picture of a tortoise in a Yoruba folktale stealing groundnuts at a market place as the market people dance away from the market.

1. How Tortoise (Ijapa) Got His Shell – Ìjàpá and Ìyá- Ẹlépà.

A long time ago, the world was very different. Humans and animals had much in common, lived side by side,...

2. How Tortoise (Ijapa) Cracked His Shell.

A long, long time ago there was famine in Teregun, a town in a faraway land where a tortoise, Ijapa,...

picture of a tortoise in distress in a yoruba folktale showing his very large and extended stomach walking outside his town with people looking at him

3. How Tortoise (Ijapa)’s Stomach Became Hollow (Ijapa and Babalawo).

A long, long time ago in Teregun, a town in a far away land there was a tortoise, Ijapa, who...

picture of a tortoise in distress, in a yoruba folktale, with burnt head, holding a deep cap with piping hot porridge yam.

4. Why Ijapa Is Bald.

A long time ago, the world was very different. Humans and animals had much in common, lived side by side,...

picture of a tortoise, rat and a squirrel at a market place in a yoruba folktale, fighting with tortoise beating the rat with a stick.

5. Why Ijapa’s Nose is Very Small (Ijapa, Asin and Okere).

A long, long time ago, when the world was very different from the way it is today, there lived a...

picture of a huge elephant with a tortoise in front of him going into a town to be king in a yoruba folktale, with people cheering, dancing with music and fanfare.

6. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Erin (Elephant)

A long time ago, the world was very different. Humans and animals had much in common, lived side by side,...

picture of a woman market cloth seller with her goods on her head in a yoruba folktale, standing alone in front of an iroko tree (solid oak) and two other women sellers of other things.

7. Olurombi

7. Olurombi A very, very long time ago when Iroko (large, solid and long-lasting wood tree from West Africa) was...

picture of Ojeje Traders in a yoruba folktale carrying their goods to a market, and a young girl going towards them crying.

8. Ojeje Traders

A very long time ago, in Akete, a town in a far, faraway land, there lived a renowned trader called...

picture of a tortoise in a yoruba folktale rescuing a young would be hunter from drowning.

9. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Jigborere, Oluwo’s Son

Many, many years ago, in Ijafa, a town in a faraway land, there was a man called Oluwo who had...

picture of a woman in a yoruba folktale at a stream where her co-wife's igbako (a utensil) is swept away by the current, frantically searching for it.

10. The Two Wives (Orogun Meji)

Many, many years ago, in Makani, a town in a faraway land there lived a man called Bamiwo who had...

picture of a man in a yoruba folktale following behind a woman outside the town and the woman telling him to turn back.

11. Olailo and the Mysterious Woman

A long, long time ago, in Kasawa, a town in a faraway land there was a man called Olailo. Olailo...

picture of a tortoise in hiding, in a yoruba folktale watching three princesses in their private garden forbidden to others.

12. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Princesses

Many, many years ago, in Makeke, a town in far away land there lived an Ọba (ruler in the human...