The Tortoise and the Elephant
There was a great King who ruled in the village of Gbogan a long long time ago at a time when animals could talk. The King took very ill for a long period of time and was at the point of death. After several attempts by medicine men from within the kingdom to heal the king failed, ?Ikumejakako?, the dreaded herbalist who dwelt in the evil forest was consulted. He examining the king and pronounced that the king would have to take a special brew made of elephant body parts or die within seven days.
The King and his chiefs wondered how they would capture a big and dangerous animal like an elephant. The king after consultation with his chiefs made an announcement throughout the kingdom that anyone who would capture an elephant within seven days would get half of the kingdom and his beautiful daughter as a bride.
The tortoise came forward to accept the challenge. He made a request of the King, that a very deep pit be dug and that the pit should be concealed with raffia and mats and that a throne fit for a king should be set on top of the pit. The tortoise made some ?akara? balls (bean cakes) and set out into the forest in search of an elephant. The wandered through the forest making enquiries of his fellow animals until the third day when he stumbled on an elephant resting under a tree??.
Tortoise: Elephant, what are you doing here?haven?t you heard the news?
Elephant: What news? Do not disturb my siesta tortoise, I do not like gossip
Tortoise: I don?t believe my eyes, a whole King, resting in the forest under a shade!!
Elephant: A King, what King?
Tortoise: YOU!! The king is dead and the elders have decided to make you king over the people.
Elephant: (roars with laughter)?.you must be a joker tortoise, who would want to make an old ugly elephant like me a king?
Tortoise: There is no time for explanations, preparations are already at an advanced stage in the kingdom for your coronation, we must make haste, see, I have proof (he brought out one of the ?akara? balls and handed one over to the elephant) This akara is only a small part of the delicacies being prepared for your coronation.
Elephant: (putting the akara into his mouth) Hmmmmm?.this is delicious?really delicious it must be true, lets make haste.
And so the tortoise led the elephant all the way to the village handing out the akara balls to him at intervals and singing popular coronation songs to him all the way.
As the tortoise and the elephant approached the palace, news of the capture of the elephant spread like wild fire, everybody came out of their houses and started following the duo to the palace joyous and joining in tortoise?s songs. This all created an atmosphere of festivities reinforcing the belief in the elephant?s mind that he was to be made king.
Elephant: Your story must be true?the people are really joyous to see me.
Tortoise: You know I wouldn?t lie to you, can?t you see them singing that your reign shall be long?
As the throne finally came into sight, the elephant lumbered into it majestically amidst dancing and singing. He sat on the throne and instantly the ground gave way beneath him and he fell into the pit. The king?s warriors immediately descended upon him with spears and clubs and butchered him. Once the king had taken a sip of the elephant broth made for him, he became instantly well and fulfilled his promise towards the tortoise.
From the story I learned that in the African culture not only is the King royalty but also the people who work for him, like his servants. Through further research I also learned that in African culture, Turtles are the wisest and most clever animal. This is why the tortoise was the one that was able to trick the elephant and not another character. I also learned that the elephant symbolizes strength and power. This is depicted in the story because the only thing that could cure the king was a brew made from elephant body parts or else the king would die.
In my drawing I chose to illustrate the moment the elephant sits on the throne and realizes that he has been tricked and the ground underneath him isn't stable. In my image there is the elephant on the throne, the hole that is underneath him and you can see the celebration from the villagers. I chose this part in the story because I thought it was a major turning point in the plot. This is the moment where the village realizes the king will be saved, the elephant realized that he isn't king and that the tortise realizes that he has just received half the kingdom and a beautiful bride.
In my artwork tried to bring in as many elements as african culture as possible. I chose the colours for the throne because they are used in traditional african clothing. Black represents the unknown, Green represents fertility and growth (often worn during weddings), and orange represents freedom. I also tried my best to make the landscape look like and african sunset by using oranges and yellows for the sky and through the linear shape of the trees.
Reference Photos
Some of the symbols in this story are symbolic in Judaism but differ in meaning.
Similar to African culture, the elephant is symbolic of something, however in Judaism the elephant represents luck and fortune. Also in this fairytale it says that the king must have the brew made from elephant parts or he will die in seven days. The number seven has a symbolic meaning of anything associated with god, and holiness. The number seven is repeated all throughout Jewish culture and traditions.
Bibliography
http://www.africanculturalcenter.org/5_4culture.html
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/culture.html
http://goafrica.about.com/od/peopleandculture/
The King and his chiefs wondered how they would capture a big and dangerous animal like an elephant. The king after consultation with his chiefs made an announcement throughout the kingdom that anyone who would capture an elephant within seven days would get half of the kingdom and his beautiful daughter as a bride.
The tortoise came forward to accept the challenge. He made a request of the King, that a very deep pit be dug and that the pit should be concealed with raffia and mats and that a throne fit for a king should be set on top of the pit. The tortoise made some ?akara? balls (bean cakes) and set out into the forest in search of an elephant. The wandered through the forest making enquiries of his fellow animals until the third day when he stumbled on an elephant resting under a tree??.
Tortoise: Elephant, what are you doing here?haven?t you heard the news?
Elephant: What news? Do not disturb my siesta tortoise, I do not like gossip
Tortoise: I don?t believe my eyes, a whole King, resting in the forest under a shade!!
Elephant: A King, what King?
Tortoise: YOU!! The king is dead and the elders have decided to make you king over the people.
Elephant: (roars with laughter)?.you must be a joker tortoise, who would want to make an old ugly elephant like me a king?
Tortoise: There is no time for explanations, preparations are already at an advanced stage in the kingdom for your coronation, we must make haste, see, I have proof (he brought out one of the ?akara? balls and handed one over to the elephant) This akara is only a small part of the delicacies being prepared for your coronation.
Elephant: (putting the akara into his mouth) Hmmmmm?.this is delicious?really delicious it must be true, lets make haste.
And so the tortoise led the elephant all the way to the village handing out the akara balls to him at intervals and singing popular coronation songs to him all the way.
As the tortoise and the elephant approached the palace, news of the capture of the elephant spread like wild fire, everybody came out of their houses and started following the duo to the palace joyous and joining in tortoise?s songs. This all created an atmosphere of festivities reinforcing the belief in the elephant?s mind that he was to be made king.
Elephant: Your story must be true?the people are really joyous to see me.
Tortoise: You know I wouldn?t lie to you, can?t you see them singing that your reign shall be long?
As the throne finally came into sight, the elephant lumbered into it majestically amidst dancing and singing. He sat on the throne and instantly the ground gave way beneath him and he fell into the pit. The king?s warriors immediately descended upon him with spears and clubs and butchered him. Once the king had taken a sip of the elephant broth made for him, he became instantly well and fulfilled his promise towards the tortoise.
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