In this Nigerian folktale from Calabar, we meet Effiong, a once-prosperous hunter who squandered all his wealth on feasting and extravagance. When his fortune turned, Effiong borrowed money not only from his human friend Okun but also from a leopard, a bush cat, a goat, and a rooster, promising to repay them—or let them eat whatever they found in his compound if he was absent.
On the day of repayment, Effiong cleverly abandoned his home after scattering corn. One by one, his animal creditors arrived. The rooster came first and began eating the corn, only to be killed by the bush cat. Then the goat, angry at not receiving payment, attacked the bush cat, who fled with the rooster’s remains, forfeiting his debt. The goat stayed, only to be ambushed and killed by the leopard, who then feasted on him.
Finally, Okun arrived with his gun and, finding the leopard devouring the goat, shot him dead. In this twisted chain of events, Effiong had escaped all four debts. But greedy as ever, he scolded Okun for killing his “friend” the leopard and threatened to report him to the king. Terrified, Okun bribed Effiong by forgiving his debt of two hundred rods, which was Effiong’s plan all along.
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