Reading Notes: Nigerian Folk Stories Part A
The Pretty Stranger Who Killed the King
This story was pretty morbid. The Itu people have a witch who disguises herself as a young woman to trick and kill King Mbotu of Old Town, Calabar. The witch Oyaikan goes to a play in Calabar and attracts the king's attention. They are married the same day and Oyakin gives Mbotu a sleeping potion in his food and then cuts off his head when he falls asleep. She sneaks away and brings the head back to Itu. The next day, Mbotu's people discover his headless body after he does not come out as normal. Everyone remembers the young pretty girl he married but no one seems to suspect she killed him
which is rather odd.
The Disobedient Daughter Who Married a Skull
This story also warns against marrying a stranger. The daughter, Afiong, is very vain and unwilling to compromise. She is determined to marry someone who is young an good-looking and will not accept rich older men who have been suggested by her parents. A skull who is from the spirit land is able to borrow different body parts and make himself look attractive so that he can take Afiong for his own. Her parents are wary of her marrying a stranger but ultimately allow it and permit her to go back to the land of her husband. Upon crossing into the spirit land, Afiong learns that her husband is ugly. The Skull's mother protects Afiong from being eaten in the spirit land because Afiong takes good care of her and sends her home to her family. After arriving home, Afiong appears to have changed and gladly listens to her a parents and marries a man of their choosing.
Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell
This story was pretty morbid. The Itu people have a witch who disguises herself as a young woman to trick and kill King Mbotu of Old Town, Calabar. The witch Oyaikan goes to a play in Calabar and attracts the king's attention. They are married the same day and Oyakin gives Mbotu a sleeping potion in his food and then cuts off his head when he falls asleep. She sneaks away and brings the head back to Itu. The next day, Mbotu's people discover his headless body after he does not come out as normal. Everyone remembers the young pretty girl he married but no one seems to suspect she killed him
which is rather odd.
Calabar in the 1900s (Wikimedia Commons)
The Disobedient Daughter Who Married a Skull
This story also warns against marrying a stranger. The daughter, Afiong, is very vain and unwilling to compromise. She is determined to marry someone who is young an good-looking and will not accept rich older men who have been suggested by her parents. A skull who is from the spirit land is able to borrow different body parts and make himself look attractive so that he can take Afiong for his own. Her parents are wary of her marrying a stranger but ultimately allow it and permit her to go back to the land of her husband. Upon crossing into the spirit land, Afiong learns that her husband is ugly. The Skull's mother protects Afiong from being eaten in the spirit land because Afiong takes good care of her and sends her home to her family. After arriving home, Afiong appears to have changed and gladly listens to her a parents and marries a man of their choosing.
Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell
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