Leopard Society

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The Leopard Society were a West African society active in the early- to mid-1900s that practiced cannibalism.^[1] They were centred in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.

Members would dress in leopard skins, waylaying travelers with sharp claw-like weapons in the form of leopards' claws and teeth. The victims' flesh would be cut from their bodies and distributed to members of the society. In theory, the ritual cannibalism would strengthen both members of the society as well as their entire tribe.

[edit] In fiction

• A fictional version of the Leopard Society was featured in the Tarzan novel Tarzan and the Leopard Men.
• The Leopard Society also appeared in the book African Adventure.

[edit] External links

• The Leopard Society in the Nimba Range and at the Kru coast
• 1900-1950: The Leopard Society in 'Vai country' in Bassaland

[edit] References

• The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies & Fraternal Orders, Alan Axelrod, 1997, Checkmark Books