The Leopard and the Goat: A Story of Friendship, Jealousy, and Revenge

A long time ago, a leopard and a goat were best friends. They lived in a village and both had children. The leopard had two cubs, and the goat had two kids. Over time, the goat’s kids grew fat and healthy, while the leopard’s cubs became thin. The leopard became jealous and planned something bad.

The written record

One day, the leopard asked the goat to go and get a special cloth for a feast at her cousins’ place. While the goat was gone, the leopard took the goat’s kids, tied them up, and hid them in a bundle made from banana leaves. She planned to serve them as food at the feast.

However, the wild cat and the guinea fowl, who were friends of the goat, saw what the leopard was doing. They quickly went to tell the goat when she came back. Together, they freed the goat’s kids and replaced them with the leopard’s cubs, tying them up in the same bundle.

The leopard, unaware of the switch, took the bundle to her cousins. She boasted about the surprise dish she had prepared. When the cousins opened the bundle and cooked the food, they were shocked to find the leopard’s cubs inside. They were furious and called the leopard cruel.

The goat, her kids, and her friends escaped into the forest, away from the leopard’s anger, and started a new life, safe and happy.

Historical context

Reference

Surlalune Fairytales. (n.d.). The leopard and the goat. In Tales of Land of Death: Igbo Folk Tales.