leopard. At night, he began sneaking into the Gazelle’s farm to steal maize, filling his belly with what he had not sown.
The Gazelle noticed his loss. Confronting the Leopard one day, he asked, “Friend Leopard, who is stealing maize from my farm?”
The Leopard feigned ignorance. “I don’t know,” he lied smoothly.
But the Gazelle was not fooled. Determined to catch the thief, he carved a wooden fetish known as the Nkondi. The image stood tall in his field, a guardian with power and mystery.
That very night, the Leopard crept once more into the Gazelle’s farm. He pulled some maize, but as he turned to leave, the Nkondi’s voice thundered:
“Oh, so you are the thief, are you?”
Startled, the Leopard snarled, “If you dare speak to me like that, I will strike you.”
“Strike me, then,” replied the Nkondi.
The Leopard struck the wooden figure with his paw, and to his horror, his paw stuck fast to the Nkondi.
“Let go!” the Leopard roared. “Release me, or I will hit you with my other hand!”
“Strike me again,” the Nkondi answered calmly.
The Leopard, blinded by anger, struck with his other paw, and that too stuck firmly to the image.
Now desperate, he growled, “Let go, or I will kick and bite you!” He lashed out with his legs and bit at the Nkondi, but his feet and mouth stuck as well. Soon the mighty Leopard was bound to the fetish, struggling helplessly as both he and the Nkondi toppled to the ground.
When dawn broke, the Gazelle arrived at his farm. There, before him, lay the Leopard entangled with the wooden image. The Gazelle laughed and exclaimed, “So, it is you who has been stealing my maize all along!”
The Leopard hung his head in shame, unable to escape. The Gazelle punished him for his dishonesty, then gathered leaves and crafted a charm to break the Nkondi’s hold. With the spell, he freed the Leopard, but warned him sternly never to steal again.
From that day forward, the Leopard kept away from the Gazelle’s farm, forever remembering the lesson of the Nkondi and the shame of his deceit.
Moral Lesson
This Congolese folktale teaches that dishonesty and greed always bring disgrace. The Leopard sought to gain through trickery and theft, but his actions only brought humiliation. The Gazelle’s wisdom, combined with the power of the Nkondi, revealed the truth and ensured justice was done.
It reminds us that cleverness without greed is strength, but greed without wisdom leads to downfall. True prosperity comes from honesty, patience, and respect for the efforts of others.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What crop did the Leopard and Gazelle decide to farm?
A1: They both planted maize.
Q2: Why did the Leopard’s maize not grow?
A2: He boiled all his maize before planting, as tricked by the Gazelle.
Q3: How did the Gazelle secretly ensure some maize grew in the Leopard’s field?
A3: He planted unboiled maize in the Leopard’s farm at night.
Q4: What was the Nkondi, and why was it important?
A4: The Nkondi was a wooden fetish carved by the Gazelle to catch the thief in his field.
Q5: How did the Leopard get trapped by the Nkondi?
A5: Each time he struck or kicked the image, his paws, feet, and mouth stuck to it.
Q6: What lesson does this Congolese folktale teach?
A6: That greed and dishonesty lead to downfall, while wisdom and justice protect the honest.
Folktale Origin
Source: Congolese folktale, Congo.
