The First Female Ruler of L’Eko

By Oluwatofunmi Lawal

Retold by ARIELH OFFOR

The story started with a man named Oba Akinjobi, who was walking and admiring the wealth and beauty of his village.

Oba Akinjobi was an aged, energetic and courageous man. He was strolling through the market of the village.  That was when his daughter, princess Funmilola who was walking with him, noticed that Oba Akinjobi was worried. Then, she began to ask her father why he was worried but he won’t tell her. When Oba Akinjobi was entering his palace, his guards came to ask him what was wrong, but he did not answer.

He wanted to tell his wife, Olori Semipe, his problems. So, he sent a servant to call her, pleading that she should come over so he could tell her his problems. His problem was that he thought couldn’t stay on the throne forever but was not also sure if his son, prince Kunle, would be his good successor as the Oba of L’Eko. Then, his wife advised him to invite Baba for counsel.

When Baba came, he suggested that the Prince should be tested. The test was titled ‘The Trail of Prince Kunle’. The next day, they began the test.

They tested his ability to give. He saw two people begging for food, but because he did not want to share his Amala and ewedu with them, he gobbled up all his food and lied to them that he did not have any. Then, he saw some men beating up a girl and he joined them to beat her up. He also saw villagers praising him because he was going to be the next King and he was proud.

In the village, two women, Iya Mofe and Moyo poisoned the Queen’s food. So, when the queen took her first bite, she died.  The day that princess Funmilola’s mum died she was very sad that her mother was dead.  She didn’t want to talk when her father asked her if she wanted to be his successor.  Then, her father also decided to test princess Fuminlola with the same test Prince Kunle was tested with.

The next day, they began the test. During the test, she did the opposite of all the bad things her brother did. When she was done with her test, her father, the Oba told her that she had passed her test.  She was promised some reward by her father, so she went and got dressed in her finest dress and was rejoicing. When,  she was ready her father and everyone thought that she was very beautiful.

Moyo, the royal chief then felt sorry for killing the Olori Semipe. She knelt down and confessed that she was the one who killed Olori Semipe with Iya mofe.  Then, Iya mofe tried to run away but the guards got her. Funmilola, the queen, banished Iya Mofe and Moyo from the village. Even their husbands refused to follow them. Then Olori Funmilola went to prison and released her brother from prison.

Oba Akinjobi was so happy for the arrest of killers of Olori Semipe. He was also happy and proud of his daughter, princess Olori Funmilola who had become the first female ruler of L’Eko and that is the end.

Arielh Offor is an 8-year-old pupil of Corona School Victoria Island. This piece is his submission for the Jordan Hill September 2019 Writing Challenge.