Erin was a mean and naughty elephant who scared the people that lived in the village just outside his forest. He knew no one could challenge him because he was too big and powerful so he would visit the village, steal from their farms and destroy the market.
One day, the people had had enough of Erin’s attacks, so the king called the wisest and the bravest people in the village together to solve their elephant problem. But even the wisest and bravest people in the village were terrified of Erin. “How can we stop him? Even the ground shakes when he runs,” one chief said. “He knocks trees over for fun, so we can’t lock him in a cage either. said another. “I hunted him once, but my arrows and spears just bounced off his thick skin,” said the chief of hunters.
Listening to all of them, Ijapa, the tortoise, had an idea for how they could stop the elephant once and for all. “Kabiyesi o! I know how to stop Erin.” he said excitedly but everyone laughed at him. “How could one so slow and small stop someone so big and strong?” “Do exactly what I tell you and we will be able to stop Erin once and for all” Ijapa said defiantly. Then he told them his plan. Dig a deep hole in front of the palace and cover it with the most expensive mats. Place a throne big enough for Erin to sit on, on top of the mats. Finally, when I return with Erin and the King’s drummers, I want everyone to welcome him excitedly and I will do the rest. The king liked Ijapa’s plan and commanded his servants to start digging the hole.
When the trap was ready, Ijapa prepared some delicious Akara (bean cakes) and covered them in honey to make them extra tasty. Then he put them in his pouch and gathered the King’s drummers and together they went into the forest to find Erin. After a short search in the forest, they found Erin resting under a tree. “Mighty Erin! I am so glad I found you” Ijapa started. “Go away,” the elephant answered. “But I have good news for you my friend. The people have decided to make you their king” Ijapa announced excitedly. Erin looked at Ijapa and the musicians he brought with him and laughed, “You can’t be serious.” “Oh, but I am. Why else would I have the King’s drummers with me?” Ijapa said. “Look, I’ve also brought you a gift. A taste of what you will enjoy as king.” Ijapa gave some of the honey-covered Akara to the elephant and immediately started singing…
“A o m’erin joba – Eweku ewele
A o m’erin joba – Eweku ewele
(We’ll make the elephant King)
Erin Olu igbo – Eweku ewele
(Elephant the lord of the bush)
Erin Olu Odan – Eweku ewele
(Elephant lord of the Savannah)
A o m’erin joba – Eweku ewele
A o m’erin joba – Eweku ewele
(We’ll make the elephant King)”
Erin became excited and started to dance. He danced with Ijapa and the King’s drummers back to the village.
All the noise and excitement woke Owiwi, the owl, from her sleep. She saw Erin and Ijapa singing and dancing. Owiwi knew Ijapa liked to trick people, so she listened carefully to what he was singing. When she heard the words of his song, she thought, “why would the people who are scared of Erin want him to be their king – hooo?” She knew Ijapa must be playing a trick on Erin so she tried to warn him.
“Erin ma da won l’ohun O! – Erin yeye, Erin yeye
Erin ma da won l’ohun o! – Erin yeye, Erin yeye
(Erin don’t list to them o!)
Iwoyi ola n’ko – Erin yeye, Erin yeye
(This time tomorrow)
Agede a ma dun Kele – Erin yeye Erin yeye
(The cutlass will sound “Kele”)
Eje a ma sun gbala – Erin yeye, Erin yeye
(Blood will flow “gbala”)
Erin ma da won l’ohun o! Erin yeye, Erin yeye
(Erin don’t listen to them o!)”
When he heard the owl’s song, Erin stopped dancing, but Ijapa threw another honey covered Akara into his mouth and sang even louder. Although he was now suspicious of Ijapa, he couldn’t resist the yummy Akara. And when they arrived at the market square, and Erin saw the people dancing and singing for him, he believed Ijapa. “They’re happy to see me,” Erin thought to himself as he danced into the village. When he saw the welcome mat laid out for him and the elephant-sized throne, he believed Ijapa and danced even more vigorously as he walked to his throne. But, as soon as the excited elephant stepped on the mat to sit on his throne, he fell into the hole with a loud “Gbosa!”
He was trapped.
Ijapa’s plan worked perfectly, and the people celebrated and cheered loudly, “We’ve captured the naughty elephant!” “He will never steal from our farms again”, one person cried. “He will never destroy or market again!” said another. The King was so pleased with Ijapa that he rewarded him with lots of gold and farm land making Ijapa one of the richest people in the kingdom.
The end.
The Morale of the Story:
This story teaches us why it is important not to be a bully. The elephant scared the people of the kingdom so much that they decided to fight back.
The story also shows us why we should be careful when someone promises you something that seems too good to be true. Like the Yoruba proverb says, “Ifunra ni ogun agba” (caution and suspicion is the protection charm of the elderly).
Lastly, it teaches us to listen to the warning of those we know and trust. If Erin had listened to the wise owl, he would have not fallen into Ijapa’s trap.
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