Tobi and Tola are brothers. They do everything together. Matching cloths, accessories you know the twin cliche kind of stuff.
Fast forward to their summer holiday. Mum took her twins to Ijebu-Ode to spend sometime with their Grandpa. He is a bald man who uses a thick framed horn rimed glasses which he uses to read to his grand kids the same way he did to their mum.
Anyway what led to this cliche of a Yoruba folklore story that has been passed from generations to generations without any credits to the author so cheetah bot can take a chill pill on this.
The identical set of twins made a promise to Grandpa to never pretend to be the other during their stay which they broke and the consequences of their action was that they would not have ice-cream for the whole summer.
These 6 years old kids could not take it anymore drooling as they stared at their cousins licking up the rainbow ice-cream mountains off waffle cones. They begged their Grandpa to let them have some that they were ready to do anything.
Their cute puppy eyes did not fool the old man.
So he decided to tell them a story before dark.
A story like seriously! the kids thought to themselves has they gave their attention to listen to what grandpa has to say.
Once upon a time in a far far away land. In a small village.
A village that has no name, a village that no one has ever been to. The hidden village that has been long forgotten and lost in time.
Spirits lived amongst people both the good and the bad.
Young Tobi interrupted grandpa , saying : are you talking about the story of the Avatar.
No, Grandpa replied with his old smirk of joy he sees in the bright eyes of the lad.
Moving on, the old man continued.
It was a village filled with mostly women.
the boys could not contain the impulse of not laughing. thier granpa was intrued.
What is it boys? He asked. Then they went on about something from a comic book that Marveled the old man about an Island of only women.
the old man laughed so hard. His daughter watched from the kitchen window seeing the bond between her sons and her father.
It was a beautiful view.
He continued with is tale.
It was a typical village with fresh vegetables, green plains, clean water, beautiful daises and gardens.
The villagers were mostly farmers and traders.
All was working well in the village.
However, there was a problem he said, in a subtle tone.
Most of the women were barren.
It was a plague upon the land.
Sadness could be felt in the village.
None one could provide answers to what was happening.
Many spirits were consulted but had no answers.
The villagers prayed day and night all to no avail.
One morning, a day before the market day.
A certain woman was going about her business in the bushes.
Suddenly, she heard a blunt voice coming out of an Iroko tree.
Saying who dares to trespass!
She was frightened and apologized. Luckily for her the spirit was friendly and engaged her in a chat.
She told her story to the Spirit. The spirit was a generous one ready to give her hope again.
The spirit told her she can bare children again. She was full of joy and happiness.
But! the spirit said.
She must offer something in return when she is with child. She must heed to this or there would be consequences.
She promised to return yams to the spirit..
On the market day, She cried out to everyone about the Iroko tree spirit.
The news was too good to be true. The women went one after the other to meet this spirit.
All the women in the village went and offered goats, cloths and any other thing they could afford.
Out of desperation, a young lady went to the spirit and made an irreversible promise to offer her first child.
Her name was Oluronbi.
She was a very pretty lady who does not associate much with other market women. She was proud.
In a couple of months there was news of pregnancy.
Soon all the women that met with the spirit was with child including Oluronbi.
Nine months into their pregnancy, they all gave birth successfully.
They fulfilled their obligations to the spirit except Oluronbi.
Oluronbi went to the spirit offering other items, gifts and treasures.
The spirit declined all that she brought forward.
She could not bare to give away her first child.
She pleaded with the spirit.
She was ready to do anything, to give anything but not her child.
The spirit did not listen to her imploration.
One certain day she passed by the Iroko tree spirit on her way to get some water.
Oluronbi strolling proudly with her beautiful baby that she backed has totally forgotten about her deal with the spirit.
The spirit took her baby forcefully and replaced it with a plastic doll.
She was devastated. She cried bitterly and regretfully.
The villagers and some other spirits gathered together and sang a song in remembrance of what happened to serve as a reminder.
A reminder of making a promise that you can only keep.
Grandpa started to sing has he played his guitar gracefully.
Onikaluku jeje ewure
(everyone promised to offer a goat)
Ewure, ewure
(goat, goat)
Onikaluku jeje aguntan
(everyone promised to offer a sheep)
Aguntan bolojo
(A fleshy sheep)
Oluronbi jeje omo re
(Oluronbi promised to offer her child)
Omo re apon bi epo
(Her child who is as light skinned as palm oil)
Oluronbi O!
(Oluronbi O!)
Jo’in jo’in
(make that up)
Iroko
(a mighty tree in the forest)
Jo’in jo’in
(make it up)
Oluronbi O!
(Oluronbi O!)
Jo’in jo’in
Iroko
Jo’in jo’in
And that is the end of the story.
The morals here is that "a promise is a debt" and "never make a promise you can not fulfill.
So boys what did you learn from this story.
They echoed in symmetry "a promise is a debt" and "never make a promise you can not fulfill.
Their grandpa who happens to be a strict man surprised the kids has he gave them ice-cream.
He patted their heads and smiled for he knows that the story would help them morally with their decision making all the days of their life.
It was getting late as the glow of the silver moon was almost at its brightest.
Approaching the house,
an enticing aroma came out.
Food was ready.
Mama called for them to have dinner. Their favorite family meal of Jollof rice, dodo and chicken.
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*THE END*