Ẹ̀rù ló sọ ọmọ Ẹkùn di Ológbò/Ológìní tó fi di ” Ẹran-àmúsìn – Ọdẹ peku-peku” –

In the olden days, the “Tiger” was a powerful animal, so also was the Lion very powerful. As powerful as the Lion was in the forest, when it roars, everything in the forest became silent including other animals. Only the Tiger was different because he/she was endued with boldness, hence he/she is called “Father of the animals” while the Lion is known as “King of the Forest”.

One day, the Tiger left to the forest to fetch food for cubs who were not as fast as their mother. She instructed them to gather together on top of the anthill where she could sight them quickly, but they must not be afraid for anything or other animals that came near them.

As it is known, the Lion and the Tiger were the boss in their own right, they never fought. Wherever the Tiger was, the Lion would not cross, likewise wherever the Lion was, the Tiger would not cross. As a result of this, the Yoruba proverb said “Instead of the Lion to become the Tiger’s treasurer, each party will have to go their separate ways”.

In order not to prolong the matter, the Tigers cubs heard the Lion’s roar, and him pass bye, some of the Tiger’s cubs that were afraid disobeyed their mother’s instruction not to be fearful, so they ran. When the Tiger arrived with the prey she had caught to feed her cubs, they were incomplete, but they later returned. It was on their return that their mother reminded them of her instruction not to fear. As a result she disowned them.

As their mother has disowned them, they were unable to hunt for themselves in the forest, hence they became wondering animals, domesticated and hunting after rats. This is why the Yoruba proverb said “It is fear that turned the Tiger’s cub to the cat that hunts after the house rat”.

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