A TALE OF WISDOM
THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE
THE LEGEND OF THE YORUBA PEOPLE
STORY TITLE: IDORO GBAKOKO, IDORO GBADE
MEANING: TIT FOR TAT OR DO-ME, I DO YOU

by: OLUWANISOLA SEUN EMMANUEL
EZINE ARTICLE EXPERT AUTHOR
(C) 2009.

Preamble
This story laid emphasize on being merciful to one another. There is no one in the universe that does not need the help of another. In fact, man is a social animal and must relate with others if he would enjoy life and find it worthy of living. Man is not supposed to live in isolation due to its nature. This story teaches moral that (1) wickedness will always backfire (2) wickedness profits no one (3) if you sow evil, you are bound to reap evil (4) no one, no matter how wretched or hopeless he/she may be, could be helpful and good to solve your problem(s), by a word or action.

The concepts used are:
1. IDORO - a person (abstract)
2. GBAKOKO - collect pot
3. GBADE - collect necklace

THE STORY:

There were these two close friends some centuries back. One was a good farmer. He has intention of growing cocoa trees and for the fear of rodent and other animals coming to destroy it, he went to his close friend (pots seller) to get pots in order to cover the trees and make them survive. These were big pots and he cut off the bottom side such that any tree could grow through the big hole the pot provides.

After many years, the trees grew very well, attractive to all other farmers and capable of making him rich than any other person in the community. Everyone coveted his plants including his friend and never wish him well. At this time, the cocoa trees has already started yielding fruits and in fact, be ready for harvest soonest.

The friend thought of what to do to stop him. He then went to his farmer friend and demanded for his long year dashed pots, wanting them back without being broken. This task was extremely difficult. All his efforts to get people help him beg his pot seller’s friend proved abortive. Thus, the king had to order that the trees be cut and his pots be returned to him, without being damaged. This was done and the farmer friend lost everything.

Not long, the farmer friend felt he was robbed and cheated and thought of what to do to pay his friend back. He then remember too that when his pot seller’s friend was terribly in need of a child (after a good number of them had died), he had to release his inheritance (a magical necklace capable of preventing a child from death). Now, this only child has grown to become the most adorned and beautiful lady in the whole area, fit for the king’s prince.

Well, the Law of Moses. He stood up and went to the king that he wanted his necklace back. This necklace was so tight on the neck of this damsel that nobody could remove it, more so that the farmer friend wanted his necklace intact, without the rope cut. Thus, the king had to order that the neck of the damsel be cut off. Imagine! This is life!

Envy kills! Vengeance is terribly bad! Let it be known that what so ever you plant you shall surely reap. Tit for tat! If you do me, I am going to do you. Period! Must it be like this? Well, the tale of the Yoruba says, even till today, ‘IDORO GBAKOKO, IDORO GBADE’ – ‘He collected pots, He collected necklace’

Wonderful. Huge lesson learnt.