Tale summaries

 

Volume 1: How and Why Folk Tales

 

1. How Tortoise (Ijapa) Got His Shell (Ijapa and Iya-Elepa)

Ijapa, a cunning, devious, but very lazy tortoise, travels from his famine struck town of Magunwa to the prosperous town of Idaha in search of food.  Unsuccessful in convincing the groundnut seller, Iya-Elepa to treat him to her aromatic and delicious roasted groundnuts, he devises a plan which involves hiding in a tunnel (built for him by Okete,  the giant rat in exchange for a sack of palm-nuts) and enticing away the Iya-Elepa and other market sellers with his mesmerising music.  Upon hearing this music, all the market sellers abandon their stalls, and as if in a trance, they all dance their way to the outskirts of the town, whilst Ijapa quickly raids their stalls.  Ijapa repeats this little ruse over the next few market days, until he is caught in a trap laid out by the authorities.  Not having a shell, he sustains severe injuries from the thrashing he receives.  He is taken before the King of Idaha and only his cunning and his musical gifts can save him, and also help him get a shell.

 

2. How Ijapa Cracked His Shell (Iya, Iya T‘akun Wale o)

 

Driven away from Magunwa for his misdeeds in Idaha, the cunning and devious Ijapa is now living in another famine struck town of Teregun.

Deeply regretting the decision in the animal kingdom to kill off their mothers for food, Ijapa looks for a way of outwitting Aja (Dog) who refuses to kill off his mother, and who, though boycotted by the other animals, seems to be thriving in the face of the famine.  What is Aja’s secret?

Ijapa puts into play his cunning and deviousness to unravel the mystery and discovers where Aja’s mother is hidden, and how Aja is being fed. He reports Aja to Kiniun, their Oba (ruler), and advises Kiniun to send Aja on a long mission that will keep him away from the scene.  In the meantime, Ijapa devises a plan – a plan involving the other animals, for reaching Aja’s mother (who is in the sky, under the protection of the Sky Goddess) and ousting her. This plan will benefit all and solve the famine, Ijapa thinks. What will happen if it does not work as Ijapa climbs to the sky pretending to be Aja, with the other animals in hiding?  Can it have an effect on Ijapa’s shell?

 

3. Why Ijapa (Tortoise)’s Stomach Is Hollow (Ijapa and Babalawo)

Ijapa, not only known for his cunning, deviousness and laziness, but for his greed, lets the latter get the better of him when he eats the ‘obe aseje’ – a special and potent stew that a babalawo prepares for Yannibo, his wife, a stew well-known for making women pregnant.

With the famine over in Teregun, Ijapa, married for several years, despairing that there is no child in sight, does not heed the babalawo’s warning about the consequences of eating any of the ‘obe aseje’. “…your stomach will undergo similar changes as those of a pregnant woman without a baby growing inside you…If this happens, I can’t guarantee a happy ending because your stomach is likely to burst, and that may mean death!”  the babalawo has warned, again and again.

After eating all the ‘obe aseje’ on his way back home from the babalawo, alarmed at what is happening to his stomach, and fearing the end in sight, Ijapa decides to go back to the babalawo, using his cunning and deviousness to persuade the latter to help him.  The question is: will this work on the babalawo, and even if he agrees to help him, what exactly can he do for Ijapa?

 

4. Why Ijapa Is Bald

Predominantly lazy, Ijapa has gone back to his former way of life – relying on the goodwill of others to feed himself, his wife and the children they have longed for.  It is only Yannibo’s hard work and the support from her parents that keep the Ijapa’s family from being destitute.  This support includes frequent invitations to lunch at Yannibo’s parents’ house where a delicious mouth-watering meal always awaits them, and to take-away.

It is when Ijapa and Yannibo are invited to a special lunch along with other invitees that Ijapa’s greed and impatience lead to an act that he will regret for the rest of his life.  When he fails in persuading his mother-in-law (in an indirect manner) to serve the lunch before her husband’s arrival, he looks for a convincing excuse to leave the gathering.  This leads to his helping himself to some steaming hot ebe behind his mother-in-law’s back.  Almost caught in the act he decides to wrap the ebe in moimoi leaves, quickly put it inside his cap and covers his head with it. What happens thereafter will have an impact not only on Ijapa’s life, but on those around him, especially his wife and children.

 

5. Why Ijapa’s Nose is Very Small (Ijapa, Asin and Okere)

Ijapa gives full rein to his mischievousness when he takes sides in a fight between Asin (Rat) and his friend, Okere (Squirrel) at a market place.  Ijapa, now living alone in Offala, still refuses to do any work, in spite of Okere’s pressure on him to do so.  Okere, an awo (dishes) seller at Offala Market, urges Ijapa to sell awo – to take advantage of one of the two best placed stalls in the awo section of the market, the other occupied by her.  It is only when Asin comes on the scene and poses a threat to Ijapa’s belief in his ability to outshine anyone in anything he does, that he decides to take Okere’s advice and become an awo seller.

Regretting deeply not taking the stall next to Okere which Asin now occupies, Ijapa is secretly jealous and resentful of Asin – of the progress she is already making – and looks for ways of taking over her stall.  To Ijapa’s delight a terrible and unprecedented row erupts one day between Asin and Okere, but Asin’s retaliation to Ijapa’s blatantly unfair way of settling the row will have a disastrous effect on Ijapa and an impact on his life.

 

Volume 2

 

Selected Tales With Songs

 

1. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Erin (Elephant)

Ijapa uses his cunning and deviousness to the full – this time for a good cause – when he tricks a foolish elephant (Erin) into believing that he can be the Oba (ruler) of humans.

Ijapa has left Offala, deeply affected by an occurrence there, and is now living in Jakota.   An extraordinary big elephant, enraged for not being chosen Oba (ruler) over a lion (Kiniun) in the animal kingdom, wreaks havoc on the whole town to show how powerful he is – more powerful than Kiniun – with his size and strength.  The Oba in the human kingdom is exasperated by the failure of his renowned hunters to capture the animal, and is at a loss as to what to do next.  Desperate to find a solution to the problem at all costs he accepts Ijapa’s offer of help with the promise of a reward, but with a serious warning if he fails to capture the animal.

What is in store for Erin?  Will Ijapa be able to deliver on his promise, receive the reward or a face a grave penalty?  Above all how exactly will he be able to capture this huge and dangerous animal when others before him have failed?

 

2. Olurombi

It is not unheard of to make pledges to the Iroko Tree at the town of Abele, but one woman’s unprecedented pledge causes an uproar in the town.

Olurombi is a cloth seller in Abele, a town where the people, believing in the special powers of Iroko Tree, especially traders like Olurombi, consult the tree for help for high sales, pledging something to it to make their wishes come true.   However, Olurombi’s overwhelming desire to have a son pushes her to ask the tree for help over this one day, and in wondering what she can possibly pledge for such an unusual request, she may have inadvertently pledge her daughter, Oluronke, to Iroko Tree.  Not fulfilling a pledge is unthinkable and unheard of because people are afraid of what the consequences may be.

Now the people of Abele are putting pressure on Olurombi to fulfil her pledge to the Iroko Tree, with her son inexplicably ill, but how can anyone possibly fulfil such a pledge?  What options are there for Olurombi, especially when she herself is deeply troubled, unhappy and confused about the whole thing.  Surely no one would expect her to give up a child to save another child?

 

3. Ojeje Traders

It is not an uncommon practice for the men of the land to have two wives even if there is rivalry and enmity between the two women and this often leads to hatred of the children.  However, this practice is to have a profound effect on the people of Akete when a young girl’s life is at stake.

Mobarewa has to fight for her life when her parents – both traders are unexpectedly away at the same time, and she is left with her father’s other wife.  Her mother is away as an Ojeje Trader, and Ojeje Traders are renowned traders who ply their trade at a market in Ojeje, at a distance from Akete, each journey taking about ten days.

Ill-treated by the evil woman whose threats make it impossible for her to seek help, Mobarewa looks for a way of reaching her mother through other Ojeje Traders – travelling to and from Ojeje – using her singing gift.  How exactly does she set about doing this, and how long will it take for her mother to know about her plight, come back and rescue her?  Above all will the evil woman get away with her ill-treatment of another woman’s child?

 

4. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Jigborere, Oluwo’s Son

Ijapa’s cunning and deviousness take a diabolical turn when, added to his greed for money, he treats a young boy he initially rescues from danger in such an incredibly cruel and outrageously dangerous way that sends shock waves to those around him.

Rere, an aspiring hunter, goes into the deep forest to hunt, not heeding his parents’ warning about the dangers involved. Regretting his action when he runs into serious and harrowing problems, and almost drowns, he has no idea what else lies in store for him when he is rescued by Ijapa who now lives at the outskirts of a nearby town.

Discovering Rere’s unusual singing gift that draws the attention of passers-by, and spurs them on to dance, Ijapa deviates from his initial kindness to the boy.  He entraps Rere in a makeshift drum, commands him to sing and makes money out of him anytime and anywhere he chooses.  Soon Ijapa is known far and near for his ‘magical drum that sings’.  Can Rere’s use of his singing gift to forge a way out of the precarious situation he finds himself yield dividend, and if so, how?  Can Ijapa get away with this shocking and appalling behaviour?

 

5. The Two Wives

It is not uncommon for a man to have two wives in Makani – a practice that is not without its problems – and for rivalry to be between the two women.  However, when one woman is the complete opposite of the other – one is ‘the devil incarnate’ and the other ‘a divine angel’ – the problems take on another dimension.

Amoja and Torera, completely different from each other in character, are married to the same man, and experience near explosive situations in their household.  It happens that Torera goes to the river to wash their dirty dishes one day, and Amoja’s igbako (utensil) gets swept away by the current – an incident that is to cause a lot of anxiety and distress for Torera.  A few days before there has been an unbelievably huge row between Amoja and Torera over this same igbako.

Torera’s experience at the river when she comes across a mysterious old woman with a huge wound on her leg, horrible to describe, will change her life in a way she least expects.

Will Amoja’s life change in a way that she least expects when she decides to go to the same river and experience what Torera experienced there?

 

6. Olailo and the Mysterious Woman

Olailo’s weakness for beautiful women has got him into trouble countless of times.  Little does he know the kind of trouble that lies ahead when an extraordinarily beautiful woman with a mysterious air about her, looking for hoes to buy, is directed to him at his stall as ‘the best seller of hoes (Oloko) in the town of Kasawa’.

The unusualness of the woman’s mission in Kasawa and her mysterious replies to the efforts made by Olailo to get to know her and where she lives – her references to problems, difficulties, dangers  – are unheeded by Olailo when he decides to follow the woman home.  Her repeated warnings to him to turn back fall on deaf ears.  As the journey progresses, involving bizarre and dangerous rivers, dwellings and practices, Olailo begins to grasp the seriousness of the situation he is in but is undaunted by it.  He is convinced that any hardship in the way of achieving his aim could be resolved by fighting, and his skills in that area are unprecedented.

Will Olailo’s fighting skills be enough to get him through when at their final destination he is faced with an incredible danger – the highest of all so far?

 

7. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Princesses

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?

 

8. Olomuroro

A young girl’s life is in turmoil when, unknown to her parents, she is being terrorized by an evil woman in Idoja.

Saraya’s parents have no choice but to leave their daughter alone when they go to work from morning to evening.  One day a strange, scary looking woman forces her way into the house, and uses different tactics to gain Saraya’s confidence.  When Saraya realizes that all the woman wants is to steal the food left her by her parents and on a regular basis, and the woman threatens her, she is very badly shaken, but decides not to tell her parents about it.  From a very lively, happy child she becomes subdued, silent, nervous and fearful.  She starts to lose weight.

The effect Olomuroro’s daily visit is having on Saraya is of great concern to her parents, who start to probe her repeatedly, imploring her to tell them if she is afraid of something or someone until Saraya is forced to disclose her harrowing experience with Olomuroro.

Investigations about the woman lead to shocking, sinister and horrifying revelations that shake not only the village of Idoha, but also nearby towns, to the core, and an immediate action is required.

 

9. The Disobedient Girl (Alantere)

Little does Segilola know what is in store for her, when, against her parents’ wishes, she goes to a river that is forbidden to her, and what she experiences there will have an impact not only on her life but also on her family’s lives.

Segilola has always been curious about Odo-Oro, fascinated by the stories she has heard about the river, the biggest in Iperi-Ake, where she lives – by the mysteries surrounding it, and more importantly about the fact that it is forbidden.

It is not surprising because Segilola is not only known for her stubbornness, wilfulness and disobedience, but she is also inquisitive, daring and bold.

One day Segilola goes to Odo-Oro, not expecting the therapeutic effects the river will have on her – the peaceful and beautiful surroundings and the lovely and clear water.  She starts to doze off, and before she realizes what is happening, she has fallen into a deep sleep, and her departure from the river is at risk.  When she wakes up strange things start to happen leading to the most extraordinary and harrowing experience of her life. Will she be able to escape the fate of others before her in the same situation?

 

10. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Kerebuje

Ijapa’s deviousness, mischief and tricks that he is known for come into full force when he pursues relentlessly a woman that he has inordinate designs on, turning the woman’s life upside down.

Ijapa, believing that he can get anything or anyone he wishes including women if he sets his mind to it, focuses on Kerebuje – a very beautiful young woman who has been turning down all the many men who seek her hand in marriage, and who now wish for her downfall.  Kerebuje, abandoned by her family because she refuses to marry, is trying to adjust to her new life.

Determining to find a way of getting Kerebuje to be his wife Ijapa resorts to spying and scheming, to using tricks, traps, false pretences and ploys.  When Ijapa triggers off an incident involving the intervention of the Oba of Makeke, and a ruling by the Oba that Kerebuje should stay with him (Ijapa) to tend to some wounds that he deliberately blames on Kerebuje, Ijapa believes that he has finally got his wish.  However, the incredible and alarming events that ensue, spiral out of control sending shock waves to Kerebuje and everyone close to her, and even to the Oba himself.

 

11. The Jealous Brother

Mariwo’s excessive jealousy of his younger brother leads to the most extraordinary and unforeseen developments that will have a far-reaching effect not only on him and his family, but also on the whole town.

Mariwo and Jiraiye, two brothers living in Sasawa, are both gifted in drumming, singing and dancing, in their different ways.  Yet Mariwo has always been very jealous of his brother, and sees him as competition.

One day, Mariwo and Jiraiye enter a dancing competition in a nearby town – open to group contestants for the first time.  Not only is the winner given a cash prize by the judges, and showered with money by spectators, he is also given a trophy engraved with a flower, which is a mark of honour, a symbol of excellence – the highest in the land.  In the event of a group contestant winning, only one person in it – the one the judges consider to ‘steal the show’ – can receive the trophy.

When Jiraiye receives not only the trophy but is showered with more money than Mariwo by spectators, Mariwo’s excessive jealousy spirals out of control leading to some developments that will shake the whole town to its core.

 

12. Agbigbo The Great

It is not uncommon for a man to have two wives in Igbala – a practice that is not without its problems.  When their husband goes bankrupt and Saraje, the first wife, despite her wealth, refuses to help out, Fara, the second wife, is faced with the added problem of what to do to save the situation; she herself is penniless.  There is a deserted swampy farm near where they live, and Fara decides to go there every day with her child, Bolu – to pick palm kernels for makers of palm oil even if it is for a pittance.

One day Fara needs to pick more palm-kernels than usual, and she leaves Bolu, whom she usually keeps at her back, well-wrapped in soft banana leaves under a very tall palm tree. What happens thereafter will change Fara’s life in a way she least expects when she comes into contact with a mysterious bird believed to have special powers and to use these to intervene in the lives of the inhabitants of the land.

Will Saraje’s life change in a way she least expects when she, after hearing about Fara’s experience decides to go to the farm with her child and experience the same thing?

 

13. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Aja (Dog)

When Ijapa, known for his cunning, mischief and tricks, double crosses and betrays a friend, he is in for a surprise.

Ijapa is back with his family and living once again in Teregun, when the town experiences another famine, with devastating results.  Ijapa’s friend and neighbour Aja (Dog) is glaringly unaffected by the famine, so Ijapa, whose family risks dying from it, pleads with him repeatedly to let him in on his secret.  Aja, who has been going to steal yams at another town every day, finally agrees to take him along, against his better judgement, on the condition that they dig only one yam at a time, for obvious reasons. The penalty for stealing is grave.

Ijapa agrees to Aja’s condition, but after just a couple of trips he tricks Aja and digs five more out of pure greed.  Aja is shocked when, deciding to move on, Ijapa asks him to help him with his load, and threatens that if he does not, he will alert the farm-owner as to what is happening.

Knowing that Ijapa is bound to implicate him when he is caught, Aja hurries home to find a solution to the deep trouble he finds himself in.

 

14. Amola and the Hunter

When Amola and Singbade fall deeply in love with each other, little do they know the unbelievable and extraordinary situations in which they will find themselves.

Amola, a very beautiful young woman, under pressure to marry, is sought after for her beauty by many men but she refuses to marry except for love.  When one day a mysterious stranger, Singbade, arrives in Kasawa where she lives, she knows that he is the one for her.  The feeling is mutual, but Singbade does not want to marry her.  His mysterious replies to the efforts made by Amola to know why not – his hints of problems, difficulties, dangers involved – are unheeded by Amola.  She decides to follow the man home, afraid of her parents’ threats to marry her off to the Oba of their town – a common practice.

Singbade’s repeated warnings to Amola to turn back fall on deaf ears.  As the journey progresses, involving bizarre and dangerous rivers, dwellings and practices, Amoja begins to grasp the seriousness of the situation she is in but is convinced that their love will see them through.

What awaits Amola and Singbade when they get to their final destination is out of this world.

 

15. The Locust-Bean Seller (Iya-Oniru)

A locust-bean seller (Iya-Oniru)’s obsession with her locust-beans – her excessive fear of parting with any of them will lead to the most unbelievable and extraordinary decision of her life.

 

Iya-Oniru is one of Makawa’s sellers of the best quality and best-tasting locust-beans – always in high demand.  When there is a scarcity of locust-beans, sellers in Makawa, including Iya-Oniru, who are still in operation, exploit the situation fully. They are soon seen as the richest in town, but labelled ‘stingy’ because the more money they make the more they hate parting with any of it.

Iya-Oniru, who is ungenerous by nature, and who has the tendency to be stingy anyway becomes even more so.  She becomes so obsessed with making money from her locust-beans, and takes precautions against losing any of them, including handling the washing of the locust-beans herself at a nearby river.  However, she soon decides to take them to another river, Odo-Alo, where she is unlikely to come across anyone – a river that is nevertheless seen as sacred and mysterious.

One day she goes there to wash her locust-beans when a bowl with one locust-bean gets swept away by the swift current, and she chases after it.

 

 

16. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Iya-Alakara

 

Ijapa, who is too lazy to work, unless he cannot help it, relying on others to be fed, uses his cunning and tricks to this end with surprising results.

 

Ijapa, who now lives in Eweko with his family, wakes up one morning to the aromatic and delicious akara (bean-based food), hawked in his area, and wonders how he is going to lay his hands on some. Unsuccessful in convincing the akara-seller to treat him to the akara gratis, he devises a plan which involves enticing her away with his mesmerising music – drumming and singing. To this end he makes a drum and flutes from a giant rat’s skin and bones respectively, and hides among high grasses and bushes, near the road the akara seller always takes. Upon hearing this music, the akara-seller abandons her tray of akara, and as if in a trance, dances her way to the outskirts of the town, whilst Ijapa quickly steals the tray.  Ijapa repeats this ruse a few times when the akara-seller’s mother, the Oba (ruler) of Eweko and his courtiers drop by at the scene themselves, until he is caught in a trap laid out by the authorities and has to face trial.

 

17. The Hunter’s Best Friend (Aja mi da, Aja Ode)

When Ogunmola, a deep forest hunter, goes hunting one day little does he know that what he is about to experience there will have an impact on the people of his town and nearby towns, and particularly on their hunters.

Ogunmola, one of the leading hunters in his town, possessing all the qualities that are required of expert hunters of the land, knows that hunters encounter all sorts of difficulties when confronting and killing wild animals in the forest.  However, unlike his peers, he does not believe in the use of all sorts of powerful charms and medicines (oogun), and following certain procedures and practices to this end.  All he needs is his three well-trained hunting dogs, always by his side – reputed to be the best in Ijafa, and to have excellent skills, and their own specific skills.

One day when he finds himself, without his dogs, unexpectedly close to the forest he usually goes to, and drops by quickly, he is faced with the most unimaginable, harrowing and extraordinary difficulties and danger after shooting an animal.  Believing that only his three absent dogs can save him from the trouble he finds himself in, he still calls out for them.

 

18. The Dishonest Wife (Afigbasoyun)

Feyida’s excessive desire to have a child will lead to the most incredible and extraordinary developments.

Feyida, one of the two remaining wives of the Oba of Mabayi, is proud of her status as the first and favourite wife.  The Oba, despite his wealth cannot have a child by any of his wives, who have left him except Feyida and a young girl, Asake, his last wife.  Feyida does all she can to get pregnant, spending a lot of money. Believing fervently that she will have a baby soon, she is devastated and excessively jealous when she discovers that Asake is pregnant.  When Asake does not lose her pregnancy as Feyida has hoped and planned, thinking that this development will put her to shame, she decides to fake her own pregnancy with the help and collaboration of her doctor.  To achieve this, the doctor devises an intricate, well-thought-out plan that fools everyone right to the end, and Feyida takes possession of Asake’s baby.  Asake confronts Feyida who refuses to give up the child, and the Oba in trying to find out the true mother of his child is faced with the most extraordinary and shocking revelations, and a strange occurrence.

 

19. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Three Brothers

Ijapa’s extreme wickedness to three young brothers, whose lives are in danger, causes a great deal of concern, anxiety and distress to the people of Makadu, where they live.

Jarafe, Jagun and Gbamila have taken over their father’s work at an early age, in three areas, and are doing very well. Highly motivated, the boys like discussing aspects of each other’s work, and their expertise, comparing and contrasting, bantering and vying with each other.  Little do they know that the excitement they feel will get them into trouble when, one day, Ijapa overhears them.

The Oba of Makadu hates hearing about other people’s achievements because he is jealous and insecure, and it is a taboo for someone to talk openly about their expertise.  Boasting about what one cannot do, especially what nobody has done before is punishable by death.

Ijapa, jealous of the boys’ achievements accuses them of boasting.  Knowing very well that they are innocent, he reports them to the Oba who demands that the boys make good their promises, and put them to the test one by one. The boys’ experience – the most incredible, harrowing and bewildering moments of their lives – will have an impact on the Oba.

 

20. Lokode

Lokode finally accepts Gbolade’s proposal of marriage unaware that a death penalty awaits any woman who does not know her husband-to-be’s ‘oriki’ (lineage praise).

Gbolade convinces Lokode to marry him, even though he is still married.  His wife is about to leave him for another man, and it is not uncommon for the men of the land to have two wives.  However, Jade, the wife is jealous of Lokode, and when she learns by chance about the ‘oriki penalty’, she reports Lokode to the Oba, convinced that Lokode does not know Gbolade’s ‘oriki’.

The Oba of Ogudu is known to be obsessed with the culture and tradition of the land.  Certain procedures and practises have to be carried out or observed at events such as weddings.  At weddings, the practices would certainly include bringing the bride forward to praise worship (ki) – to recite the groom’s ‘oriki’ for everyone to hear.  It is unheard of if this fails to happen and a sacrilege in the Oba’s books – punishable by death.

Short of divine intervention, how can Lokode escape her fate?  What happens on the wedding day will have an impact not only on the Oba, but also on the whole town.

21. The Contest Between Fire and Rain

When Agbado (Corn), the Oba of Pelewu’s beautiful daughter, finally meets Ojo (Rain), the kind of man she is looking for, and wishes to marry, her father presents Ina (Fire) to her as his choice of a husband for her.  Ina and Ojo are the two most powerful and renowned men of the realm – known to cause fire and rain.  Nobody knows how they do all they do – the powers they have.

The Oba decides that Ina and Ojo will have to fight each other in a race – and the person whose strength overrides the other will marry his daughter. Agbado, knowing very well that no matter what, it is Ojo she willl see as her husband, that she will love him for ever and that Ojo feels the same way, agrees to marry the winner.

At the competition the two men put their powers to the utmost in extraordinary ways, vying against each other, and the whole event is so intense, gripping and mind-blowing.  It is glaringly obvious that Agbado sees Ojo as her husband, and the sworn eternal love they feel for each other leave the spectators breathless and on tenterhooks as to what the outcome will be.

 

22. Leyenibi

When Feyinti and Leyenibi in Kuweti, are married under strange circumstances – not unrelated to a custom of the land – with the full consent of Kubura, Feyinti’s first wife, Feyinti and Kubura are made aware of the following by Leyenibi’s parents: Leyenibi is very sensitive about the size of her breast – huge and out of proportion with the rest of her body – and it is a taboo for anyone to refer to them in any way. If this were to happen Leyenibi will leave them; secondly, she must never be without her fan – a special fan made for her for an affliction.

When Feyinti and Leyenibi fall in love unexpectedly, Kubura becomes excessively jealous and vindictive. She starts to treat Leyenibi badly until one day when Leyenibi stands up to her, she ridicules her breasts, triggering off all sorts of feelings in Leyenibi.  Whether she loves their husband or not Leyenibi has to get away from this woman, this town, with haste.  In her hurry she forgets her fan.

As she rushes off, Kubura tries to stop her waving the fan frantically.  Leyenibi is faster than Kubura, and the latter cannot catch up, and one wonders what will happen next.

 

23. The Princess Who Could Not Speak

Kikelomo grows up in an environment full of jealousy, rivalry and hatred, as the only child of the very rich and famous Oba of Akeke, who has several other wives apart from her mother.  It is not surprising that when Kikelomo falls ill suddenly this is welcoming news in some quarters.

The ayaba (Oba’s wives) – three in particular – still hoping to have male children, are vehemently against Kikelomo getting married with all the men flocking around her, because no matter how much the Oba loves her, she will not inherit the throne; the man who marries her will.

Kikelomo recovers from the illness only to face another ordeal – further welcoming news. She cannot speak any more – an unexplained, bewildering and baffling occurrence, with no medical explanation for what has happened to her – why she has become dumb.

The Oba looks into different solutions for Kikelomo’s predicament, and not ruling out that something may have triggered off her dumbness – a shock of some sort – agrees that Kikelomo should stay with a young man, Ogbonosetenikan, who claims that he will get her to speak again.

Ogonosetenikan puts into motion the plan he has in mind leading to interesting and surprising developments.

 

24. Akuruntegun

The Oba of Malawa is of exceptionally good character, always looking for ways of helping his people.  He loves inviting them to feasts during which they are asked to take part in games and contests, all designed to help them improve their lot.  One day he invites them to a future feast and a guessing-game, involving guessing the three main things (known only to him) to be served on the day, but with a clause: wealth or death.  The Oba is toying with his people, not expecting anyone to take him up on his challenge, when suddenly a young man, Akuruntegun, says that he will come up with the answers.  Akuruntegun is known for his boldness and bravery; he is fearless, ready to face any challenge head-on, not afraid of anything or anyone.

People are afraid for Akuruntegun, including Sasawa, Oba’s daughter and secret love of Akuruntegun’s life.  Hoping that her father and Akuruntegun can find a way out of the situation, Sasawa confesses her love for Akuruntegun to the Oba, who unfortunately, cannot reverse a clause once it is passed.  It looks as if, short of divine intervention, Akuruntegun cannot escape the fate that awaits him if he fails.

 

Selected Tortoise Tales

 

1.Ijapa (Tortoise), Erin (Elephant) and Erinmilokun (Hippopotamus)

Ijapa, now living in Lagoni, has become good friends with Erin and Erinmilokun, the biggest animals on land and in the deep river, but finds two things annoying about them; they like boasting about their size and strength, and they also like teasing Ijapa about his size.  Ijapa warns them again and again that he does not like their behaviour, but they ignore him. After some time, he decides to teach them a lesson.  He challenges them to a tug-of-war – to show them that he is stronger than the two of them.  He will use his strength to pull Erin into the sea with a rope, and pull Erinmilokun out of the sea with a rope onto the land.  They finally agree and Ijapa puts his plan into motion.

The contest is a spectacle to behold as the two biggest animals put everything they have into the tug-of-war, believing that it is Ijapa they are pulling, but it is each other they are pulling.  Neither is able to pull the other far enough as they are both of equal strength, and the whole event will have an impact on the sea and land animals, with many unanswered questions thereafter.

 

2. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Ehoro (Hare)

The animals, especially those who live in groups in the forest, are known for competing with each other as to who is the strongest, fastest, biggest, etc.  When one day in Lagoni, where Ijapa lives, there is a footrace – the first of its kind – to decide who is the fastest animal, and Erin is declared the winner, Ehoro is very angry because he believes that he is the fastest animal, and was not made aware of the footrace.  He is very nasty to Erin, and Ijapa challenges him to a footrace.

Pretending that he has developed some techniques for moving fast, he sets some conditions for the footrace, playing on Ehoro’s shortcomings. It must be a long distance one, with stops mapped out at every mile.  Unknown to Ehoro, Ijapa plants his relatives (dressed alike) close to each demarcated spot, but hidden from sight.    As soon as they hear Ehoro approaching, they rush out quickly from their hiding place one by one, pretending to be Ijapa, and place themselves either in front, behind or beside Ehoro.  The whole event leaves Ehoro perplexed, bewildered and exhausted, and it looks as if he is in for more than he bargains for.

 

3. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Hot-Water Test

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.

 

4. Ijapa (Tortoise) stole yam from his in-law

Igbin (Snail), an extremely rich farmer in Lagoni, is very cautious about whom his daughters will marry.  Ijapa, who has designs on Igbin’s last born daughter, convinces both father and daughter that he cares about her, and pretends to own a farm, just outside the town, and doing very well.

Experiencing a lot of financial difficulties after marrying Igbin’s daughter, Ijapa starts to steal from the same farm that he has passed off as his.  As time goes by Igbin, becoming more and more reassured that Ijapa is doing well for himself, draws him closer thinking he can trust him.  When Ijapa is almost caught at the farm he is stealing from he decides to steal from his father-in-law’s farm instead, taking advantage of their closeness.  He is finally caught and Igbin, shocked and angry by Ijapa’s deception, is relentless in his treatment of him. The treatment, witnessed in the morning by passers-by, is so severe and not only does it bring disgrace on Ijapa, but also almost ends his life.

One cannot help but wonder what the reaction of the same passers-by will be when they find Ijapa in this same situation, on their way back in the evening.

 

5. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Ojola (Python)

In Lagoni, Ijapa, and a Python, Ojola are very good friends and neighbours, but    have never eaten at each other’s house.  Ojola loves his food, and does not like sharing it with anyone, so even if he invites you to eat with him, he uses a ploy to make sure that you eat hardly anything.

One day, Ijapa comes unexpectedly across Yannibo, his estranged wife, and they get together again.  Yannibo is a very good cook, and Ojola envious of the delicious meals that he knows his friend is now enjoying, suddenly decides that it is about time he and Ijapa start eating at each other’s house.  This is put into practice, even though Ojola uses the ploy to make sure that Ijapa eats hardly anything.  Then Ojola meets and marries someone who is a good cook, and his interest in eating at Ijapa’s vanishes, until he is challenged by Ijapa and forced to invite him unexpectedly to a favourite  meal that he is looking forward to eating alone.

Ojola puts his ploy into full force and Ijapa ends up eating nothing.  Ijapa,  upset and offended by Ojola’s treatment of him, decides to pay him back in his own coin.

 

6. Tortoise (Ijapa) and Pig (Elede)

Elede, a rich and successful travelling trader in Lagoni, is kind and generous, and excessively so to his friend, Ijapa,  but he hates to be taken advantage of, and what is more, he has a bad temper and can behave like a hooligan.

When Ijapa gets into trouble with creditors to whom he owes a lot of money, and is rough-handled and threatened in all sorts of ways, it is Elede who comes to his rescue.  He pays back the creditors, sets Ijapa up in a promising farming business, with a loan, and discusses how the money will be paid back.

Elede is surprised that Ijapa is not able to pay back the money as agreed upon, and despite repeated reminders and promises, fails to do so.  After a while, realizing that Ijapa has no intention of paying him back at all, and is spending money lavishly on other things, Elede, very angry, sets out for Ijapa’s house to get his money come what may.  On arriving there, it is Yannibo, his wife, he finds grinding away on an olota (grinding stone), seemingly indifferent to Elede’s plight.  Elede’s bad temper and hooliganism come into full blast, leading to unexpected developments.

                    

7. Ijapa (Tortoise) and all the wisdom of the World

Ijapa, wakes up one morning in Lagoni, looks back at his life and is very unhappy, thinking that he has achieved nothing, but he suddenly gets excited believing that he has wisdom, and has used this to achieve a great deal.  To Ijapa wisdom means is being able to find solutions to any problems, no matter the means, even if it is through deviousness, pranks and mischief.  All he needs to do is improve on his methods, and make sure that others’ wisdom is taken from them and nobody has access to it.  He can possess all the wisdom in the whole world, and make money from it!

Ijapa decides to go around the world listening in or eavesdropping on conversations – gathering any part of the conversations that shows wisdom in his opinion, in a huge gourd with a tight stopper.  To him the world means his town and the neighbouring towns.  Telling lies upon lies when questioned about the gourd and the strange and suspicious ways he is behaving he fulfils his mission, and returns home.  Faced with where to put the gourd from the reach of others, he is also faced with some questions that baffle him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume 1: How and Why Folk Tales

1. How Tortoise (Ijapa) Got His Shell (Ijapa and Iya-Elepa)
Ijapa, a cunning, devious, but very lazy tortoise, travels from his famine struck town of Magunwa to the prosperous town of Idaha in search of food. Unsuccessful in convincing the groundnut seller, Iya-Elepa to treat him to her aromatic and delicious roasted groundnuts, he devises a plan which involves hiding in a tunnel (built for him by Okete, the giant rat in exchange for a sack of palm-nuts) and enticing away the Iya-Elepa and other market sellers with his mesmerising music. Upon hearing this music, all the market sellers abandon their stalls, and as if in a trance, they all dance their way to the outskirts of the town, whilst Ijapa quickly raids their stalls. Ijapa repeats this little ruse over the next few market days, until he is caught in a trap laid out by the authorities. Not having a shell, he sustains severe injuries from the thrashing he receives. He is taken before the King of Idaha and only his cunning and his musical gifts can save him, and also help him get a shell.

2. How Ijapa Cracked His Shell (Iya, Iya T‘akun Wale o)

Driven away from Magunwa for his misdeeds in Idaha, the cunning and devious Ijapa is now living in another famine struck town of Teregun.
Deeply regretting the decision in the animal kingdom to kill off their mothers for food, Ijapa looks for a way of outwitting Aja (Dog) who refuses to kill off his mother, and who, though boycotted by the other animals, seems to be thriving in the face of the famine. What is Aja’s secret?
Ijapa puts into play his cunning and deviousness to unravel the mystery and discovers where Aja’s mother is hidden, and how Aja is being fed. He reports Aja to Kiniun, their Oba (ruler), and advises Kiniun to send Aja on a long mission that will keep him away from the scene. In the meantime, Ijapa devises a plan – a plan involving the other animals, for reaching Aja’s mother (who is in the sky, under the protection of the Sky Goddess) and ousting her. This plan will benefit all and solve the famine, Ijapa thinks. What will happen if it does not work as Ijapa climbs to the sky pretending to be Aja, with the other animals in hiding? Can it have an effect on Ijapa’s shell?

3. Why Ijapa (Tortoise)’s Stomach Is Hollow (Ijapa and Babalawo)
Ijapa, not only known for his cunning, deviousness and laziness, but for his greed, lets the latter get the better of him when he eats the ‘obe aseje’ – a special and potent stew that a babalawo prepares for Yannibo, his wife, a stew well-known for making women pregnant.
With the famine over in Teregun, Ijapa, married for several years, despairing that there is no child in sight, does not heed the babalawo’s warning about the consequences of eating any of the ‘obe aseje’. “…your stomach will undergo similar changes as those of a pregnant woman without a baby growing inside you…If this happens, I can’t guarantee a happy ending because your stomach is likely to burst, and that may mean death!” the babalawo has warned, again and again.
After eating all the ‘obe aseje’ on his way back home from the babalawo, alarmed at what is happening to his stomach, and fearing the end in sight, Ijapa decides to go back to the babalawo, using his cunning and deviousness to persuade the latter to help him. The question is: will this work on the babalawo, and even if he agrees to help him, what exactly can he do for Ijapa?

4. Why Ijapa Is Bald
Predominantly lazy, Ijapa has gone back to his former way of life – relying on the goodwill of others to feed himself, his wife and the children they have longed for. It is only Yannibo’s hard work and the support from her parents that keep the Ijapa’s family from being destitute. This support includes frequent invitations to lunch at Yannibo’s parents’ house where a delicious mouth-watering meal always awaits them, and to take-away.
It is when Ijapa and Yannibo are invited to a special lunch along with other invitees that Ijapa’s greed and impatience lead to an act that he will regret for the rest of his life. When he fails in persuading his mother-in-law (in an indirect manner) to serve the lunch before her husband’s arrival, he looks for a convincing excuse to leave the gathering. This leads to his helping himself to some steaming hot ebe behind his mother-in-law’s back. Almost caught in the act he decides to wrap the ebe in moimoi leaves, quickly put it inside his cap and covers his head with it. What happens thereafter will have an impact not only on Ijapa’s life, but on those around him, especially his wife and children.

5. Why Ijapa’s Nose is Very Small (Ijapa, Asin and Okere)
Ijapa gives full rein to his mischievousness when he takes sides in a fight between Asin (Rat) and his friend, Okere (Squirrel) at a market place. Ijapa, now living alone in Offala, still refuses to do any work, in spite of Okere’s pressure on him to do so. Okere, an awo (dishes) seller at Offala Market, urges Ijapa to sell awo – to take advantage of one of the two best placed stalls in the awo section of the market, the other occupied by her. It is only when Asin comes on the scene and poses a threat to Ijapa’s belief in his ability to outshine anyone in anything he does, that he decides to take Okere’s advice and become an awo seller.
Regretting deeply not taking the stall next to Okere which Asin now occupies, Ijapa is secretly jealous and resentful of Asin – of the progress she is already making – and looks for ways of taking over her stall. To Ijapa’s delight a terrible and unprecedented row erupts one day between Asin and Okere, but Asin’s retaliation to Ijapa’s blatantly unfair way of settling the row will have a disastrous effect on Ijapa and an impact on his life.

Volume 2

Selected Tales With Songs

1. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Erin (Elephant)
Ijapa uses his cunning and deviousness to the full – this time for a good cause – when he tricks a foolish elephant (Erin) into believing that he can be the Oba (ruler) of humans.
Ijapa has left Offala, deeply affected by an occurrence there, and is now living in Jakota. An extraordinary big elephant, enraged for not being chosen Oba (ruler) over a lion (Kiniun) in the animal kingdom, wreaks havoc on the whole town to show how powerful he is – more powerful than Kiniun – with his size and strength. The Oba in the human kingdom is exasperated by the failure of his renowned hunters to capture the animal, and is at a loss as to what to do next. Desperate to find a solution to the problem at all costs he accepts Ijapa’s offer of help with the promise of a reward, but with a serious warning if he fails to capture the animal.
What is in store for Erin? Will Ijapa be able to deliver on his promise, receive the reward or a face a grave penalty? Above all how exactly will he be able to capture this huge and dangerous animal when others before him have failed?

2. Olurombi
It is not unheard of to make pledges to the Iroko Tree at the town of Abele, but one woman’s unprecedented pledge causes an uproar in the town.
Olurombi is a cloth seller in Abele, a town where the people, believing in the special powers of Iroko Tree, especially traders like Olurombi, consult the tree for help for high sales, pledging something to it to make their wishes come true. However, Olurombi’s overwhelming desire to have a son pushes her to ask the tree for help over this one day, and in wondering what she can possibly pledge for such an unusual request, she may have inadvertently pledge her daughter, Oluronke, to Iroko Tree. Not fulfilling a pledge is unthinkable and unheard of because people are afraid of what the consequences may be.
Now the people of Abele are putting pressure on Olurombi to fulfil her pledge to the Iroko Tree, with her son inexplicably ill, but how can anyone possibly fulfil such a pledge? What options are there for Olurombi, especially when she herself is deeply troubled, unhappy and confused about the whole thing. Surely no one would expect her to give up a child to save another child?

3. Ojeje Traders
It is not an uncommon practice for the men of the land to have two wives even if there is rivalry and enmity between the two women and this often leads to hatred of the children. However, this practice is to have a profound effect on the people of Akete when a young girl’s life is at stake.
Mobarewa has to fight for her life when her parents – both traders are unexpectedly away at the same time, and she is left with her father’s other wife. Her mother is away as an Ojeje Trader, and Ojeje Traders are renowned traders who ply their trade at a market in Ojeje, at a distance from Akete, each journey taking about ten days.
Ill-treated by the evil woman whose threats make it impossible for her to seek help, Mobarewa looks for a way of reaching her mother through other Ojeje Traders – travelling to and from Ojeje – using her singing gift. How exactly does she set about doing this, and how long will it take for her mother to know about her plight, come back and rescue her? Above all will the evil woman get away with her ill-treatment of another woman’s child?

4. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Jigborere, Oluwo’s Son
Ijapa’s cunning and deviousness take a diabolical turn when, added to his greed for money, he treats a young boy he initially rescues from danger in such an incredibly cruel and outrageously dangerous way that sends shock waves to those around him.
Rere, an aspiring hunter, goes into the deep forest to hunt, not heeding his parents’ warning about the dangers involved. Regretting his action when he runs into serious and harrowing problems, and almost drowns, he has no idea what else lies in store for him when he is rescued by Ijapa who now lives at the outskirts of a nearby town.
Discovering Rere’s unusual singing gift that draws the attention of passers-by, and spurs them on to dance, Ijapa deviates from his initial kindness to the boy. He entraps Rere in a makeshift drum, commands him to sing and makes money out of him anytime and anywhere he chooses. Soon Ijapa is known far and near for his ‘magical drum that sings’. Can Rere’s use of his singing gift to forge a way out of the precarious situation he finds himself yield dividend, and if so, how? Can Ijapa get away with this shocking and appalling behaviour?

5. The Two Wives
It is not uncommon for a man to have two wives in Makani – a practice that is not without its problems – and for rivalry to be between the two women. However, when one woman is the complete opposite of the other – one is ‘the devil incarnate’ and the other ‘a divine angel’ – the problems take on another dimension.
Amoja and Torera, completely different from each other in character, are married to the same man, and experience near explosive situations in their household. It happens that Torera goes to the river to wash their dirty dishes one day, and Amoja’s igbako (utensil) gets swept away by the current – an incident that is to cause a lot of anxiety and distress for Torera. A few days before there has been an unbelievably huge row between Amoja and Torera over this same igbako.
Torera’s experience at the river when she comes across a mysterious old woman with a huge wound on her leg, horrible to describe, will change her life in a way she least expects.
Will Amoja’s life change in a way that she least expects when she decides to go to the same river and experience what Torera experienced there?

6. Olailo and the Mysterious Woman
Olailo’s weakness for beautiful women has got him into trouble countless of times. Little does he know the kind of trouble that lies ahead when an extraordinarily beautiful woman with a mysterious air about her, looking for hoes to buy, is directed to him at his stall as ‘the best seller of hoes (Oloko) in the town of Kasawa’.
The unusualness of the woman’s mission in Kasawa and her mysterious replies to the efforts made by Olailo to get to know her and where she lives – her references to problems, difficulties, dangers – are unheeded by Olailo when he decides to follow the woman home. Her repeated warnings to him to turn back fall on deaf ears. As the journey progresses, involving bizarre and dangerous rivers, dwellings and practices, Olailo begins to grasp the seriousness of the situation he is in but is undaunted by it. He is convinced that any hardship in the way of achieving his aim could be resolved by fighting, and his skills in that area are unprecedented.
Will Olailo’s fighting skills be enough to get him through when at their final destination he is faced with an incredible danger – the highest of all so far?

7. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Princesses
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?

8. Olomuroro
A young girl’s life is in turmoil when, unknown to her parents, she is being terrorized by an evil woman in Idoja.
Saraya’s parents have no choice but to leave their daughter alone when they go to work from morning to evening. One day a strange, scary looking woman forces her way into the house, and uses different tactics to gain Saraya’s confidence. When Saraya realizes that all the woman wants is to steal the food left her by her parents and on a regular basis, and the woman threatens her, she is very badly shaken, but decides not to tell her parents about it. From a very lively, happy child she becomes subdued, silent, nervous and fearful. She starts to lose weight.
The effect Olomuroro’s daily visit is having on Saraya is of great concern to her parents, who start to probe her repeatedly, imploring her to tell them if she is afraid of something or someone until Saraya is forced to disclose her harrowing experience with Olomuroro.
Investigations about the woman lead to shocking, sinister and horrifying revelations that shake not only the village of Idoha, but also nearby towns, to the core, and an immediate action is required.

9. The Disobedient Girl (Alantere)
Little does Segilola know what is in store for her, when, against her parents’ wishes, she goes to a river that is forbidden to her, and what she experiences there will have an impact not only on her life but also on her family’s lives.
Segilola has always been curious about Odo-Oro, fascinated by the stories she has heard about the river, the biggest in Iperi-Ake, where she lives – by the mysteries surrounding it, and more importantly about the fact that it is forbidden.
It is not surprising because Segilola is not only known for her stubbornness, wilfulness and disobedience, but she is also inquisitive, daring and bold.
One day Segilola goes to Odo-Oro, not expecting the therapeutic effects the river will have on her – the peaceful and beautiful surroundings and the lovely and clear water. She starts to doze off, and before she realizes what is happening, she has fallen into a deep sleep, and her departure from the river is at risk. When she wakes up strange things start to happen leading to the most extraordinary and harrowing experience of her life. Will she be able to escape the fate of others before her in the same situation?

10. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Kerebuje
Ijapa’s deviousness, mischief and tricks that he is known for come into full force when he pursues relentlessly a woman that he has inordinate designs on, turning the woman’s life upside down.
Ijapa, believing that he can get anything or anyone he wishes including women if he sets his mind to it, focuses on Kerebuje – a very beautiful young woman who has been turning down all the many men who seek her hand in marriage, and who now wish for her downfall. Kerebuje, abandoned by her family because she refuses to marry, is trying to adjust to her new life.
Determining to find a way of getting Kerebuje to be his wife Ijapa resorts to spying and scheming, to using tricks, traps, false pretences and ploys. When Ijapa triggers off an incident involving the intervention of the Oba of Makeke, and a ruling by the Oba that Kerebuje should stay with him (Ijapa) to tend to some wounds that he deliberately blames on Kerebuje, Ijapa believes that he has finally got his wish. However, the incredible and alarming events that ensue, spiral out of control sending shock waves to Kerebuje and everyone close to her, and even to the Oba himself.

11. The Jealous Brother
Mariwo’s excessive jealousy of his younger brother leads to the most extraordinary and unforeseen developments that will have a far-reaching effect not only on him and his family, but also on the whole town.
Mariwo and Jiraiye, two brothers living in Sasawa, are both gifted in drumming, singing and dancing, in their different ways. Yet Mariwo has always been very jealous of his brother, and sees him as competition.
One day, Mariwo and Jiraiye enter a dancing competition in a nearby town – open to group contestants for the first time. Not only is the winner given a cash prize by the judges, and showered with money by spectators, he is also given a trophy engraved with a flower, which is a mark of honour, a symbol of excellence – the highest in the land. In the event of a group contestant winning, only one person in it – the one the judges consider to ‘steal the show’ – can receive the trophy.
When Jiraiye receives not only the trophy but is showered with more money than Mariwo by spectators, Mariwo’s excessive jealousy spirals out of control leading to some developments that will shake the whole town to its core.

12. Agbigbo The Great
It is not uncommon for a man to have two wives in Igbala – a practice that is not without its problems. When their husband goes bankrupt and Saraje, the first wife, despite her wealth, refuses to help out, Fara, the second wife, is faced with the added problem of what to do to save the situation; she herself is penniless. There is a deserted swampy farm near where they live, and Fara decides to go there every day with her child, Bolu – to pick palm kernels for makers of palm oil even if it is for a pittance.
One day Fara needs to pick more palm-kernels than usual, and she leaves Bolu, whom she usually keeps at her back, well-wrapped in soft banana leaves under a very tall palm tree. What happens thereafter will change Fara’s life in a way she least expects when she comes into contact with a mysterious bird believed to have special powers and to use these to intervene in the lives of the inhabitants of the land.
Will Saraje’s life change in a way she least expects when she, after hearing about Fara’s experience decides to go to the farm with her child and experience the same thing?

13. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Aja (Dog)
When Ijapa, known for his cunning, mischief and tricks, double crosses and betrays a friend, he is in for a surprise.
Ijapa is back with his family and living once again in Teregun, when the town experiences another famine, with devastating results. Ijapa’s friend and neighbour Aja (Dog) is glaringly unaffected by the famine, so Ijapa, whose family risks dying from it, pleads with him repeatedly to let him in on his secret. Aja, who has been going to steal yams at another town every day, finally agrees to take him along, against his better judgement, on the condition that they dig only one yam at a time, for obvious reasons. The penalty for stealing is grave.
Ijapa agrees to Aja’s condition, but after just a couple of trips he tricks Aja and digs five more out of pure greed. Aja is shocked when, deciding to move on, Ijapa asks him to help him with his load, and threatens that if he does not, he will alert the farm-owner as to what is happening.
Knowing that Ijapa is bound to implicate him when he is caught, Aja hurries home to find a solution to the deep trouble he finds himself in.

14. Amola and the Hunter
When Amola and Singbade fall deeply in love with each other, little do they know the unbelievable and extraordinary situations in which they will find themselves.
Amola, a very beautiful young woman, under pressure to marry, is sought after for her beauty by many men but she refuses to marry except for love. When one day a mysterious stranger, Singbade, arrives in Kasawa where she lives, she knows that he is the one for her. The feeling is mutual, but Singbade does not want to marry her. His mysterious replies to the efforts made by Amola to know why not – his hints of problems, difficulties, dangers involved – are unheeded by Amola. She decides to follow the man home, afraid of her parents’ threats to marry her off to the Oba of their town – a common practice.
Singbade’s repeated warnings to Amola to turn back fall on deaf ears. As the journey progresses, involving bizarre and dangerous rivers, dwellings and practices, Amoja begins to grasp the seriousness of the situation she is in but is convinced that their love will see them through.
What awaits Amola and Singbade when they get to their final destination is out of this world.

15. The Locust-Bean Seller (Iya-Oniru)
A locust-bean seller (Iya-Oniru)’s obsession with her locust-beans – her excessive fear of parting with any of them will lead to the most unbelievable and extraordinary decision of her life.

Iya-Oniru is one of Makawa’s sellers of the best quality and best-tasting locust-beans – always in high demand. When there is a scarcity of locust-beans, sellers in Makawa, including Iya-Oniru, who are still in operation, exploit the situation fully. They are soon seen as the richest in town, but labelled ‘stingy’ because the more money they make the more they hate parting with any of it.
Iya-Oniru, who is ungenerous by nature, and who has the tendency to be stingy anyway becomes even more so. She becomes so obsessed with making money from her locust-beans, and takes precautions against losing any of them, including handling the washing of the locust-beans herself at a nearby river. However, she soon decides to take them to another river, Odo-Alo, where she is unlikely to come across anyone – a river that is nevertheless seen as sacred and mysterious.
One day she goes there to wash her locust-beans when a bowl with one locust-bean gets swept away by the swift current, and she chases after it.

16. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Iya-Alakara

Ijapa, who is too lazy to work, unless he cannot help it, relying on others to be fed, uses his cunning and tricks to this end with surprising results.

Ijapa, who now lives in Eweko with his family, wakes up one morning to the aromatic and delicious akara (bean-based food), hawked in his area, and wonders how he is going to lay his hands on some. Unsuccessful in convincing the akara-seller to treat him to the akara gratis, he devises a plan which involves enticing her away with his mesmerising music – drumming and singing. To this end he makes a drum and flutes from a giant rat’s skin and bones respectively, and hides among high grasses and bushes, near the road the akara seller always takes. Upon hearing this music, the akara-seller abandons her tray of akara, and as if in a trance, dances her way to the outskirts of the town, whilst Ijapa quickly steals the tray. Ijapa repeats this ruse a few times when the akara-seller’s mother, the Oba (ruler) of Eweko and his courtiers drop by at the scene themselves, until he is caught in a trap laid out by the authorities and has to face trial.

17. The Hunter’s Best Friend (Aja mi da, Aja Ode)
When Ogunmola, a deep forest hunter, goes hunting one day little does he know that what he is about to experience there will have an impact on the people of his town and nearby towns, and particularly on their hunters.
Ogunmola, one of the leading hunters in his town, possessing all the qualities that are required of expert hunters of the land, knows that hunters encounter all sorts of difficulties when confronting and killing wild animals in the forest. However, unlike his peers, he does not believe in the use of all sorts of powerful charms and medicines (oogun), and following certain procedures and practices to this end. All he needs is his three well-trained hunting dogs, always by his side – reputed to be the best in Ijafa, and to have excellent skills, and their own specific skills.
One day when he finds himself, without his dogs, unexpectedly close to the forest he usually goes to, and drops by quickly, he is faced with the most unimaginable, harrowing and extraordinary difficulties and danger after shooting an animal. Believing that only his three absent dogs can save him from the trouble he finds himself in, he still calls out for them.

18. The Dishonest Wife (Afigbasoyun)
Feyida’s excessive desire to have a child will lead to the most incredible and extraordinary developments.
Feyida, one of the two remaining wives of the Oba of Mabayi, is proud of her status as the first and favourite wife. The Oba, despite his wealth cannot have a child by any of his wives, who have left him except Feyida and a young girl, Asake, his last wife. Feyida does all she can to get pregnant, spending a lot of money. Believing fervently that she will have a baby soon, she is devastated and excessively jealous when she discovers that Asake is pregnant. When Asake does not lose her pregnancy as Feyida has hoped and planned, thinking that this development will put her to shame, she decides to fake her own pregnancy with the help and collaboration of her doctor. To achieve this, the doctor devises an intricate, well-thought-out plan that fools everyone right to the end, and Feyida takes possession of Asake’s baby. Asake confronts Feyida who refuses to give up the child, and the Oba in trying to find out the true mother of his child is faced with the most extraordinary and shocking revelations, and a strange occurrence.

19. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Three Brothers
Ijapa’s extreme wickedness to three young brothers, whose lives are in danger, causes a great deal of concern, anxiety and distress to the people of Makadu, where they live.
Jarafe, Jagun and Gbamila have taken over their father’s work at an early age, in three areas, and are doing very well. Highly motivated, the boys like discussing aspects of each other’s work, and their expertise, comparing and contrasting, bantering and vying with each other. Little do they know that the excitement they feel will get them into trouble when, one day, Ijapa overhears them.
The Oba of Makadu hates hearing about other people’s achievements because he is jealous and insecure, and it is a taboo for someone to talk openly about their expertise. Boasting about what one cannot do, especially what nobody has done before is punishable by death.
Ijapa, jealous of the boys’ achievements accuses them of boasting. Knowing very well that they are innocent, he reports them to the Oba who demands that the boys make good their promises, and put them to the test one by one. The boys’ experience – the most incredible, harrowing and bewildering moments of their lives – will have an impact on the Oba.

20. Lokode
Lokode finally accepts Gbolade’s proposal of marriage unaware that a death penalty awaits any woman who does not know her husband-to-be’s ‘oriki’ (lineage praise).
Gbolade convinces Lokode to marry him, even though he is still married. His wife is about to leave him for another man, and it is not uncommon for the men of the land to have two wives. However, Jade, the wife is jealous of Lokode, and when she learns by chance about the ‘oriki penalty’, she reports Lokode to the Oba, convinced that Lokode does not know Gbolade’s ‘oriki’.
The Oba of Ogudu is known to be obsessed with the culture and tradition of the land. Certain procedures and practises have to be carried out or observed at events such as weddings. At weddings, the practices would certainly include bringing the bride forward to praise worship (ki) – to recite the groom’s ‘oriki’ for everyone to hear. It is unheard of if this fails to happen and a sacrilege in the Oba’s books – punishable by death.
Short of divine intervention, how can Lokode escape her fate? What happens on the wedding day will have an impact not only on the Oba, but also on the whole town.
21. The Contest Between Fire and Rain
When Agbado (Corn), the Oba of Pelewu’s beautiful daughter, finally meets Ojo (Rain), the kind of man she is looking for, and wishes to marry, her father presents Ina (Fire) to her as his choice of a husband for her. Ina and Ojo are the two most powerful and renowned men of the realm – known to cause fire and rain. Nobody knows how they do all they do – the powers they have.
The Oba decides that Ina and Ojo will have to fight each other in a race – and the person whose strength overrides the other will marry his daughter. Agbado, knowing very well that no matter what, it is Ojo she willl see as her husband, that she will love him for ever and that Ojo feels the same way, agrees to marry the winner.
At the competition the two men put their powers to the utmost in extraordinary ways, vying against each other, and the whole event is so intense, gripping and mind-blowing. It is glaringly obvious that Agbado sees Ojo as her husband, and the sworn eternal love they feel for each other leave the spectators breathless and on tenterhooks as to what the outcome will be.

22. Leyenibi
When Feyinti and Leyenibi in Kuweti, are married under strange circumstances – not unrelated to a custom of the land – with the full consent of Kubura, Feyinti’s first wife, Feyinti and Kubura are made aware of the following by Leyenibi’s parents: Leyenibi is very sensitive about the size of her breast – huge and out of proportion with the rest of her body – and it is a taboo for anyone to refer to them in any way. If this were to happen Leyenibi will leave them; secondly, she must never be without her fan – a special fan made for her for an affliction.
When Feyinti and Leyenibi fall in love unexpectedly, Kubura becomes excessively jealous and vindictive. She starts to treat Leyenibi badly until one day when Leyenibi stands up to her, she ridicules her breasts, triggering off all sorts of feelings in Leyenibi. Whether she loves their husband or not Leyenibi has to get away from this woman, this town, with haste. In her hurry she forgets her fan.
As she rushes off, Kubura tries to stop her waving the fan frantically. Leyenibi is faster than Kubura, and the latter cannot catch up, and one wonders what will happen next.

23. The Princess Who Could Not Speak
Kikelomo grows up in an environment full of jealousy, rivalry and hatred, as the only child of the very rich and famous Oba of Akeke, who has several other wives apart from her mother. It is not surprising that when Kikelomo falls ill suddenly this is welcoming news in some quarters.
The ayaba (Oba’s wives) – three in particular – still hoping to have male children, are vehemently against Kikelomo getting married with all the men flocking around her, because no matter how much the Oba loves her, she will not inherit the throne; the man who marries her will.
Kikelomo recovers from the illness only to face another ordeal – further welcoming news. She cannot speak any more – an unexplained, bewildering and baffling occurrence, with no medical explanation for what has happened to her – why she has become dumb.
The Oba looks into different solutions for Kikelomo’s predicament, and not ruling out that something may have triggered off her dumbness – a shock of some sort – agrees that Kikelomo should stay with a young man, Ogbonosetenikan, who claims that he will get her to speak again.
Ogonosetenikan puts into motion the plan he has in mind leading to interesting and surprising developments.

24. Akuruntegun
The Oba of Malawa is of exceptionally good character, always looking for ways of helping his people. He loves inviting them to feasts during which they are asked to take part in games and contests, all designed to help them improve their lot. One day he invites them to a future feast and a guessing-game, involving guessing the three main things (known only to him) to be served on the day, but with a clause: wealth or death. The Oba is toying with his people, not expecting anyone to take him up on his challenge, when suddenly a young man, Akuruntegun, says that he will come up with the answers. Akuruntegun is known for his boldness and bravery; he is fearless, ready to face any challenge head-on, not afraid of anything or anyone.
People are afraid for Akuruntegun, including Sasawa, Oba’s daughter and secret love of Akuruntegun’s life. Hoping that her father and Akuruntegun can find a way out of the situation, Sasawa confesses her love for Akuruntegun to the Oba, who unfortunately, cannot reverse a clause once it is passed. It looks as if, short of divine intervention, Akuruntegun cannot escape the fate that awaits him if he fails.

Selected Tortoise Tales

1.Ijapa (Tortoise), Erin (Elephant) and Erinmilokun (Hippopotamus)
Ijapa, now living in Lagoni, has become good friends with Erin and Erinmilokun, the biggest animals on land and in the deep river, but finds two things annoying about them; they like boasting about their size and strength, and they also like teasing Ijapa about his size. Ijapa warns them again and again that he does not like their behaviour, but they ignore him. After some time, he decides to teach them a lesson. He challenges them to a tug-of-war – to show them that he is stronger than the two of them. He will use his strength to pull Erin into the sea with a rope, and pull Erinmilokun out of the sea with a rope onto the land. They finally agree and Ijapa puts his plan into motion.
The contest is a spectacle to behold as the two biggest animals put everything they have into the tug-of-war, believing that it is Ijapa they are pulling, but it is each other they are pulling. Neither is able to pull the other far enough as they are both of equal strength, and the whole event will have an impact on the sea and land animals, with many unanswered questions thereafter.

2. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Ehoro (Hare)
The animals, especially those who live in groups in the forest, are known for competing with each other as to who is the strongest, fastest, biggest, etc. When one day in Lagoni, where Ijapa lives, there is a footrace – the first of its kind – to decide who is the fastest animal, and Erin is declared the winner, Ehoro is very angry because he believes that he is the fastest animal, and was not made aware of the footrace. He is very nasty to Erin, and Ijapa challenges him to a footrace.
Pretending that he has developed some techniques for moving fast, he sets some conditions for the footrace, playing on Ehoro’s shortcomings. It must be a long distance one, with stops mapped out at every mile. Unknown to Ehoro, Ijapa plants his relatives (dressed alike) close to each demarcated spot, but hidden from sight. As soon as they hear Ehoro approaching, they rush out quickly from their hiding place one by one, pretending to be Ijapa, and place themselves either in front, behind or beside Ehoro. The whole event leaves Ehoro perplexed, bewildered and exhausted, and it looks as if he is in for more than he bargains for.

3. Ijapa (Tortoise) and the Hot-Water Test
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.

4. Ijapa (Tortoise) stole yam from his in-law
Igbin (Snail), an extremely rich farmer in Lagoni, is very cautious about whom his daughters will marry. Ijapa, who has designs on Igbin’s last born daughter, convinces both father and daughter that he cares about her, and pretends to own a farm, just outside the town, and doing very well.
Experiencing a lot of financial difficulties after marrying Igbin’s daughter, Ijapa starts to steal from the same farm that he has passed off as his. As time goes by Igbin, becoming more and more reassured that Ijapa is doing well for himself, draws him closer thinking he can trust him. When Ijapa is almost caught at the farm he is stealing from he decides to steal from his father-in-law’s farm instead, taking advantage of their closeness. He is finally caught and Igbin, shocked and angry by Ijapa’s deception, is relentless in his treatment of him. The treatment, witnessed in the morning by passers-by, is so severe and not only does it bring disgrace on Ijapa, but also almost ends his life.
One cannot help but wonder what the reaction of the same passers-by will be when they find Ijapa in this same situation, on their way back in the evening.

5. Ijapa (Tortoise) and Ojola (Python)
In Lagoni, Ijapa, and a Python, Ojola are very good friends and neighbours, but have never eaten at each other’s house. Ojola loves his food, and does not like sharing it with anyone, so even if he invites you to eat with him, he uses a ploy to make sure that you eat hardly anything.
One day, Ijapa comes unexpectedly across Yannibo, his estranged wife, and they get together again. Yannibo is a very good cook, and Ojola envious of the delicious meals that he knows his friend is now enjoying, suddenly decides that it is about time he and Ijapa start eating at each other’s house. This is put into practice, even though Ojola uses the ploy to make sure that Ijapa eats hardly anything. Then Ojola meets and marries someone who is a good cook, and his interest in eating at Ijapa’s vanishes, until he is challenged by Ijapa and forced to invite him unexpectedly to a favourite meal that he is looking forward to eating alone.
Ojola puts his ploy into full force and Ijapa ends up eating nothing. Ijapa, upset and offended by Ojola’s treatment of him, decides to pay him back in his own coin.

6. Tortoise (Ijapa) and Pig (Elede)
Elede, a rich and successful travelling trader in Lagoni, is kind and generous, and excessively so to his friend, Ijapa, but he hates to be taken advantage of, and what is more, he has a bad temper and can behave like a hooligan.
When Ijapa gets into trouble with creditors to whom he owes a lot of money, and is rough-handled and threatened in all sorts of ways, it is Elede who comes to his rescue. He pays back the creditors, sets Ijapa up in a promising farming business, with a loan, and discusses how the money will be paid back.
Elede is surprised that Ijapa is not able to pay back the money as agreed upon, and despite repeated reminders and promises, fails to do so. After a while, realizing that Ijapa has no intention of paying him back at all, and is spending money lavishly on other things, Elede, very angry, sets out for Ijapa’s house to get his money come what may. On arriving there, it is Yannibo, his wife, he finds grinding away on an olota (grinding stone), seemingly indifferent to Elede’s plight. Elede’s bad temper and hooliganism come into full blast, leading to unexpected developments.

7. Ijapa (Tortoise) and all the wisdom of the World
Ijapa, wakes up one morning in Lagoni, looks back at his life and is very unhappy, thinking that he has achieved nothing, but he suddenly gets excited believing that he has wisdom, and has used this to achieve a great deal. To Ijapa wisdom means is being able to find solutions to any problems, no matter the means, even if it is through deviousness, pranks and mischief. All he needs to do is improve on his methods, and make sure that others’ wisdom is taken from them and nobody has access to it. He can possess all the wisdom in the whole world, and make money from it!
Ijapa decides to go around the world listening in or eavesdropping on conversations – gathering any part of the conversations that shows wisdom in his opinion, in a huge gourd with a tight stopper. To him the world means his town and the neighbouring towns. Telling lies upon lies when questioned about the gourd and the strange and suspicious ways he is behaving he fulfils his mission, and returns home. Faced with where to put the gourd from the reach of others, he is also faced with some questions that baffle him.