In the heart of Senegal, where the forest hums with life and the sun filters through a canopy of green, there once lived a leopard named N’Golo. His golden coat shimmered in the daylight, and his deep, thunderous roar could be heard across the plains. The other animals admired him, but they also feared him, for N’Golo carried his pride like a crown.
He often strutted through the forest paths, boasting about his speed, his strength, and his sharp claws. When the monkeys chattered in the trees, he would interrupt them with a loud roar. When the antelopes grazed by the river, he would leap across just to show off his grace. He laughed at no one’s jokes but his own, believing that laughter was beneath a great hunter like him.
One morning, after a long night of showing off his hunting skills, N’Golo awoke to find his roar gone. He opened his mouth wide, but not a sound came out. He tried again, scratching the ground in frustration, but the forest remained silent. The proud leopard was terrified. Without his roar, how would the other animals respect him? How would they even know he was near?
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Determined to find a cure, N’Golo set off through the forest. He first met Kora the parrot, whose feathers gleamed like jewels in the sunlight.
“Kora,” N’Golo whispered, “I have lost my roar. Tell me what to do.”
Kora tilted her head, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Perhaps you should learn to laugh first,” she said. “A heart full of laughter can heal what pride has broken.”
N’Golo frowned and turned away. “Laugh? A leopard does not laugh.”
He continued his journey and came across Tamba the tortoise, moving slowly along the dusty path.
“Tamba,” said N’Golo impatiently, “I have lost my roar. How can I get it back?”
The old tortoise smiled gently. “Perhaps if you walked slowly and listened to the forest, you would find your answer. Pride moves too fast to hear wisdom.”
But N’Golo growled softly, shaking his head. “I do not have time for riddles. I must find my roar.”
For days he wandered, growing weaker and lonelier. The forest, once full of echoes of his power, now seemed distant and quiet. When he came to the river, he looked at his reflection and saw not the mighty leopard he once was, but a weary animal humbled by silence.
That night, N’Golo curled up under a tall tree, exhausted. Nearby, he heard soft giggling. It was Fina the hare, laughing with her children as they played by the moonlight.
“What are you laughing about?” N’Golo asked softly, his curiosity piqued.
“The moon slipped behind a cloud and peeked out again,” Fina said, still laughing. “It’s playing hide and seek with us.”
N’Golo blinked. “You laugh at the moon?”
“Of course,” Fina replied. “Laughter keeps the heart light, even when the world feels dark.”
Something stirred inside N’Golo’s chest. He tried to smile, though it felt strange. The young hares giggled again, and this time, N’Golo couldn’t help it. A deep, rumbling chuckle escaped him, awkward at first but real. The sound startled him, yet it felt good. It was not a roar, but it was something powerful in its own way.
The next morning, when the forest awoke, N’Golo tried to speak again. To his surprise, his roar had returned—but it sounded softer, warmer. The pride in his voice had given way to something gentler. He ran through the trees, laughing as the parrots mimicked his new roar and the monkeys swung beside him. For the first time, the forest laughed with him, not out of fear but out of friendship.
From that day on, N’Golo changed. He no longer boasted about his strength or showed off his speed. Instead, he shared food with the smaller animals and joined in their games. When the tortoise spoke, he listened. When the parrot sang, he smiled. The forest soon forgot the proud, roaring leopard and remembered only N’Golo, the one who had learned to laugh.
In time, his story became a lesson told to young animals whenever pride began to grow too large in their hearts. The forest thrived in peace, its laughter echoing among the trees, and the great leopard’s roar became a symbol of humility and joy.
Moral Lesson
True strength is not in pride or power, but in kindness and humility. Laughter can heal what pride destroys, and friendship grows when hearts learn to listen.
Knowledge Check
Who is the main character in The Leopard Who Learned to Laugh?
N’Golo, the proud leopard who loses his roarWhat problem does N’Golo face at the start of the story?
He loses his roar because of his pride and arroganceWhich animals does N’Golo meet on his journey?
Kora the parrot, Tamba the tortoise, and Fina the hareWhat lesson does Kora the parrot try to teach N’Golo?
That laughter can heal what pride has brokenHow does N’Golo finally regain his roar?
By learning to laugh and discovering the joy of humility and friendshipWhat does the story teach about pride and kindness?
Pride isolates us, but kindness and laughter connect us to others
Source
Serer folktale, Senegal. Recorded by Alioune Diop in Serer Oral Traditions (1958)
