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, lived. At that time the world was totally different from the way it is today. Animals had a lot in common with human beings. Not only did they speak like humans, they also behaved like humans, so much so that they were often addressed and referred to as if they were humans. Some animals possessed remarkable physical and mental capabilities, the tortoise, Ijapa, being an example of this phenomenon.

It had not rained for a long time in Teregun, and soon this lack of rainfall led to a great drought and famine; there was scarcity of food – hardly anything to buy in the market such as corn and yam – even if one had the money. The effect of the famine was devastating for the inhabitants – humans and animals alike. Weak from hunger they became lean, emaciated; they had sunken eyes and hollowed cheeks.

“Why should this be happening to us? Why should we go hungry when practically every being in the land is a farmer?” human beings and animals were complaining.

“We should be able to feed ourselves. Otherwise why are we farmers, and why do our wives help us on the farms, for goodness sake?”

Ijapa was one of these farmers. He had been living in Teregun after being driven away from Magunwa, his former town, and from Idaha, a nearby town where he had gone to steal. After sustaining a lot of injuries for his misdeeds – tricking a roasted groundnut seller (Iya- Ẹlẹpa) in a market in order to steal from her and others – he was warned by the Ọba of both towns not to show his face in their towns ever again. Ijapa had been very lucky not to lose his life. He had also been very lucky that his misdeeds resulted most unexpectedly in a windfall.

This windfall had changed Ijapa’s life dramatically. He had been able to afford to buy a hard shell to cover his back. At that time Ijapa was a soft animal; his skin was as soft as a lizard’s or a frog’s, and he was easily overpowered and captured. To protect himself from similar injuries to those he had sustained at Idaha, he had bought this shell which he put at his back, and which miraculously stuck. Ijapa had also been able to buy a farm and start farming – a change from his usual way of not wanting to do any work at all.

Unfortunately, there was nothing Ijapa or any of the others in Teregun could do, as farmers, to stop the famine. There was no rain to help their crops to grow. The crops, the lovely, luscious green leaves on trees, the luxuriant green grass had turned light brown, and were withering away. The famine had ravaged their farms.

The animals were the worst hit and started dying one by one. However, it was inevitable that humans, especially children would follow. It was a sorry state of affairs.

“We can’t continue like this. We have to find a solution, so that we’ll not be wiped off from the face of the earth”, the animals were saying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After some time, an elephant, Erin, put pressure on a lion, Kiniun (Ọba – ruler in the animal kingdom) to call an emergency meeting to find a solution to this crisis. Erin knew that Kiniun, like some other lions elsewhere, had a habit of eating other animals – especially the smaller ones – whenever he felt like it. Erin had been warning him to stop this criminal habit, even before the famine started. Erin cared for other animals, and was very protective of them, and the other animals regarded him as their true Ọba. They did not choose Erin as Ọba because they were afraid of what Kiniun might do to them had they done so; Kiniun was very wild. They also thought that once Kiniun became king, his criminal habit of eating other animals would stop.

“Surely he can’t continue to eat us whenever he feels like it. Otherwise, as Ọba, he’ll have no one left to rule!” they thought.

They were wrong, of course. Kiniun continued his habit, much to the other animals’ consternation and disappointment. But now that there was famine Kiniun knew that he had to step very carefully; he was aware of what might happen if he continued this way, and had been telling himself:

“I’d better not push my luck on this one whether I’m the Ọba or not, when there’re other animals like Erin, who’re just as big and powerful as myself, who could have been chosen as Ọba, and who can still overthrow me. Erin, alone, can attack me with his heavy trunk and huge feet!” Animals were ready to support each other but were also ready to fight each other when necessary.

Kiniun agreed to call a meeting but made up his mind to find ways of turning it to his best advantage. Gathered together at the meeting in the middle of the forest, were representat ẹ ives of all the animals – big and small, including Ẹkun (Tiger), Amọtẹkun (Leopard), Ẹgbin/Igala (Antelope), Ẹfon (Buffalo), Agbanrere (Giraffe), Ehoro (Hare), Ikooko (Wolf), Kọlọkọlọ (Fox) – to discuss the problem.

“Perhaps I can get some of the big animals, if not Erin, on my side, to see things my way – to see that we can’t all survive the famine. Some of us are bound to die, so why not…” Kiniun was thinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“My subjects, you’ve been summoned here so that we can put our heads together and come up with a solution for combating this famine”, Kiniun began. “Otherwise we’ll all perish from the face of the earth. We don’t want that, do we? So, we have to try and save some of us. That’ll be better than all of us perishing, not so?”

Kiniun looked all around him and saw some of the other animals nodding. He continued boldly:

“I believe that smaller and weaker animals will find it more difficult to survive the famine than bigger and stronger ones. So, I suggest that we offer smaller animals for food. That way there’ll be more food to go around – at least for quite a while. I’m sure Ẹkun, Amọtẹkun, and Ikooko here will agree with me…”.

Before Ẹkun, Amọtẹkun and Ikooko, or any of the other animals that were present could say anything, some smaller animals reacted vehemently to Kiniun’s speech, taking them all by surprise.

“Nonsense! It’s criminal!” one of the smaller animals said. They were all very angry, and were shouting, and soon there was an uproar.

“We’ve had enough of Kiniun. Just because he thinks we can’t fight back, he feels that he can do as he pleases”, another one was saying. “Well, let us tell you, we can call on the same Ẹkun, Ikooko, and of course, Erin, to deal with you – to overthrow you!”

“How about food lasting longer if bigger animals were offered? Isn’t it more logical than the other way around? ”one of them said? “But we’re not even suggesting this because it makes no more sense than what Kiniun has suggested.”

“I agree with you but if bigger and stronger animals were killed off who’d protect you smaller ones from attack from enemies?” Erin said quickly, and Ẹkun and Ikooko nodded.

“None of this makes sense” Ẹkun said.

Kiniun called them to order, and they had to obey because he was still the Ọba after all. It was at this point that one of the animals got up and addressed the gathering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Kabiyesi! What I think about this matter is this: instead of using size in deciding what to do, why don’t we use age?” he asked. “Children should bury their parents and not the other way around”, he continued. “I’m sure you’ll all agree with me. That’s what humans and animals alike wish for. So why don’t we all – male and female – take it in turns to offer our mothers for food? After all they have lived longer than us already. Is it fair otherwise? It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but I believe that it’s the truth. Would our parents be happy to bury us?”

The other animals started to voice their opinions one after the other:

“Well said! Well said! You’re right. Our parents wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“But surely our parents wouldn’t want us to eat them?”

“Why our mothers and not our fathers?

“Fathers are stronger and therefore of more use. They can do hard work – protect us…”

“If all mothers were offered, what about mothers whose children are still very young? Who’ll take care of them?”

“Oh no! We’re talking about the older mothers here – mothers from a certain age upwards,” the animal with the suggestion put in quickly. “It’s better for older mothers to die than the younger ones to do so. If everyone agrees with this, before we finish eating our mothers here and there, the Lord will look kindly on us, and lift the famine. The old folks are bound to die first with the famine going on. If we don’t do this, both our parents and children – all of us in fact – will die before the famine is over”.

Different suggestions continued to be put forward, some of them very strange indeed.

“Well, I don’t agree that we should kill any of our mothers. I suggest the other way around. Younger animals – male or female – should be offered for food out of respect for older ones who have given them life.”

“That’s not a bad idea. If younger females were offered for food, at least we’d not increase in number”.

“Ha! If we kill off our younger females how would the males cope without them? Now, it is different where older females are concerned…”

“Exactly! It’s better to offer older females then.”

The debate continued for hours. In the end most of them seemed to see the initial suggestion as the best option – offering (to begin with) older mothers for food, mothers of a certain age upwards, mothers of animals who could stand on their own feet.

“Let the old folks die and the younger ones survive! Let’s preserve our generation!” it was ruled.

But how far would that get them, and how would they go about offering their mothers for food? Further arguments ensued as to how they should go about doing so.

“Are we just going to say to our mothers in advance: ‘Mother dearest, I’m sorry I have to offer you for food. Please try and understand. Surely your prayer is for you to go before me…’

“Or shall we just say nothing until it’s time for us to offer our mothers, and then just grab them…”.

“It’s better not to let them know beforehand”, Kiniun suggested.

The debate continued, and in the end they all seemed to agree on adopting Kiniun’s proposal of not letting the mothers know in advance.

That was when Aja (Dog) who had kept quiet all this time, spoke. He had been feeling very uncomfortable about the whole matter. Aja was not happy at all about the killing off of mothers – or of any other being for that matter – and decided to put up a case against it.

“I don’t agree that our mothers should be offered for food – not only because I love my mother dearly, but also because it is immoral to kill our mothers who’re old and defenceless. They’d not be able to fight back”, Aja said. He just could not see himself doing what the other animals wanted to do.

“How could we kill off those who brought us into this world, and are we going to do so when they’re asleep? It’s wrong to kill off any of us. Instead, why don’t we look for other ways?”

None of them was too surprised by what Aja had just said. They all knew Aja’s character, his moral standing. Aja was Kiniun’s head messenger and was very good at his work; he was conscientious; no work was too much for him. The Ọba liked him very much because his “yes” was “yes” and his “no” was “no”. He was not a liar, a tale-bearer, a whistle-blower, a thief. Therefore, he quickly rose to the top of his work.

“Haven’t we looked into this long enough today? What would you suggest, pray?” one of the animals asked.

Aja kept quiet and the meeting continued for a while longer, with Aja still trying to persuade the others to let them look for other solutions, or let things be. But in the end, it was agreed that offering their mothers for food was the best solution.

“We’ll take it in turns to do this. The Ọba should be the first to set the ball rolling, and then all those who are well-placed in our society.” the animal who came up with the suggestion said, and Kiniun agreed, and rounded up the meeting. One of the animals was put in charge of calling on the others to kill their mothers one by one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day Kiniun killed his mother and invited the other animals to a big feast which they all enjoyed very much. The only animal absent was Aja.

Then it was Erin’s turn, followed by Ẹfon’s. Each occasion became such a feast, with dancing and everyone making merry in the face of the famine. Aja did not participate. One by one the animals took it in turns to offer their mothers for food.

Aja was dead against the idea. After the meeting that day he had gone back home, completely dejected, and had made up his mind not to partake of the other animals’ mothers.

“How could I possibly kill the mother who’s brought me into this world, who’s taken care of me from birth – through illness and good health, hardships and good times? To kill my mother just because I’m hungry. No way! It’s wrong. It’s inhuman! I’d rather die!”

However, although Aja knew that he would not have a hand in this murderous act he knew that they would come after his mother sooner or later. Once Kiniun had ruled, the law was law. That was how it went. Even if he refused to partake of their meals Aja knew that he would not only be ostracized, left to fend for himself, but his mother’s life would also be threatened. Already everyone had turned against him – even Ijapa who was supposed to be his friend. The latter had tried to get him to change his mind since the meeting.

Aja felt dejected. The matter weighed down heavily on his mind, and he wondered what to do. He kept on remembering what Kiniun had said to him at the meeting: “We’ll come after your mother when it’s her turn. It’s your loss if you don’t wish to partake of the meals…” Kiniun had warned him that there was no exception to the rule, although he had felt sorry for him. He could not make an exception of Aja when the other animals had agreed with the killing of their mothers for food and were now partaking of the meals. Aja’s refusal to join them was already being seen generally as unsupportive and therefore unacceptable.

Aja lived with his aged mother, whom he loved and cared for very much. His father had died. Aja did not share the other animals’ view that they should not tell their mothers their intention. He was very close to his mother and kept nothing away from her. When Aja told her about what had happened at the meeting, the two of them started to look for a solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What’re we going to do, mother? I’ll never let them get you. There must be a solution. If only there was somewhere I can hide you so that none of the animals will find you. But where?”

Aja’s mother was afraid for her son.

“But how would you explain my absence to Kiniun and the other animals? They’ll kill you!”

“I’ll find a reason. I’d rather do that than let them kill you.”

“Supposing they discover our secret eventually, won’t they kill me anyway?”

“They won’t discover our secret.”

Apart from working as the Ọba’s messenger, Aja had been walking around with a hunter in their town who fed him scraps and bones and who sometimes used him as a hunting dog in forests from time to time. One day as they were walking around in a forest in a nearby town, they had come to a secluded area. The hunter had discovered it by chance when he was wandering around for hours on end in search of games in the face of the famine. Nobody else seemed to know of its existence because it was always deserted. Aja had liked the area; it had had a calming effect on him – he had felt peaceful there.

That was where Aja went – far away from the other animals – to think of what to do, where to hide his mother, when the matter continued to weigh heavily on his mind. He was so dejected that he looked up to the sky, and offered prayers – pouring his heart out, wishing for an alternative. He started to cry.

“I’m expected to give up my mother and what will I do when my turn comes?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unknown to him and others – humans and animals alike – a spirit lived in the sky. At that time the sky was not as far off from the earth as it is today. Nobody knew what went on there – that there was life there. The people and animals who lived there were happy and prosperous. There was plenty of food, but no one knew about it. There was enjoyment there for hours on end. There was no darkness, no sunshine.

It was very peaceful there – soothing to the nerves. The Sky Spirit was in charge of what went on there and elsewhere and had the power to control certain things.

It was when Aja poured out his heart that the Sky Spirit, who had heard his pleas, appeared before Aja.

“I’m the Sky Spirit, and I’ve come to help you – to reward you for being the kind of creature you are. You’re a kind-hearted dog. Out of all the animals you’re the only one doing the right thing. It’s very wrong what the other animals are doing”.

Aja could not believe his ears and eyes, and he just gaped at the apparition in wonder. He had never in his life experienced anything like this. He tried to speak but no words came out, and the Sky Spirit seeing his bewilderment continued.

“You don’t need to say anything. Your prayers have been answered, and all you need to do now is to listen very carefully to the instructions I’m going to give you.”

Aja nodded and the Sky Spirit continued:

“Your mother will be received here to live among us for as long as it’s necessary for her to do so, and she’ll be well prepared for and free from danger. Nothing and no being can touch her here, if you follow the instructions I’m going to give you.”

Aja nodded again.

“You see that tree over there”, the Sky Spirit continued, pointing at a very tall palm-tree close to where Aja was.

“Yes,” Aja, who had now regained his power of speech, replied.

“Bring your mother here at night and climb up the tree right to the top. This is no ordinary tree. From the ground no being on earth can see beyond the top of the tree except us; no being knows that there’s life there. When you get to the top you’ll call out to me:

‘Sky Spirit we’re here!’ I’ll appear to carry your mother into the sky.” The Sky Spirit went on to describe the life there and Aja gaped again – speechless. He could not believe his ears.

“Not only have your prayers been answered about where to hide your mother, but you’ll also be compensated for being the kind of son you’re. The famine will no longer affect you, because you’ll be invited to come and eat with your mother anytime you wish. Your mother will be given a rope which she’ll drop from the sky and pull you up with it. She’ll have to make sure it’s you before she does so. I suggest you let her know it’s you by singing a song – asking her to drop the rope. You must not tell a single being on earth about this, but if for some reason or the other this secret is leaked, and you discover an impostor in your presence, you must sing another song quickly, asking your mother to cut the rope. These are the safeguards”.

The Sky Spirit told Aja that he would not only be able to eat and drink to his heart consent, he would also be able to carry food home. After Aja would have been well-fed, the mother would let him down by the rope and once he was on the ground she would pull up the rope.

“Remember not to tell anyone about this” the Sky Spirit warned Aja one more time. “It’s only you who are allowed to eat here. Any time any other animal tries to do so, your mother has to cut the rope quickly. We’ll also warn your mother to look out for impostors. Anytime she’s not sure of the singing voice she should not answer.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aja thanked the Sky Spirit and went back home to make preparations for his mother to be hidden in the sky. Aja did what he was instructed to do, and the Sky Spirit took the mother up and installed her in the sky. Aja then came home and continued his work as if nothing had happened.

Thus, Aja hid his mother in the sky and hid the truth from the other animals. Every evening, when the others gathered together feasting on their mothers, Aja would leave his home, look right and left, and run very fast to the edge of town where there were crossroads with landmarks – one of them pointing in the direction of the secluded area in the nearby town where his mother was, hidden away in the sky. He chose this particular time knowing that it was unlikely for him to be noticed by the others. It was not until he had left town that he would stop running – when he felt he had escaped being seen.

When he got to where his mother was he would start singing:

Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o (Mother, Mother drop down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o (Mother, Mother drop down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Erin pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Elephant killed his mother for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ẹfòn pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Buffalo killed his mother for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Gbogbo’ẹranko pa ìyá wọn jẹ̀ (All the animals killed their mothers for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ajá gbé yá rẹ̀ o d’orún (Aja carried his mother off to the sky)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ajá nìkàn l’o kù o (It’s only Aja left)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Iya, iya t’kun wale o (Mother, Mother drop down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

K’ómo rẹ le wá jeun o (So that your child can come and eat)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

As soon as Aja’s mother heard the song she would drop the rope and pull

up her son. Aja would eat and drink and then come down the rope taking extra food along with him. Every evening Aja and his mother went through this procedure and were very happy indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The animals, including Ijapa, continued to kill off their mothers one after the other. In the meantime, instead of the famine abating in Teregun it got worse. There was still no rain; nothing was all right. Everything was back to square one, and it was worse for the animals. Later on, the younger mothers would be offered for food. The animals realized their mistake and there were regrets, especially from the younger ones who would have no one to care for them. They would die not only from the famine, but also from neglect. How miserable they were!

Having killed off their mothers for food what next? What would be left was for them to die as well!

When it was Aja’s turn to offer his mother for food, and the other animals came to collect her Aja made up stories about her.

“Alas! When I got back home from work yesterday I found my mother gone. She had disappeared. I don’t know where she is. Perhaps she run away to a nearby town to escape being killed. She must have been aware of what’s going on.”

“But she’s old. Where would she have gone to? How would she fend for herself” the animal delegated as spokesman asked.

“I don’t know” Aja answered.

“You’d better know because we’re going to have to tell the Ọba about this” he was warned.

None of the animals knew what to make of the whole thing. Some believed Aja and some did not, and thereafter there were all kinds of speculations. When Kiniun was told he summoned Aja and the other animals to a meeting where the matter was discussed at length. Aja still stuck to his gun. His mother had disappeared. Kiniun advised the other animals to believe Aja.

“I know Aja very well. He’s my head messenger and I trust him. His “yes” is “yes”, and his “no” is “no”.

Kiniun then called Aja and warned him:

“Any time anyone discovers that your mother is still alive and where she is she’ll not be spared. It’ll also be the end of your life if you’ve been lying and you know where she is all along.”

Aja started to put on weight – to look good, well-fed – unlike the other animals; his body hair was longer and shinier, his chest bigger; he was in excellent health whilst many of the other animals were dying of starvation, and those still alive were as thin as a rake. Aja was happy about his luck and went up and down doing his work with zest. He was oblivious to whether there was famine or not, and although he felt alone he was at least well fed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ijapa was the first to notice the changes in Aja having been friends with him before, and he wondered about it. He, like the others, had cut Aja off when the latter refused to comply with their wish to kill off their mothers. He now tried to renew his friendship with Aja in order to find out about these changes in him.

“Aja doesn’t eat with us, and yet look at him…! I must find out from him how he gets food in the face of the famine.”

Ijapa had no doubts that Aja must have found a way of feeding himself and asked him. Aja denied everything knowing the kind of being Ijapa was. Besides he had been warned not to disclose the whereabouts of his mother to anyone.

“I’m sure he’s getting food somewhere else apart from the scraps and bones the hunter gives him, and from picking the ground. Perhaps as a hunting dog he goes with the hunter to forests out of town. Since there’s famine in Teregun the hunter must want to look elsewhere for games. Where though? We all know that there is famine in all the nearby towns as well.”

Ijapa did not quite know what to make of it and continued to speculate.

“Supposing the hunter has discovered somewhere else where there’s no famine, and is taking Aja there, or things are better in one of the nearby towns without our knowing?”

“So that’s it then.” Ijapa continued after further thoughts. “Aja is getting his food through the hunter somewhere else where there’s no famine. That’s logical isn’t it? Where though?”

Ijapa decided to approach Aja, and asked him point blank:

“Is the hunter taking you to another town? Are things better there? Maybe we can all go there…? Is that why you’re looking good…You must be getting more than the scraps and bones thrown your way and picking the ground?”

Aja denied going to another town with the hunter, but Ijapa was not convinced. He decided to bring the matter to the knowledge of the other animals, including Kiniun, who were by now curious about why Aja was thriving in the face of the famine. They were all jealous of Aja; they realized their mistake in killing off their mothers. They realized that Aja was right and envied him. Ijapa, in particular, envied Aja.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A meeting was called by Kiniun, and at the meeting Ijapa suggested that he would find a way of knowing what Aja was up to. It was agreed that he should do so.

“If any of us can find out what Aja is up to, it’ll be Ijapa.” Ijapa was known to be wise in his own eyes, known for boasting that he could find solutions to any problems, and had been known to do so – most of the time through ruse.

So, Ijapa started to sniff around to discover Aja’s secret to no avail. Then he approached Aja again, prostrated on the ground and appealed to him to show him the way, telling all kinds of lies about how he had changed from his bad ways.

“Aja, my very good friend. I’m dying of hunger. Please show me the way. Show me where you get food. Please help me”.

“I know we’re friends, but please go your own way. There’s no where I go to get food. God will provide your food for you” Aja replied.

Ijapa was very angry at Aja’s response.

“He’s not behaving like a true friend” he thought, not even bothering to consider if the same thing could be said about him, Ijapa. He was now more determined than before to discover Aja’s secret, and knew that he would not rest until he did. He decided to watch Aja’s every movement – lurking around, hiding behind bushes. No luck!

Gradually it occurred to him that he would not be able to account for Aja’s movements at the time he, Ijapa, met up with the other animals to eat, and that that might be the key to the whole thing.

“No wonder! I don’t trail him when we meet up to eat, and this may be the time he’s up to whatever he’s up to…! Does that mean I have to miss a meal to do so?” he wondered. This is the last thing Ijapa would have wanted – he who was known to love eating. “But how else will I do it?”

Ijapa could not come up with any solution for not missing the meal he partook once a day with the other animals, so he decided to miss the meal.

“Well it looks as if I have no choice…”

The following day Ijapa missed the meal and lurked around Aja’s home – observing Aja’s every movement. Aja came out that evening when he thought that the others were gathered together to eat elsewhere, looked right and left, saw that no one was around, and ran very fast (for fear of being discovered) in a certain direction. Ijapa could not catch up with him. He was disappointed, but let it go:

“I’d better join the others. I may still be lucky to find some food left if I hurry” was Ijapa’s first thought. “Tomorrow is another day”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day, before Aja left home, Ijapa went and placed himself further down the way Aja had gone the day before. He tried to catch up with Aja when the latter sped past but could not. However, he knew without doubt that Aja was going towards the edge of town where there were crossroads.

“Aha! I’m right. Aja leaves town every day to go to another town – although not with the hunter. So, all I have to do is to go to the crossroads beforehand…” Ijapa said to himself, hurrying to join the others at meal. He had been lucky the day before to still find something to eat when he got there.

The following day Ijapa went and placed himself at the crossroads, well in advance of Aja, hiding behind a tree, to see which direction Aja would go. Eventually Aja came running, to the crossroads. He slackened his pace and went in the direction indicated on one of the signposts. He looked right and left to make sure that he was not being followed, not noticing Ijapa hiding behind the tree watching him. He walked at his usual pace, and Ijapa was able to catch up with him this time.

That was how Ijapa trailed Aja to where the latter’s mother was hidden – and saw with his own eyes what was going on. That was how he eventually discovered Aja’s secret. Aja’s mother had not died! He heard Aja singing:

Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o (Mother, Mother drop down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o (Mother, Mother drop down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Erin pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Elephant killed his mother for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ẹfòn pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Buffalo killed his mother for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Gbogbo’ẹranko pa ìyá wọn jẹ̀ (All the animals killed their mothers for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ajá gbé yá rẹ̀ o d’orún (Aja carried his mother off to the sky)

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Ajá nìkàn l’o kù o (It’s only Aja left)

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Iya, iya t’kun wale o (Mother, Mother drop down the rope)

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K’ómo rẹ le wá jeun o (So that your child can come and eat)

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Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o

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Ìyá, ìyá ta ‘kùn wale o

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ijapa heard the words of the song and saw the rope being dropped from the sky by Aja’s mother. He saw Aja climbing up and was still hanging around when the same rope was dropped and Aja came down, carrying some food. Ijapa was stunned. He could not believe his eyes! He had discovered an important secret! He would try his luck and see if he could get some food for himself.

“I’ve caught you, Aja!” Ijapa chuckled to himself. “This has cost me a whole meal, but what’s that compared with what’s in store for me when I too climb up to eat in the sky!”

These were Ijapa’s initial thoughts – to benefit for himself alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Perhaps I can bargain with Aja that, instead of leaking his secret to the other animals which is bound to result in the others going after Aja’s mother and killing her, I’d be allowed to eat here everyday. What a delight that would be! On second thought why bargain with him? Why don’t I just practise his song, come here myself any time I want, and pretend to be him?”

Ijapa started to sing the song, but got mixed up with the words, and his voice did not sound right. He knew that he would not be able to pull this off, and was disappointed and angry, especially as he felt that Aja had betrayed him, as a friend, for not disclosing this secret to him, and allowing him to benefit from it all this time; he became spiteful.

“Aja needs to be taught a lesson! I must tell the others so that he can be severely dealt with”. It’ll serve him right for treating me the way he’s done. My mother is dead and his is not, and all the same he can only think of himself. How I wish I had done the same thing he did. I’ll go and tell Kiniun to call a meeting straight away. He and the others would be angry that Aja has deceived us all – Aja and his moral attitude, his not telling lies…his “yes” is his “yes” and his “no” his “no” nonsense.

“Kiniun can replace Aja’s mother in the sky after killing her and will then be in a position to drop down the rope for us other animals whenever we wish. He’ll ensure that we’re all well fed! This’ll be the end of the famine – the end of our sufferings. God has answered our prayers!”

Ijapa was very excited about the whole thing.

“Imagine! Here was I thinking that Aja is being fed by the hunter who’s discovered another town where there’s no famine, and that once I catch him out, he’ll be forced to share whatever he’s getting with me, or even beg the hunter to extend the gesture to me! This is much better – more than I’ve bargained for” he said to himself.

This was how Ijapa discovered Aja’s secret, without Aja knowing, and went back to Teregun. He decided to listen to Aja’s song very well once more before telling Kiniuin and the other animals the whole thing. He was so jealous and angry that Aja’s mother was alive and his was not, and that Aja had not told him.

When Ijapa got to the Ọba, he prostrated and said

“Kabiyesi! Long live Kabiyesi! Did you know that Aja’s mother did not disappear like Aja said? She’s hidden in the sky! I’ve seen her with my own eyes…”

Ijapa told Kiniun everything he had seen. Kiniun’s mouth flew open. He was very angry.

“Hidden in the sky? How can that be…? Ijapa, can this be true? If I find out it’s a lie, what will I do with you?” he asked Ijapa.

“You can kill me, but what I’m telling you is the truth. I’m just coming from there. If you want concrete proof ask for Aja and send him on an errand – to a far place. Before he gets back, call the representatives of all the animals, and I’ll take all of us to where Aja goes every day.

“Aja should be killed immediately” the Ọba commanded.

“No, Kabiyesi!” one of the Ọba’s counsellors advised him. “Why don’t we take Ijapa’s advice or send some of us to trail Aja and listen to the song and learn it. Like that we can do the same thing Aja does and bring food back for the rest of us”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ọba decided to take Ijapa’s advice and sent for Aja.

“I’d like you to take a parcel to the Ọba of Idanran which you can collect tomorrow morning”.

Idanran was about 30 stops from Ijapa’s town and the Ọba thought that no matter how fast Aja could run, he would not be able to return that same day.

“There is no hurry, so take your time. Walk slowly so that you don’t fall down on the way. I know you don’t have much food in your stomach with the famine that’s still going on. I’ve not been able to provide enough for you, my messengers.

“I’ve not seen the Ọba of Idanran for a long time, so I don’t know if there’s famine in his town or not, and if there is, what they’re doing about it. Perhaps they’ve been doing the same thing as us. However, it’s obvious that killing off our mothers has been a sorry mistake. There is no harm in finding out what the Ọba and his subjects have been up to, and perhaps he may be in a position to advise us as to what to do. So, ask him.

“Out of all my messengers you’re the fastest on your feet. That’s why I’m sending you. You’re also my head messenger and very efficient, reliable, and trustworthy.” Kiniun continued.

Aja, being someone who did not like delaying when it came to work, wanted to go immediately.

“Why doesn’t Kabiyesi send me on the errand this evening?” Aja asked. “I wouldn’t like to disturb you early in the morning when you’re still enjoying your sleep”.

The Ọba was happy about what Aja said. He got the parcel ready and gave it to Aja, but warned him:

“Don’t run the errand until it is morning. There are thieves around at night.”

“Thank you, Kabiyesi!”

Aja went back home, lay down and slept. Very soon he woke up all his mind full of where he had been sent. The moon was like daylight; it was very bright. Aja thought it was morning, not realizing that the cock had not yet crowed. He got up, took hold of the parcel given him for the Ọba in his mouth, and set off with speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We know already, don’t we, that Aja can run very fast. He ran with all his might, so that he could come back home and visit his mother. e

By the time it was morning, there were about three stops left to Idanran.

Before the Ọba of Idanran had had his bath, Aja was in front of him. Ọba Idanran was happy to see Aja, and the parcel he brought with him. He responded to Kiniun’s message without delay. There was famine in his town as well, and they had not yet found a solution to it even though a lot of them had died already. He was happy to hear from Kiniun – that Kiniun had thought of them, valued his opinion, but alas there was nothing he could do. They should just pray for each other.

“Thank him for this” he added, pointing at the parcel.

Aja started back to the Ọba of his town. However, he was a little tired; he could no longer run as before. All the same, he would run and then walked a little.

In the meantime, Ijapa had gone to the Ọba in the morning to tell him that Aja had already left home

“He must have left well before daybreak, Kabiyesi! I advise Kabiyesi to call a meeting of the representatives. We can all gather together to go and eat at where Aja’s mother is. When we get there, we’ll try our luck with being pulled up to the sky by her. Kabiyesi will go first, and if you’re successful you can drag Aja’s mother down from the sky after taking her unawares. If she doesn’t die from the fall we other animals who would have gone into hiding while all this is taking place, will rush out and attack her – beat her to death. Aja’s mother will be replaced by you, Kabiyesi, and from then on, you’ll be giving all of us food. This is my advice to you, Kabiyesi! When Aja gets back he’ll be killed for what he’s done.”

“My goodness, you seem to have given a lot of thought to this whole thing, Ijapa!” Kiniun exclaimed.

The Ọba agreed to all Ijapa had said, and immediately sent a messenger round the whole town, with a gong, to summon all the animal representatives to a meeting. Very soon they had gathered together. They all lined up and followed Ijapa to the scene – to where Aja’s mother was hidden – to try their luck. When they got there Ijapa halted them and gave instructions as to what they should do and taught them Aja’s song. A few of them took it in turns, to sing the song hoping that one of them would sound like Aja, but nothing happened. Kiniun was the first to try, followed by Erin. Kiniun’s voice was too gruff – he growled; a gentler voice was needed. Then one or two other

animals, with less harsh voices tried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Let Kọlọkọlọ and Ikooko try. I think they sound more like Aja than any of us” Ijapa suggested. True enough Ikooko sang the song very well, sounding almost like Aja. Nothing happened. Kọlọkọlọ had no luck either.

“Let me try. All of you go into hiding and get ready to attack Aja’s mother whilst I drag her down from the sky.” Ijapa commanded. “After all, I’m the one who heard Aja sing, and should be able to imitate him. If none of you can do it, I can” he boasted.

Ijapa waited for a while, so as to let whatever suspicions Aja’s mother must have been having about these different voices to abate. Then he started to sing doing his best to sound like Aja, but because he usually spoke through his nose, he did not sound exactly like Aja. However, if one was not listening attentively, one would not know the difference. He sang as follows:

Aja’s mother who had bluntly refused to let down the rope before – being convinced that the voices she had been hearing were of impostors (although she almost did when she heard wolf’s voice) – listened hard, and was confused.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This is not my son’s voice, or is it? Is he that hungry? Is he ill? Why is he speaking through his nose? Does he have a cold?”

Ijapa continued to sing relentlessly, and Aja’s mother dropped the rope thinking that her son was not well, and that that was why he was singing through his nose.

“Perhaps he has a cold and the cold has blocked his nose” she was thinking.

She decided to take a risk. Aja had not come that day which was most unusual, and it was getting late. She would tell her son all that had happened and warned him to be even more vigilant than before.

As Aja’s mother dropped the rope and started to pull Ijapa up without knowing that it was not her child she was pulling, Aja came back from where he had been sent. He had come back earlier than anticipated by Kiniun and had not found the person who sent him on the errand at home; there was no sign of other animals either.

“Has my secret leaked? Has someone found out about where my mother is?” Aja wondered and was terribly afraid; his heart was pounding violently. He ran with all his might immediately, heading for the secluded area where his mother was. When he was at a short distance from the place, he saw all the animals gathered together, hiding behind a bush, and Ijapa in the air, climbing up the tree, holding on tightly to the rope that his mother must have dropped. Aja was afraid:

“What am I going to do if Ijapa gets to my mother? He’ll drag her down and all the other animals will attack her and kill her, and they’ll kill me as well” he was thinking.

Aja saw Ijapa being pulled up almost half way and remembered the Sky Spirit’s advice. He started to sing another song quickly, asking his mother to cut the rope, so that Ijapa would fall down. He sang as follows:

Ìyá, ìyá p’abẹ s’ókùn o (Mother, Mother, cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá p’abẹ s’ókùn o (Mother, Mother, cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Erin pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Elephant killed his mother for food)

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Ẹfòn pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Buffalo killed his mother for food)

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Gbogbo’ẹranko pa ìyá wọn jẹ̀ (All the animals killed their mothers for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ajá gbé yá rẹ̀ o d’orún (Aja carried his mother off to the sky)

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Ajá nìkàn l’o kù o (It’s only Aja left)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá p’abẹ s’ókùn o (Mother, Mother, cut down the rope)

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Gbogb’ ẹranko k’ógun mbọ̀ o (All the animals are at war with us)

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Tètè p’abẹ s’ókun o

(Quickly cut down the rope)

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Tètè p’abẹ s’ókun o (Quickly cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Tètè p’abẹ s’ókun o (Quickly cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aja’s mother heard her son’s voice and knew immediately that that was her son’s real voice. However, by now she was seriously confused by all that had been happening:

“What’s the meaning of all this? There are impostors here, no doubt. But how can I be sure that this is really my son?” she was wondering. She halted, and then started pulling the rope again. Aja started crying, singing again and again. His mother listened more carefully to what he was saying.

“I should cut the rope quickly because all the other animals mean war. Surely only my son would know this version of the song. The other animals must have found out about their secret and have come to kill her. They are the impostors.”

When Ijapa was about to reach Aja’s mother, the latter looked down to see whether it was her son singing. As soon as she did so, it was Ijapa she saw, holding on to the rope, climbing up, but she heard her son singing again with all his might.

Ìyá, ìyá p’abẹ s’ókùn o (Mother, Mother, cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá p’abẹ s’ókùn o (Mother, Mother, cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Erin pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Elephant killed his mother for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ẹfòn pa ìyá rẹ̀ jẹ̀ (Buffalo killed his mother for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Gbogbo’ẹranko pa ìyá wọn jẹ̀ (All the animals killed their mothers for food)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ajá gbé yá rẹ̀ o d’orún (Aja carried his mother off to the sky)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ajá nìkàn l’o kù o (It’s only Aja left)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Ìyá, ìyá p’abẹ s’ókùn o (Mother, Mother, cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Gbogb’ ẹranko k’ógun mbọ̀ o (All the animals are at war with us)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Tètè p’abẹ s’ókun o

(Quickly cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Tètè p’abẹ s’ókun o (Quickly cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

Tètè p’abẹ s’ókun o (Quickly cut down the rope)

ÀlùjanjankÍjan

“So, it’s my child singing after all, and it must be true that all the animals mean war. No doubt the rest of them are hiding.”

Aja’s mother took hold of a sharp knife, and threw it at the rope, and the rope broke. Ijapa dropped down from the sky and his shell broke into pieces. All the other animals in hiding ran away because they were not sure what would happen next if they lingered on. They had never experienced anything like this before. Besides, the Sky Spirit had appeared and warned them to leave Aja and his mother alone or face the consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ijapa was lucky to be alive. Some creatures came to help him who were gifted in putting broken pieces together – binding, patching, smoothening, polishing them, but his shell was never the same again. It never regained its smoothness again; it was cracked and rough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was how Ijapa cracked his shell. Blowing the whistle on Aja led to this.