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Who Will Bell the Leopard?
| Article
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19760 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
3 / 1991 |
888 Words |
| Author
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Jan Knappert
Jan Knappert is a folklorist and specialist in African and
Oriental languages who is based in Belgium. |
The Mongo of Zaire place much of their artistic expression in oral tradition, which is rich in myth and fable. One myth of interest, which concerns the attempts of jungle animals to bell a leopard, is similar to the Western fable in which mice meet in council to decide how to bell the cat. Where the Western version ends with no firm resolution, the African story makes an attempt. This difference in ending, along with other elements of the myth, lead to several morals that are distinctively "African," yet important to the entire human family.
Much to their frustration, the Leopard kept himself busy by killing the other animals of the jungle. After nearly every animal had had a loss in the family, the animals finally decided to organize a meeting in hopes of ending the Leopard's reign of terror. Long speeches about the necessity of stopping the Leopard's rampage marked the event, but it looked like the meeting would end in vain until the Pig came forward with a brilliant idea: "If we make a bell and hang it round the Leopard's neck (like the hunters hand bells round their dogs' necks), we can hear him before he jumps on our backs!"
This new proposition was received with acclaim, and some of the animals got out their knives and fashioned a nice bell from wood. It had a clear sound that could be heard far away, and it rang with the minutest movement. This was then handed over to the Pig with the request he hang it round the Leopard's neck. After all, he, the Pig, had had the idea in the first place. Bu the Pig shivered at the thought of ever going near the Leopard, let alone of tying a bell around his neck; the Pig refused. And so did most of the other animals as they asked each other: "Who will bell the Leopard?" It looked like no one would find the courage until the noble Antelope finally stepped forward and announced: "I will go and do it, on one condition, which is that you make me your chief." All the animals agreed, and each one swore an oath of allegiance to the future King Antelope.
Assured of his future power, the Antelope went to the sorcerer (or fetishist), whom he asked to prepare medicine for use against leopards. After extracting the heavy price of twenty copper rings, the fetishist gave the Antelope a worthless leaf, saying: "As soon as the Leopard's eyes fall on this leaf, he will fall asleep." Bravely, the Antelope walked up to the Leopard's den, holding the leaf up. But the Leopard kept his eyes wide open, and he sprang forward and killed the Antelope.
There are thee moral lessons in this fable: Many can
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