Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria

These folk stories have been told to me by natives of the various countries to which they relate in the Ikom district of Southern Nigeria. In all cases they have had to be trans...

When he arrived at the house Agbor wanted to sit at the head of his mother, but the people who had assembled would not allow this, and told him to sit at Awu’s feet, which Agbor...

After five years had elapsed Edim had made a lot of money, so he returned to Inkum with the other four boys, knowing that, even if he were recognised, he would not be killed, as...

Some years ago a road was being made through an old compound which had tumbled down and disappeared, leaving no trace of any human habitation. The road passed through an old gra...

When Chief Eka heard the threat of the water ju-ju he at once gave orders to all his people that none of them were to go into the river, but, that, if they wanted to wash, they...

One night when the boy went to the feast the witches told him that it was his turn to provide a body for food, but Amoru said he was too young and had no one to give. Then Chief...

Okhabi woke up in great fear and yelled for help, he tried to stand up but could not do so, as his leg was down the snake’s throat. He then called for his hunting knife which on...

When he returned, Chief ’Njum asked him what had become of his mother, but Ogbaja’s heart was so full of grief that he could not answer. Then his friends Bojor and Osobia came a...

The hare then went home, but made up his mind to go with the parrot, so that very night he hid himself in the parrot’s bag. At daylight the parrot put his bag round his neck and...

When he thought it was quite safe and no one would see him, he went very quietly to Obim’s house and knocked softly on the door. Obim let the chief in, and then fastened the doo...

For some time the people stood waiting for the enemy to appear, but they saw no signs of anyone until the Elephantiasis rolled up to them, when the hare called out “The enemy ha...

When Odoggha Eyu arrived at Inkum, he asked the head slave to hand the keys of his brother’s house to him, so that he could satisfy himself that everything was in order. But the...

Now the python was not aware that Chief Kaku had already asked ’Ndere to marry him, and that she had refused to do so, as if the python had known this he would have gone to some...

Agbor and his wife then ran into their house and shut the door carefully behind them. Agbor told his wife that when night came he would go and get a supply of food, but that she...