ABIKE THE ORPHAN AND HER WICKED STEPMOTHER

Compiled By:  Ifekoya Kikelomo .A.

Abike The Orphan and Her Wicked Stepmother.

Long time ago, in a village called Kajola, there lived an orphan called Abike.

Abike’s  parents died when she was ten years old.Her parents died as a result of snake bites while working in the farm.

Because Abike’s parents are dead, she lives with her stepmother. That is, her father’s second wife called Mojoyin.

Abike is a kind, and hardworking girl. She is also very respectful.

Because Abike’s  parents are dead, her stepmother, Mojoyin Maltreats her. Abike wakes up early every day to sweep the home surroundings, wash plates, clothes and other necessary things in the home.  While  Abike does all the chores, Mojoyin pampers her own children who are Abike’s half sisters. They engage in no household chores.

There are times Abike goes to bed without dinner because Mojoyin would refuse to give her food. While Abike’s stepmother buys clothes and other goodies for her children, She does not express any form of care or affection towards Abike.

Abike usually wears tattered clothes. Anytime she falls sick and could not wake up early as usual to do the household chores, Mojoyin beats her badly.

There are times Abike sleeps outside the family hut as a form of punishment.  Abike is always unhappy.

So, Whenever Abike is alone, she usually sing in memory of her parents, wishing that they were alive to take good care of her.

Oh my mom, oh my dad

How I wished you were alive to take care of me

Mojoyin, my stepmother is treating me badly

How I wished you were alive to take care of me

Mom, Dad, come and take care me.

One day, Abike went to the river to fetch water for the family. Because it was a raining season, the water level of the river was high. This also made the river to flow with force.

As Abike dipped her water pot in the river to fetch water, the wave of the river took the pot forcefully  from her, and washed it away. Abike was so unhappy and busted into tears.She called for help, but there was no one around the river bank to help her.

She started singing, asking the river to bring back her stepmother’s clay water pot. 

Ah! my stepmother’s water pot

Ah! my stepmother’s water pot

Ojuoro River, please give me my water pot back

My stepmother will kill me if I don’t return home with this water pot

My stepmother will kill me if she realises the pot is lost

 Please Ojuoro River, bring my water pot back.

And so, Abike cried, and cried. But the river did not bring the water pot back neither did anyone come around the river at the time because it was already getting late into the evening.

In frustration and in more tears, Abike went back home and explained what happened to her stepmother, Mojoyin.

Mojoyin was so angry at hearing that her water pot had been taken away by the river. She smacked Abike seriously and sent her back to Ojuoro river to go and look for the water pot. Warning Abike not to return home until she sees the pot.

So, Abike went back to the river in tears as she sings along  

Ah! my stepmother’s water pot

Ah! my stepmother’s water pot

Ojuoro River, please give me my water pot back

My stepmother will kill me if I don’t return home with this water pot

My stepmother will kill me if she realises the pot is lost

 Please Ojuoro River, bring my water pot back.

Getting to the river, Abike continued to sing and cry as she sits by the river.

After about thirty-minutes, an haggard old woman with a walking stick and a stinking sore on the leg appeared to  Abike where she sat by the river. The old woman asked her what she was doing by the river at such late hour of the night. Abike narrated her story to the old woman, who pitied her greatly.

The old woman however, asked Abike to please help her clean her wound as the wound hurts her badly. Out of compassion, Abike led the old woman to the river bank and helped her to wash her wound.

 Immediately Abike finished washing the wound, the woman changed to a young pretty woman. Abike became very much afraid at the change in the old woman’s appearance.

The woman calmed Abike down and assured Abike that she would not harm her. The woman explained to Abike that she was the goddess of Ojuoro river. The river that took her water pot , beside which she was sited.

The goddess said she decided to come and help Abike because she was moved by her song and tears. She explained that she disguised as an haggard old woman  who needed someone to clean her dirty wound  because she wanted to test  Abike, to know if she was a Kind-hearted person.

With a clap of her hands, the goddess displayed her magical powers and produced Abike’s water pot. Abike was so happy. Through her magical powers also, the goddess gave Abike an orange and asked her to strike it on the ground when she is about to enter the village. Abike thanked the river goddess and headed for home.

As Abike was about to get to the village, she struck the magic Orange on the ground as directed by the goddess. Immediately, a beautiful hut where Abike could live appeared, with so many slaves that can attend to her, carrying baskets of foodstuffs, money and clothes  on their heads.

Abike was very happy. She became a very rich girl and does not need to live with her stepmother again. However, Abike returned Mojoyin’s water pot to her.

Surprised at the sudden positive change in Abike life, Moyin sought to know how Abike came about such wealth. Abike told Mojoyin her story.

Mojoyin became so jealous of Abike and decided to send her daughter Abebi, to Ojuoro river on a heavy raining day with a water pot to fetch water for the family.

Mojoyin’s daughter, got to the river and dropped her water pot inside the river. She feigned tears, weeping and asking the river to return her water pot to her.

Ojuoro river, return my water pot

I want to fetch water with it for my mother

Please I cannot go back home without water and the water pot

Ojuoro river, return my water pot

The same way, and in form of an old woman the goddess of Ojoro river appeared to Abike, she also appeared to Abebi. Unlike Abike, Abebi refuse to help the old woman to wash her wound.

Nevertheless, the old woman revealed her identity as the goddess of Ojouro river to Abebi, gave her  her lost water pot and a magical orange with the same instruction given to Abike.

But, Abebi did not strike the Orange immediately she entered the village. Rather, she got back home, locked herself, her mother and her siblings in the room and struck the Orange on the ground. Magically, tens of snakes appeared to Abebi and bite her, her mother and her other siblings to death.

That was how Abike’s wicked stepmother died and all her children.

Abike grew up to be a successful woman and lived  happy ever after.

THE END