piture of three yoruba boys in a yoruba folktale in a yorubaland who are bantering, joking about their expertise in their three areas of work: fishing, palm-tree climbing/palm-oil making, and hunting, in the fresh air and a tortoise (ijapa) spying on them.

24. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the three Brothers

A long, long time ago, in Makadu, a town in a faraway land there was an old man called Saka,...

picture of a proud yruba ayaba (king' wiife) in a yoruba folktale in a yorubaland who is put in charge of all the rules and regulations of the palace including assignments of duties and she uses this to her advantage to ill-treat another ayaba - younger than her.

23. The Dishonest Wife (Afigbaṣoyun)

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

picture of hunter in a yoruba folktale in a forest facing an enraged enemy and his three dogs coming to his rescue.

22. The Hunter’s Best Friend

A long, long time ago in Ijafa – a town in a faraway land there was a hunter called Ogunmọla...

picture of a yoruba akara-seller (beanb-based food) in a yoruba folktale in a yorualand (iya-alakara) frying ‘akara o l’ ororo’ (akara made with groundnut oil) in her stall, in front of her house and a queue in front of her stall.

21. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Iya-Alakara (Akara Seller)

A very, very long time ago, there was a female akara (beans-based food) seller (Iya-Alakara) who lived in Eweko, the...

picture of a woman at a river in a Yoruba folktale carrying a calabash with locust-beans running agains the current in pursue of a single locust-bean

20. The Locust-Bean Seller (Iya-Oniru)

A long, long time ago in Makawa – a town in a faraway land, there was a locust-bean seller (Iya-Oniru)....

picture of a very good-looking yoruba man in a yoruba folktale in a yorubaland who notices a very beautiful yoruba woman following behind him, begs her to go home - to turn back.

19. Amọla and the Hunter

A long, long time ago, in Kasawa, a town in a faraway land there was a girl called Amọla. Amọla,...

picture of a bird on a very tall tree in a swampy farm with palm kernels, holding a baby in a yoruba folktale, and a young woman at the bottom of the tree begging the bird to return the baby.

17. Agbigbo the Great

Many, many years ago when the world was very different from the way it is today human beings and animals...

picture of a tortoise in a yoruba folktale carrying yams running after a dog at a farm where they have gone to steal, and the farm owner holding a cutlass looking at them.

18. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Aja (Dog)

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

picture of two brothers in a yoruba folktale, gifted in music singing and dancing at a musical competition

16. The Jealous Brother

A long, long time ago, in Sasawa, a town in a faraway land there were two brothers, Mariwo and Jiraiye,...

picture of a tortoise in a yoruba folktale observing a beautiful young woman on her way to a river.

15. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Kerebuje

Many, many years ago there was a young woman called Kerebuje who lived with her parents in Makeke, the same...

picture of a young girl at a river in a yoruba folktale lulled to sleep by its beautiful surroundings

14. The Disobedient Girl (Alantere)

A long time ago, the world was very different. In a land far away, in the town of Ipẹri-Ake there...

picture of a group of people attacking a huge woman in a yoruba folktale

13. Ọlọmurọrọ

Many, many years ago in Idọja, a village just outside Sakowa – a town in a faraway land – there...