The Greedy Goat

The Greedy Goat

Destructive Appetite

In the first week of November, the moon was full in the sky, shining almost like a noon day sun. That evening, many children and teenage boys and girls gathered at the village squire to listen to the best story teller in the community, Baba Ekuowo sat in front of the children and teenagers; all the kids were looking at the face of the seventy-five years old Baba story teller, waiting anxiously for what Baba would say next.

Baba loved to tell stories to interested listeners like the kids in front of him that night. “Boys and girls of Imola village, this evening, I will tell you a story about a he-goat and a she-goat that could talk with people in ancient history.” All the kids in front of the old man shouted: “Hey!” They all clapped their hands in excitement for the old man. The old man responded to their clapping with a soft smile, and he started his story: “The he-goat’s name was Dogo , and his wife the she-goat’s name was Depe. The couple was married for fifteen years without a child.” Some of the kids chorused: “Ha ha, but why?”

The old man smile; “Because the she-goat was barren,” he responded. The story teller looked at the excited faces of the teenagers in front of him, and continued with the story: “One day, Dogo the he-goat consulted a Priest, and said; “My priest, we are childless after fifteen years in marriage.” The Diviner consulted his oracle for answers, after which he told Dogo the he-goat that the cause of their childlessness was from a witch who placed a curse on Depe the she-goat for eating the witch’s cassava she planted.

However, the priest promised to prepare a special herbal soup to cast out the spell from the womb of Dogo’s wife; the priest named his price and Dogo paid the money on the spot because he was a rich he-goat. The priest told Dogo the he-goat to come back after seven days.”

The story teller paused to check if any of the kids were sleeping, but none of them seemed tired, and he continued with his story: “Seven days later, Dogo the he-goat went back to the priest’s village, and as he stepped into the priest house, Dogo perceived the sweet aroma coming from a slightly covered clay pot of soup on a wooden table, the priest noticed that Dogo the he-goat was looking at the pot of herbal soup with keen interest. Dogo’s attitude was very suspicious; however, the priest handed the pot of herbal soup to Dogo, and he warned him three times not to taste soup. Dogo quickly collected the pot of soup excitedly and left the priest’s hut in a hurry.”

The story teller paused again to check his listener’s alertness, many of the kids touched Baba’s leg urging him to continue with the story.

As a result of their deep interest in the story, Baba continued with the story: “As soon as Dogo left the priest’s village, he could not resist the sweet aroma that was assaulting his nose; he stopped under a mango tree that was by the road side, he wiped his right hand on his body and opened the herbal pot of soup that was specially prepared for his wife, Depe; the she-goat.

Dogo greedily ate half of the smoked catfish; he also licked part of the spicy herbal soup to his satisfaction. Dogo covered the pot of the herbal soup and continued his journey back home, he completely forgot the stern warning the priest gave him concerning the soup. Males are not supposed to taste the special herbal soup prepared for barren females, which was the warning the priest gave to Dogo, but the he-goat’s greedy appetite for food destroyed him.”

The old story teller paused again to check the reaction of the kids, with enthusiasm they all pleaded with Baba to finish the story that night.

Baba had no choice, so he continued with the story: “When Dogo got home later that day, he met Depe the she-goat sleeping in their hut; he quickly warmed the soup in the fire place, the aroma of the herbal soup filled the whole hut, which got to Dogo’s wife in the hut, she came out of the hut and walked up to meet her husband in the fire place. Dogo removed the pot of soup from the fire and placed it on a wooden table before his wife. Depe noticed that half part of the smoked catfish was missing, without saying anything, she quietly ate the rest of the fish and licked the herbal soup to the last drop.

Depe knew Dogo ate the first part of the catfish; she kept her peace without knowing the implication of Dogo’s greedy action. Two months after Depe ate the special soup, she discovered she was pregnant and informed her husband; “Dogo, I am pregnant already!” She announced excitedly. Few weeks later, Dogo noticed that as his wife’s stomach was growing bigger every month, his own stomach was also growing as well!

Depe suspiciously asked; “Dogo, are you sure you did not taste the herbal soup?” Dogo denied; “No! I did not even lick the drop of soup that splashed to the side of the pot!”

However, few days later, Dogo quickly ran to meet the priest in the next village to know the cause of his growing stomach; “My priest, look at my big stomach!” The priest looked at the he-goat and said angrily; “You this greedy goat, I warned you not to taste the soup!” Dogo confessed and asked for solution. “You are mad; get out of my hut!” And the priest chased Dogo out of his hut.

When the circle of life was completed in Depe’s womb, she gave birth to a male goat, and at the same time, Dogo’s stomach busted and dead catfishes gushed out of his bowel; and Dogo died instantly.”