Why Ijapa Is Bald Childrens

🐢 Ijapa the Trickster Tortoise

Long, long ago, animals and people lived together and talked the same language! In a town called Teregun, there lived a tricky tortoise named Ijapa. He had a wife named Yannibo and three little children. Ijapa was very lazy — he didn’t like to work at all! 😴

Yannibo worked hard and tried to find food for the family. But Ijapa loved tricks and food more than anything! His tummy was always thinking about yummy things like ẹbẹ (yam pottage) and akara (bean cakes). 🍠🥜

(YAWN!) Ijapa’s farm grew wild weeds because he stopped working. Yannibo was sad and said: “What kind of husband have I married?” But she stayed because she loved her children so much.

Ijapa was not just lazy, he was SUPER CUNNING! He loved playing tricks, especially to get delicious food. People laughed at his funny ideas, but sometimes he got into BIG trouble! 😅

Yannibo warned him: “Ijapa! If you don’t change, I might have to leave!” But Ijapa just shrugged: “I can’t help it — food is just too yummy!”

Ijapa’s greed was his biggest problem. He loved roasted groundnuts and ẹbẹ (yam pottage with palm oil) more than anything. Yannibo worried every day: “His greed will be the end of him!”

Ijapa had a funny habit. When neighbors were eating, he would “drop by” and say “Wa jẹun!” which means “Come and eat!” even if they were just being polite! Some neighbors changed their greeting to avoid sharing food. 😂🍲

Yannibo’s parents loved their daughter and grandchildren. They often invited Ijapa and Yannibo for Sunday lunch. Ijapa’s mouth would water for days! He dreamed of the delicious ẹbẹ made by Yannibo’s mother. (SLURP!)

One Sunday, Yannibo’s parents invited them again! They said: “Come eat lunch with us! We have special guests!” Ijapa was so excited he couldn’t sleep. (BOING! BOING!)

Before leaving, Ijapa rushed Yannibo: “Hurry! You women take so long to dress!” Yannibo smiled: “We have plenty of time, silly tortoise!” She wore a beautiful dress, while Ijapa put on his favourite funny cap — shaped like a saucepan! 🧢

They walked under the hot sun to Ẹyin-Igbẹti where Yannibo’s parents lived. When they arrived, the yummy smell of ẹbẹ filled the air! Ijapa’s tummy rumbled like thunder. (RUMBLE RUMBLE!)

Everyone sat and chatted. Yannibo’s mother served drinks and made everyone comfortable. But Ijapa couldn’t stop thinking about the ẹbẹ! His eyes kept darting toward the kitchen. (👀🍲)

“Where is Yannibo’s father?” Ijapa asked, hoping they would start eating soon. “He’s just helping a neighbor, he’ll be back soon,” said mother-in-law. Ijapa felt like waiting forever! ⌛

“All this talking is making me hungrier!” Ijapa thought. “I NEED some ẹbẹ now!”

Ijapa’s mind started scheming. He wanted just a tiny taste of that ẹbẹ! (DING DING — tricky idea!) He said: “It’s so hot! I’ll go cool off in the garden.” Yannibo warned: “But outside is even hotter!” Ijapa ignored her.

He crept out and tiptoed to the back garden. Then he slipped into the kitchen! The kitchen was full of pots and pots of delicious food. And there it was — the glorious pot of ẹbẹ! (✨✨)

“Just a little bite!” whispered Ijapa. He opened the pot and saw huge chunks of meat swimming in rich red sauce. The aroma was magical! He scooped some hot ẹbẹ with a spoon, but he had no plate! Uh-oh! 🥣🤔

Suddenly he heard footsteps! (FOOTSTEPS! FOOTSTEPS!) Someone was coming — probably Yannibo’s mother! Ijapa panicked! “If they catch me, I’ll be in big trouble!”

In a flash, Ijapa grabbed some leftover mọimọi leaves (bean cake leaves), wrapped the hot ẹbẹ inside, and shoved it into his favourite cap! Then he plopped the cap back on his head. (PLOP!)

“Phew! No one will know!” he thought. But the ẹbẹ was STEAMING HOT! It started burning his head! 🥵💨

Ijapa stumbled back into the living room. His face was dripping with sweat and steam! (💦💦💦) Yannibo’s mother gasped: “Ijapa! What’s wrong?” Ijapa groaned: “I think I’m sick! I must go home!”

Everyone rushed to help. They wanted to remove his cap to cool his head. But Ijapa screamed: “NO! Don’t take off my cap! It keeps my head cold!” But Yannibo was suspicious. 🤨

Yannibo’s father tried to hold Ijapa back. They tugged and — WHOOPS! Ijapa tripped and his cap flew off! (BAM! CRASH!) Everyone stared in shock!

There, on Ijapa’s head, was a sticky mess: burnt ẹbẹ, torn leaves, and his hair was all gone! (GASP! 😲) Everyone froze, then some people couldn’t stop laughing! “Ha ha ha! What a sight!”

Ijapa’s head was red and bald! The hot steam had burned his hair right off. “How could he be so silly?!” the guests whispered. Yannibo buried her face in her hands. She felt so ashamed.

“It’s not as if he’s never eaten ẹbẹ before!” one guest laughed. “Poor, silly tortoise!”

Ijapa tried to make up a story: “I accidentally knocked the pot cover and my cap fell into the ẹbẹ!” But nobody believed him. They all knew he was being greedy again. 😔

Yannibo’s mother sighed: “Enough lies, Ijapa. Yannibo, please take him home and nurse his wounds.” She gave Yannibo some food for the children.

Walking home, everyone on the road pointed and laughed at Ijapa’s bald head. “Look at that tortoise with no hair!” they giggled. Ijapa felt so embarrassed he wanted to hide.

Yannibo thought hard. She loved Ijapa, but his greed kept bringing shame. “His greed has done this,” she said. “Now he has a cracked shell from before, and now no hair on his head! What next?”

The next day, the whole town of Teregun was talking: “Ijapa burned his head with ẹbẹ because he was too greedy to wait!” Children sang little songs and pointed at Ijapa. (🎵 Greedy tortoise, silly head! 🎵)

Yannibo nursed Ijapa’s wounds with love, but the hair on his head never grew back. His neck got all shriveled like a lizard’s because of the steam. Ijapa became bald forever! 🧑‍🦲🐢

Ijapa learned his lesson the hard way. Yannibo stayed with him, but she always reminded the children: “Never let greed guide your actions. Be kind, be patient, and wait your turn.”

THE END … but Ijapa’s story is still told to little ones everywhere! 💫

📖 Read again with a grown-up! 📖
🐢💚