How Tortoise (Ijapa)βs Stomach Became Hollow (Ijapa and Babalawo)
π’ A long, long time ago, in a town called Teregun, there lived a tortoise named Ijapa. He had a farm full of yummy fruits and veggies. Ijapa lived with his wife, Yannibo. They were very happy together, but they had no children.
Ijapa often sighed: “Why can’t we have a little one?” Yannibo loved playing with other people’s children β bathing them, carrying them on her back, and cooking for them. Everyone said: “Yannibo would be the BEST mom!”
π’ Yannibo told her husband: “Ijapa, I feel so sad without a child. Please, let’s find a way!” Ijapa loved her very much. He said: “I will do everything I can, my dear!”
Ijapa was known as a tricky fellow, but also clever. Long ago he had learned about medicines from a babalawo (that’s a wise doctor). π§πΎββοΈ
π Ijapa went to many babalawos. He spent lots of money. He and Yannibo tried everything, but still β no baby. π
ππΎ One day, a friend told Ijapa: “There’s a famous babalawo far away. He makes a special stew called ‘α»bαΊΉ asejαΊΉ’ ! Any woman who eats it will have a baby! And it smells SO delicious!”
Ijapaβs ears perked up. He loved delicious food! π€€
ππΎββοΈ Early next morning, Ijapa put on his best hat and hurried to the babalawoβs house. He passed a forest, a stream, and asked many animals for directions. π³π
Some people whispered: “Oh no! Ijapa is so greedy β we hope he doesn’t eat that stew himself!”
π§πΎββοΈ The babalawo listened and said: “I will make ‘α»bαΊΉ asejαΊΉ’ for your wife. But WARNING β you must NOT taste it! If a man eats it, his belly will swell like a pregnant woman’s, and it might burst! π₯ There’s no cure!”
Ijapa laughed inside: “A man getting pregnant? Ridiculous!” But he nodded and promised.
π΄ The next day, Yannibo was too tired to come. Ijapa said: “Don’t worry, I’ll bring the stew home safely!” He went alone.
The babalawo gave him the pot. The aroma was UNBELIEVABLE! ππΎβ¨
π Walking home, the smell filled Ijapaβs nose. He sat under a palm tree and peeked inside. The stew looked SO tasty β big chunks of fish, meat, and spicy sauce. “Yum!”
He remembered the warning, but his mouth was watering. π§π§
π€ Ijapa thought: “The babalawo just doesn’t want me to finish it. I’ll taste only a tiny bit β it won’t hurt!” He dipped his finger in and licked. π It was the most delicious thing ever!
π He took a tiny piece of fish. Then a little meat. Then moreβ¦ until β OOPS! β he had eaten the WHOLE pot! π³ He even licked it clean. Then he fell asleep under the tree.
π€°πΎ Ijapa woke up with a HUGE pain. His belly was swelling like a balloon! π Bigger and bigger! He could hardly walk. People stared and laughed. “Ijapa, what happened?!”
ππΎ Scared, Ijapa rushed back to the babalawo, singing a sorry song. (Click the song below!) πΆ
π’ Ijapa sang: “Babalawo, I’ve come to beg! I stumbled on a root, my hand touched the stew and went to my mouth β please help me!” But he was lying.
π€ BΓ balΓ‘wo, mΓ² wΓ‘ bΓ¨Μ£bΓ¨Μ£, (Babalawo, I’ve come to beg) Alugbinrin.
π€ GbΓ²ΗΉgbΓ² lΓ³ yΓ²Μ£ mi tΓ¨Μ£rΓ¨Μ£, (A root made me stumble) Alugbinrin.
π The babalawo was angry. “Take me to the spot where you fell!” Ijapa walked in circles β he couldn’t find it because he had made it all up. Everyone knew he was lying. π
π Ijapa fell on his knees (as well as his big belly allowed) and confessed: “I ate the whole stew! I’m so sorry, please save me!”
π©πΎ Suddenly, Yannibo arrived with many friends. They all begged: “Please help Ijapa β for Yannibo’s sake!” The babalawo saw how kind Yannibo was and felt sorry.
π§ͺ The babalawo boiled some special white paste, mixed in strong herbs, and gave it to Ijapa. “Drink this!” Ijapa drank. His belly slowly went downβ¦ downβ¦ until it was FLAT! π² Actually, it became HOLLOW β like a bowl!
π Everyone was shocked, then they laughed. Ijapa was alive, but his tummy never went back to normal. The babalawo gave Yannibo a NEW pot of stew β and this time SHE ate it all herself. ππΎ
πΆπΎ The next year, Ijapa and Yannibo had a beautiful baby girl! The whole town celebrated. And Ijapa? He still had a hollow stomach β a reminder that greed can get you into BIG trouble. π’β¨
π And that’s why tortoises have hollow tummies! π
π’π