Description
Ijapa, always game when there is a competition for the hand of a beautiful woman, participates in a contest – a Hot-water Test – set by the Oba of Lagoni for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The Oba, very protective of Kofoworade, is worried that she might make a bad choice.
At the contest each one of the contestants is given a goblet in which some water, just taken off the fire is poured. Anyone of them who succeeds in drinking the water right to the end – that is, without hazards, and who passes another test, if puts to him by one of the contestants, will marry Kofoworade. Ijapa, the only one left after the suitors who take the test get burned, picks up the goblet with the piping hot water and makes a speech, calling everyone’s attention to it. The Obas and titled men love this practice. By the time Ijapa has gone around addressing each one of them the water has cooled off, and Ijapa just simply drinks it, and becomes the winner.
Will Ijapa have to take another test? What happens thereafter will have an impact not only on all the people, but also on the Oba, himself.
