Pepper Soup Palava!
Genre: Folklore, Comedy
Setting: Ìfẹ́gbóná, a lively Yoruba village where humans, animals, and spirits coexist.
In the vibrant village of Ìfẹ́gbóná, Ìyá Tolu is known for her dramatic personality and unmatched pepper soup. Ahead of the village festival, she boldly claims her dish will be the star of the event and insists she doesn’t need anyone’s help. But as the big day approaches, things go awry; her firewood gets soaked, her pot cracks, and her mischievous goat Ọlọ́runpẹ́pẹ́ escapes into the forest.
In desperation, Ìyá Tolu calls on Òrìṣà Ajé for help but accidentally summons the prank-loving Àjèpákò spirits. Their “help” only makes things worse, leaving her with a pot of salty, inedible soup. Humiliated at the festival, she learns a hard lesson when the spirits remind her of the Yoruba proverb: “Ajọ́ gbogbo ni a fi ńmọ̀ òràn” (It’s through collective effort that problems are solved).
Humbled, Ìyá Tolu apologizes and accepts her neighbors’ help. Together, they make a fresh pot of soup that becomes the highlight of the festival. Grateful and wiser, Ìyá Tolu realizes the value of humility, teamwork, and the love of her community. From that day, she vows never to let pride get in the way of success again.