Description
Ijapa, known for his deviousness, mischief and pranks – a trickster ‘par excellence’ – uses tricks to win a competition set by the Oba of Makeke for the hand of his daughters, causing alarm, distress, shock and horror throughout the town.
Ijapa, who now lives in Makeke after being driven away from Isale-Odo, near Jakota for his misdeeds, feels justified in participating in the competition. After all he is no longer with Yannibo, his wife, and the children. The Oba in trying to prevent his daughters from marrying anyone at all, sets an indisputably impossible test for suitors, who have to guess the princesses’ real names. Ijapa uses tricks to discover the princesses’ real names violating an order that is punishable by death.
When Ijapa reveals the names of the princesses on the night of the event, the Oba’s distress and shock are nothing compared with the reaction of the princesses. They are so alarmed and horrified, and are prepared to die than to be married off to Ijapa. Are there any chances of the princesses coming out of this serious dilemma facing them, unwittingly brought on by their father whose rulings as Oba, once formulated, have to be abided by?
