African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

Short African Folklore Story Have Common Sense Before Acting

Short African Folklore Story Have Common Sense Before Acting

This short African folklore story explains do not believe all you hear.



Leopard Boils his Mother's Teeth Short African Story teaches to have common sense before acting. Even very smart people sometimes lack common sense, but in this Short African Story, Leopard has no sense by literally believing everything Gazelle says.


Short African Story Leopard Boils his Mother's Teeth
Leopard had no common sense

Short African Folklore Story Have Common Sense Before Acting



So the elders say, one day a Gazelle bought some corn at the market, and while he was boiling them at home, the Leopard paid him a visit and asked him: "Sister Gazelle, what are you cooking on the stove?"

The Gazelle replied, "I am boiling my mother's teeth."

"Really!" exclaimed the Leopard "let me taste them." So the Gazelle gave him some of the cooked corn, and the Leopard thought the food so good that he went home and pulled out all his mother's teeth, and put them to boil on the stove.

The Gazelle, passing the house, called in, and seeing the pot on the fire, asked the Leopard what he was cooking. "I am cooking my mother's teeth, but they don't get soft," answered the Leopard.

The Gazelle laughingly said, "I meant corn, and you have pulled out and are boiling all your mother's teeth!" The Leopard was so angry at what he had foolishly done but before he could chase the Gazelle, it ran away laughing at the Leopard for his foolishness in mistaking corn for teeth.


Leopard Boils his Mother's Teeth African Folklore teaches us to hear and understand what is said and discern jokiness from actuality.

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