In Igbo storytelling, one animal shows up again and again: the Tortoise.
He is not fast. He is not strong. He is not beautiful.
But he always finds a way to get what he wants.
How? He uses his brain — not his body.
He is clever. Sometimes too clever.
He lies. He manipulates. He bends rules.
But he also makes mistakes.
And sometimes, he loses.
This kind of character is called a trickster.
A trickster does not follow rules. But tricksters are not just bad.
They are used to teach.
In Igbo folktales, the Tortoise teaches through actions.
He shows us what happens when someone is dishonest.
He shows us the cost of being selfish.
And he shows us how cleverness can help — and hurt.
An example: the Tortoise and the Chameleon
In this story, the Tortoise and the Chameleon hide to see who gets dirtier.
The Chameleon blends into the dust — not because he’s dirty, but because of how his body works.
The Tortoise rolls in wet mud to look clean.
Then, he lies.
He says the Chameleon is dirty — and wins the game.
But the Chameleon gets angry. His colors shift rapidly. The other animals get scared and run.
So the Tortoise wins… but also loses.
More Stories from “Moonlight Stories – Fables from Nigeria”
n this audiobook, the Tortoise appears often:
- He tricks animals at a royal feast by calling himself “Everyone.”
- He acts as a judge in a forest courtroom.
- He claims he was created before the world itself.
These stories are not random.
They form a pattern — a trickster’s arc.
The Tortoise is not always good or always bad.
He is smart. He is funny. He is selfish.
And he is punished when he goes too far.
This complexity makes the Tortoise interesting.
He is not a simple hero or villain…
You might also like:
– 5 African Bedtime Stories Your Kids Will Love
– 9 Nigerian Folktales With Moral Lessons Every Child Should Know
IGBO SENTIMENT 