Tere and the Leopard’s Whiskers

Overview

Yinda’s parents demand leopard whiskers to discourage Tere from marrying her. He instead offers to improve Leopard’s beauty, persuades him into a reed basket and weaves it tightly around him. He closes the top with cords and carries the captive to the village on his head.

Tere delivers the whole animal rather than the requested whiskers. Frightened, the parents give him Yinda. The ending attributes Leopard’s spots to sunlight passing through the basket, then warns that pursuing beauty for personal gain can become a trap.

Ndara’s introduction calls Tere supernatural but leaves his size and appearance unspecified. It traces the collection through Mandjia and Banda tellings translated into Sango by Moussa André and Bissafi Jeannot, then into English by Polly Strong. That collection-level account does not assign this particular tale to one language.

Origins & earliest records

The local republication credits Strong’s 1992 collection; no earliest oral date established.

Records & interpretation

Complete selected tale and collection introduction retained.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Mystery and marvel: Tere and the leopard

   Ndara Ti Beafrika; after Polly Strong · 2022

   Complete tale; credits African Tales, TELCRAFT, 1992.

2. 02

   Mystery and marvel

   Ndara Ti Beafrika · 2022

   Collection translation chain and unspecified appearance.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Local published witnessMystery and marvel: Tere and the leopardResearch access: 2026-10-11
2. Local published witnessMystery and marvelResearch access: 2026-10-11

Image credits

AI interpretation: Tere weaving Leopard’s basket. Body, clothes, setting imagined; no ethnographic claim.

AI interpretation: Tere weaving Leopard’s basket. Body, clothes, setting imagined; no ethnographic claim.