Fabulous Folktales of Nigeria

Becky Oludayo Peleowo
@beckyoludayoadenuga426965
7 days ago

#neighbors

DAY 13 - SOUTH-WESTERN FOLKTALES (OLURONBI AND THE IROKO TREE)
📍Nigeria
There once was an enormous tree in the forest at a certain ancient village in Yorubaland (Ajangbe) where people would go to implore the spirit of the tree for requests. The tree was called IROKO Oluwere.
The Iroko was kind, granted people their wishes and they in turn appreciate the tree with gifts.

In the history of Ajangbe, there were many barren women. They desperately wanted children and decided to ask the Iroko tree for help.

They went to the spirit of the Iroko tree to beg for children. The Iroko tree often asked each woman what she would give in return if she got a child. And woman after woman promised the Iroko tree spirit goats, sheep, foodstuff or whatever it was she sold for a living as many of these women were traders who sold their wares at a weekly market in an open field.

One of the women who was named Oluronbi also came for this request for a child. When she got to the lroko, she pleaded with the tree to give her a child. She vowed to return the child back to the powerful tree if her request was granted. Iroko was pleased with the pledge made by Olurombi because no one ever made that kind of vow.

Some months later Olurombi conceived and had a baby girl. She was so happy and she named the child Aponbiepore meaning "As Fine as the red palm oil”. Aponbiepore began to grow up but her mother did not remember to fulfill the vow she made with lroko. So, when lroko had waited for a long time without Olurombi fulfilling her promise, the spirit- tree decided to visit her and take Aponbiepore. On getting to the house, the spirit gripped Aponbeore’s hand and began to drag her away. The villagers started singing a song to serve as a deterrent for everyone seeking out for favour.

This song is a reminder of Oluronbi’s dolorous tale…

Voice: Onikaluku jeje ewure
(everyone promised to offer a goat)
Response: Ewure, ewure
(goat, goat)

Voice: Onikaluku jeje aguntan
(everyone promised to offer a sheep)
Response: Aguntan bolojo
(A fleshy sheep)

Voice: Oluronbi jeje omo re
(Oluronbi promised to offer her child)
Response: Omo re apon bi epo
(Her child who is as fair as palm oil)

Voice: Oluronbi O, Jon jon, Iroko Jon jon(*funny sounds as beats*)


Photo Credit : Pixabay

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