Long ago in a Yoruba village, the people prepared for a great festival. There would be drumming, dancing, and plenty of delicious food. Everyone was excited—except Tortoise, who was worried. He had not been invited to help with the cooking, and he knew the villagers did not trust him because of his tricks.

But Tortoise was clever. On the morning of the festival, he put on his best agbada (flowing robe) and walked to every family’s house. At each place, he greeted them warmly: “Ẹ kú iṣẹ́! May your cooking be blessed!” He then tied a small calabash to their cooking pots, pretending it was a blessing charm.

By afternoon, when the food was ready, Tortoise came back. He clapped his hands and said, “Now, by the power of my charm, every pot belongs to me!” The villagers were shocked, but they knew Tortoise was tricky, and they didn’t want trouble during the festival. So they let him take a little from every pot.

Tortoise ate so much—from pounded yam to egusi soup—that his round belly nearly burst. Feeling proud, he staggered to the dancing ground. But as the drummers played, the rope of his agbada came loose. The villagers saw all the stolen food stuffed in his pockets and sleeves!

They shouted: “Tortoise has tricked us again!” In the rush, Tortoise tried to run, but he tripped and fell flat on his back. From that day, his shell has had cracks and rough patches.

Moral Lesson

Greed and trickery may bring short-term gains, but the truth always comes out. Just like the Yoruba proverbs that says (“Ìjẹ́un tí a bá jẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ẹlẹ́rù ni ń dà lórí” — “The food you eat dishonestly will turn against you”)