Yorùbá Folktales · Bibliography & Collections

Yorùbá Folktales Revisited Collection · Bibliography & Sources

📚 A curated bibliography of folktale collections — from classic international anthologies to Nigerian and Yorùbá authors, children’s editions, and online resources. A companion for storytellers, students, and lovers of moonlight tales.

🌍 International & Classic Collections

African Folktales
Abrahams, Roger D. (Editor)
Pantheon (12 August 1983) | First published 1983

African Myths & Legends
Arnott, Kathleen
Oxford University Press; New edition (1 April 1995)

Tales From Africa
Arnott, Kathleen
Oxford University Press (1962)

A Treasury of African Folklore
Courlander, Harold
Marlowe & Co.; Marlow & Co. ed. (1 Nov. 1995)

West African Folktales
Berry, Jack
Northwestern University Press (1991)

West African Folk Tales
Vernon-Jackson, Hugh
Dover Publications (23 April 2003)

Fables From Africa
Knappert, Jan (collected by)
Evans Brothers Limited (1980, first published in this edition 1981)

Using Folktales
Taylor, Eric K.
Cambridge University Press (2000)

Stories of Africa
Mhlophe, Gcina
University of KwaZulu-Natal Press; 2nd Revised ed. (1 August, 2004)

The Hare and the Tortoise (Aesop retold)
Mackinnon, Mairi (retold by)
Usborne First Reading (illustrations only)

🇳🇬 Nigerian & Yorùbá Authors

📖 Adeboye Babalola — Classic Collections

Akojọpọ Alọ Ijapa, Apa Kinni
Babalola, Adeboye
Oxford University Press, Ibadan (1973)

Collected tales of Ijapa, part 1

Akojọpọ Alọ Ijapa, Apa Keji
Babalola, Adeboye
Oxford University Press, Ibadan (1973)

Collected tales of Ijapa, part 2

📖 Remi Adedeji

Moonlight Stories
Adedeji, Remi
HEBN Publishers (1994, 1999) | First published 1999

Stories My Mother Told Me
Adedeji, Remi
Heinemann Educational Books (Nigeria) Limited (1978)

📖 Adefemi Adebajo

The Adventures of Ijapa: The Cunning And Wise Tortoise
Adebajo, Adefemi
AuthorHouse (2009)

📖 Lady Kofo Ademọla

Why The Tortoise Is Bald
Ademọla, Lady Kofo
Malthouse Press (1991); also Gilspar Publishers Ltd. Lagos (2002)

Tortoise and Elephant
Ademọla, Lady Kofo
Gilspar Publishers Ltd. Lagos (Butterfly Book)

Princess Corn
Ademọla, Lady Kofo
Gilspar Publishers Ltd. Lagos (2002)

Tortoise And The Dog
Ademọla, Lady Kofo
Gilspar Publishers Ltd. Lagos

Ojeje Trader and the Magic Pebble
Ademọla, Lady Kofo
Mudhut Books (1992); also Gilspar Publishers Ltd.

Olurombi
Ademọla, Lady Kofo
Mudhut Book / Malthouse Press (July 1994); also Gilspar Publishers Ltd.

📖 Expanded Yorùbá Voices & Classic Collections

Ijapa Tiroko Ọkọ Yannibo
Ojo, Olagoke
Longman Nigeria (1973, New Edition 2005)

Yorùbá Trickster Tales
Owomọyẹla, Oyekan
University of Nebraska Press (1997)

Yorùbá Folktales
Tutuọla, Amos
Ibadan University Press (1966)

Legends From Yorùbáland
Morgan, Kemi
Spectrum Books, Nigeria (1988)

Great Tales of the Yorubas
Omoleye, Mike
Omoleye Publishing Company Nigeria (1977)

Twilight Tales
Akinsemoyin, Kunle
African University Press Ibadan (1973)

Twilight and the Tortoise
Akinsemoyin, Kunle
African Universities Press Ibadan (1963, Second Edition 1972)

Yoruba Legends
Ogumefun, M.I.
London: Sheldon (1929)

Sweet Tales About Tortoise
Odeyemi, Richard T.
Ilorin: Woye Press (1980)

Asayan Alo Onitan
Opadotun, Olatunji
Ibadan: Y-Books (1994)

Akewi L’O N’Itan Apa Kinni (Igba N L’ahun)
Awoyele, O.
Onibonoje Press & Book Industries (Nig.) Ltd. (1987)

Alo Apagbe
Amoo, Adebisi
Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited, Ibadan (1987)

Oju Osupa Apa Kinni, Keji
Yemitan, Oladipo & Ogundele, Olajide
Oxford University Press, Ibadan (1970)

The Orphan Girl and Other Stories: West African Folk Tales
Offodile, Buchi
Interlink Books, New York (2001)

📖 Yorùbá Language & Educational Series

Alawiye Iwe Keta / Iwe Kerin
Odunjo, J.F.
Longman Nigeria Plc (2001, 2002)

Eko Ede Yoruba Titun (JSS) Iwe Keta
University Press PLC (UPPLC)
University Press PLC, Ibadan

Eko Ede Yoruba Ode Oni Iwe Keta
Macmillan Nigeria
Macmillan Nigeria (2002)

Akoka Yoruba Fun Ile-Eko Alakoobere Iwe Keji
Akinlade, Kola et al.
HEBN Publishers Plc Ibadan (2004)

Ogidi Yoruba Fun Ile-Eko Sekondiri Kekere (J.S.S.) Iwe Keji
Akinlade, Kola & Olurankinse, Olanipekun
HEBN Publishers Plc Ibadan (2002)

Iwe Kika Asiko (Iwe Kinni & Iwe Keji)
Odujinrin, J.S.A.
Spectrum Books, Ibadan (1966–1996 printing)

🧒 Children’s & Educational Books

Readers’ Theatre
Ṣẹgun, Mabel
Mabelline Publications (2006)

The Greedy Tortoise and other Stories
Olunloyo, Ọrẹ
Lantern Books (2002)

What’s My Name And Other Stories
Solarin, Babatunde
Literamed Publications (Nig.) Limited (2004)

Nigerian Folktales for Schools
Olanlokun, Olajire
Landmark Publications (1989)

Moonlight Tales
Olanlokun, Olajire
Durano Publishing Ltd (2002)

The Adventures of The Tortoise and Other Animals
Obodoechi, G.C.
University Press PLC, Ibadan (1982)

The Tortoise And The Mermaid and Other Stories
Adebanjo, Segun
Topdam Educational Publishers Nigeria (1996)

Three Tales of Tortoise
Sofowote
Pyramid Unit Press/Publishers, Nigeria (2007)

The Hen and the Hunter
Taiwo, Oladele
African Universities Press (1965)

Trumpet of Trouble and Other Stories
Oladele, Rotimi
Megavons (West Africa) Limited (1995, 2nd ed 1998, 3rd ed 2005)

My Story on Values for the African Child: The Wooden Spoon
Omoegun, Mopelola
Chapter Eleven, Tolerance

The Jealous Brother
Olorunmota, Paul
Atlantic Publishers Limited (2007)

Ijapa, Asin ati Okere / Ijapa ati Aja
Otitoloju, Ololade
Lolipops Publications, African Language Made Easy Series (2007)

My Favourite Tortoise Tales
Ajayi, Helen-Prest
Media Business Company Limited (2009)

🌐 Online & Miscellaneous Sources

🌿 Yorùbá Folktales Online: www.allfolktales.com, Ajantala & Other Yorùbá Folktales (Google Books), Ajantala and Other Yoruba Folktales by Rotimi Ogunjobi, The Kini-Kini Bird and More Yoruba Folktales edited by Rotimi Ogunjobi
📘 Alo o – A Collection of Yoruba Folktales by Omolara Olarerin
📕 Forgotten African Stories (Anonymous)
🌙 Folktales by Moonlight / Tales From My Grandmother / The Proud Beauty Tales By Moonlight
📖 Granny’s Tales (red book), Folk Tales for the Young Bk1
📚 The Conservation Magazine Vol. 2 No 1, Vol. 4 (Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Lekki, Nigeria)
🧩 Additional Tales: The Tortoise and the Squirrel (Oruche), The Talking Tree (Uzoka), The Deer and the Spider (Uzoka)
🎭 Understanding Yoruba Life & Culture: Traditional Folktales Part VIII by Ayo Bamgbose (edited by Nike S. Lawal et al., African World Press Inc, 2004)

✤ A living collection — compiled for readers, researchers, and lovers of Yorùbá oral traditions. Integrated entries from classic anthologies, Nigerian authors, children’s literature, and digital sources. ✤