Long ago, in a kingdom where men and beasts lived under the same rule, there was a king whose power stretched across the forests, rivers, and farmlands. His authority was unquestioned, and even the wild animals acknowledged him as their ruler. Yet among all creatures, one stood out for his cleverness, Tortoise. He was known not for strength or size, but for wisdom that surpassed both beasts and men.
This king had a son, Prince Ekpenyon, a young man full of pride and vigor. To secure his happiness, the king gave him fifty young maidens as wives, each chosen for beauty and grace. Yet, despite their charm, the prince turned away from them all. His heart remained restless, unsatisfied by any of his father’s choices.
The king, angered by his son’s refusal, declared a harsh law: if any man had a daughter more beautiful than the prince’s wives, and if the prince desired her, the girl and her parents would be executed. The law struck fear into the hearts of families across the land. No father dared boast of his daughter’s beauty, for the price could be death.
At this time, Tortoise and his wife had a child, a daughter named Adet. From the moment she was born, it was clear that she was unlike any other. Her face glowed like the morning sun, her eyes sparkled like stars after rain, and her laughter carried the sweetness of music. Her mother trembled with fear, for she knew that such beauty could attract the gaze of the prince bring destruction upon their household.
“Better to end her life now than for all of us to perish later,” Tortoise’s wife whispered one night.
But Tortoise, wise and cunning, shook his head. “No, my wife. A gift from the Creator cannot be thrown away. We shall keep her safe.”
And so he did. When Adet was three years old, Tortoise dug a wide, deep hole beneath the floor of his hut. There he hid his daughter, away from the eyes of the world. During the day, she remained hidden. But at night, when the village rested and the moon poured silver light upon the earth, Tortoise would lift her from the hole. Under the moonlight, Adet would dance barefoot in the dust, her laughter rising like the call of birds.
Wordlessly, the night rejoiced with her. The stars seemed brighter when she twirled, and even the trees swayed as though keeping rhythm.
One evening, fate shifted. Prince Ekpenyon, walking under the quiet sky, saw a figure dancing in the moonlight. He stopped, struck still as if enchanted. The maiden’s beauty pierced his heart, and in that moment, he knew he had found the one he desired.
Rushing to his father, he declared, “Father, I have seen her. She is more beautiful than any woman in the land. She must be mine.”
The king, eager to satisfy his son, summoned Tortoise and demanded his daughter for the prince. But Tortoise, cautious as always, refused.
“My king,” he said, bowing low, “the law you have made says that if my daughter pleases your son, she and her parents must be killed. Shall I hand her over only for us all to perish?”
The king paused. He knew Tortoise spoke truth. At last, moved by his son’s desire, he promised, “The law will not touch you. I give my word: you and your family shall live.”
Only then did Tortoise agree, and Adet was brought forth. Dressed in garments woven with care, her beauty shone like sunlight breaking through dark clouds. Prince Ekpenyon took her hand, and before all the people, she became his wife.
The king, grateful to Tortoise, showered him with riches, slaves, cattle, wives, and wealth beyond measure. The once modest Tortoise became a man of honour, respected by both beasts and men. His wisdom, his patience, and his faith in destiny had lifted him from fear to fortune.
Moral Lesson
The story of The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter teaches that beauty and destiny cannot be hidden forever. Though fear drove Tortoise’s wife to despair, Tortoise’s wisdom and patience saved their child and brought great honour to their home. The moral reminds us that gifts from the Creator should not be discarded in fear, for in time, they may lead to blessings beyond imagination.
Knowledge Check: The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter
Who was considered the wisest among men and beasts in the story of The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter?
Tortoise was regarded as the wisest, known for his cunning and intelligence.Why did the king create a deadly law in The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter?
Because his son rejected fifty wives, he decreed that any girl who pleased the prince would bring death upon herself and her parents.How did Tortoise protect his daughter in the folktale?
He dug a deep hole beneath his house where she lived in hiding until she was old enough.What first attracted Prince Ekpenyon to Adet in The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter?
He saw her dancing in the moonlight and was immediately captivated by her beauty.How did Tortoise respond when the king demanded his daughter?
He refused at first, reminding the king of his own deadly law, until the king promised to spare his family.What reward did Tortoise receive at the end of The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter?
He received wealth, slaves, wives, and honor, becoming a respected and prosperous man.
Source: African folktale, Nigeria
