THE THREE BROTHERS AND THE POT OF COCOYAM PORRIDGE THE THREE BROTHERS AND THE POT OF COCOYAM PORRIDGE By Omitola Oluyemi Three brothers were going on a journey to a distance village. Having gone far into the wilderness, they realised that they needed to secure a place to pass the night when it gets dark. Good luck smiled at them because before darkness fell, they spotted a little isolated hut in the wilderness. When they arrived at hut, they met a kindly old woman who invited them in and offered them a place to spend the night. The old woman offered them some porridge which she was cooking in a pot over some firewood. The brothers declined for they were very exhausted and also did not want to impose their other need on this old woman who was living alone. The old woman gave them some mats and showed them into a room where they could lay down and have a good night rest. Soon, the entire hut was dark and everyone in it was asleep. In the middle of the night, the youngest of the three brothers woke up and he was very hungry. So he quietly sneaked out to the kitchen to see if any of the porridge remained and indeed, there was enough porridge in there for one person. It appeared that the old woman had not eaten any of it. She must have kept it for the next day. He thought “It would not harm anybody if he ate a bit of it”. So he ate a little portion. Then a little bit more, and even more, until it was all gone. Realising his folly, he decided to cover it up and went out to pick some stones to fill the pot. He went back quietly into the hut to sleep. No one knew about his night exploit. The three brothers woke up early the next morning to continue on their journey. They thanked the old woman for her hospitality and bade her farewell Immediately the three brothers departed, the old woman discovered the stones in her pot soon after the brothers left and immediately set out after them. Even though she was very old, she could move as fast as or maybe even faster than the young men. Sooner, she catches up on them. She accused them of stealing her porridge and filling her pot with stones. The three of them denied the act. The old woman was certain that one of them perform the misdeed, so she challenged them to take a test for their claim of innocence. They went to a nearby river which had a log lying across it. Each one of them would walk across the river on the log while singing a song which the woman instructed them to sing. The song was rendered in Yoruba language thus: Ta lo je koko Arugbo who ate the old woman’s cocoyam? Emi ko mo eni to je koko Arugbo i don’t who ate the old woman’s cocoyam Ti mbe je koko Arugbo If I ate the old woman’s cocoyam Ki okun gbe mi, Kio kun la mi Let the sea take me off Ki okun gbe mi si erigidi ofun Let the sea take to a place of no- return The first two brothers walked confidently with success across the river singing the song. However, the young youngest brother was really scared as he walked and sang. His step faltered several times. He eventually fell into the river. This story indicates that Africans have their indegenous crime investigative mechanism beforeb the coming into contact with The western world. This crime detective approach is fast and cost-effective. The lesson of this story teaches us against the immoral acts of stealing and greed. THE THREE BROTHERS AND THE POT OF COCOYAM PORRIDGE

THE THREE BROTHERS AND THE POT OF COCOYAM PORRIDGE

                                                                          By  Omitola Oluyemi

 Three brothers were going on a journey to a distance village. Having gone far into the wilderness, they realised that they needed to secure a place to pass the night when it gets dark.

Good luck smiled at them because before darkness fell, they spotted a little isolated hut in the wilderness.  When they arrived at hut, they met a kindly old woman who invited them in and offered them a place to spend the night.

The old woman offered them some porridge which she was cooking in a pot over some firewood. The brothers declined for they were very exhausted and also did not want to impose their other need on this old woman who was living alone.

The old woman gave them some mats and showed them into a room where they could lay down and have a good night rest. Soon, the entire hut was dark and everyone in it was asleep.

In the middle of the night, the youngest of the three brothers woke up and he was very hungry. So he quietly sneaked out to the kitchen to see if any of the porridge remained and indeed, there was enough porridge in there for one person. It appeared that the old woman had not eaten any of it. She must have kept it for the next day. He thought “It would not harm anybody if he ate a bit of it”. So he ate a little portion. Then a little bit more, and even more, until it was all gone. Realising his folly, he decided to cover it up and went out to pick some stones to fill the pot. He went back quietly into the hut to sleep. No one knew about his night exploit.

The three brothers woke up early the next morning to continue on their journey. They thanked the old woman for her hospitality and bade her farewell

 Immediately the three brothers departed, the old woman discovered the stones in her pot soon after the brothers left and immediately set out after them. Even though she was very old, she could move as fast as or maybe even faster than the young men. Sooner, she catches up on them.

She accused them of stealing her porridge and filling her pot with stones. The three of them denied the act. The old woman was certain that one of them perform the misdeed, so she challenged them to take a test for their claim of innocence. They went to a nearby river which had a log lying across it. Each one of them would walk across the river on the log while singing a song which the woman instructed them to sing. The song was rendered in Yoruba language thus:

Ta lo je koko Arugbo                               who ate the old woman’s cocoyam?

 Emi ko mo eni to je koko Arugbo        i don’t who ate the old woman’s cocoyam

Ti mbe je koko Arugbo                            If I ate the old woman’s cocoyam

Ki  okun gbe mi, Kio kun la mi               Let the sea take me off

Ki   okun  gbe mi si erigidi ofun               Let the sea take to a place of no- return

The first two brothers walked confidently with success across the river singing the song. However, the young youngest brother was really scared as he walked and sang.  His step faltered several times. He eventually fell into the river.

This story indicates that Africans have their indegenous crime investigative mechanism beforeb the coming into contact with The western world. This crime detective approach is fast and cost-effective.

The lesson of this story teaches us against the immoral acts of stealing and greed.