Large beast brought back from an African oil country (4)
I believe the answer is:
lion
'large beast' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'brought back from an african oil country' is the wordplay.
'brought back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'from' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'noil' is hidden in the letters of 'african oil country'.
'noil' reversed gives 'LION'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lion that I've seen before include "Carnivore" , "Carnivorous 6" , "cowardly character in Oz" , "Important figure" , "Cat, the king of the beasts" .)