Elefant and Hippo
Terkule Aorabee
Awwalu Sakiwa

E get two twin brodas dem, Elefant and Hippo. One day, Destiny by-force dem to choose wetin each of dem wan become, leperman or blindman.

Hippo with im sabi-sabi rush carry blind. E wan mek im dey use im eyes do Elefant wuru-wuru. Elefant carry blind.

1

Leprosi come mek Hippo dey vex anyhow anyhow. Blind mek Elefant get jeje. Na so Hippo dey do Elefant wuru-wuru and magu-magu join.

Elefant com meet Juju-Stick. Na de stick dey helep am fight im enemy. Kuku ma e dey do amebo for Elefant ear.

2

As Hippo no get fingers and toes dem again. Na im e com now need helep. Elefant dey do am good.

If dem get chop, Hippo go carry eyes look am. But na Elefant go cut de chop, put for im hand bifor e go chop. Hippo vex no be small.

3

One day, Bush, dem mama gif dem hot yam. As hungry dey waya dem, dem wan chop quick-quick.

Hippo com put im fingales palm togeda like one plate. Im tell Elefant, "A begi, nak my own share for here."

4

As de yam com hot too much, Hippo begin dey trow im own up and dan, up and dan, mek im palms cool.

De yam still com fall. Elefant sharp-sharp dey change im own from one hand go de oda hand. Hippo com vex plenty plenty.

5

Hippo beg im broda, "Elefant, helep me carry dis naughty yam."

"You know I no dey see," Elefant tell am. "Bring ya hand mek a kuku show you."

Elefant carry de yam, blow away de sand-sand. E put am for Hippo im hand.

6

Evening com com, Bush gif dem pounded yam. E nak dem four meat inside soup. Elefant sharp sharp carry im fingers count de meat.

Hippo no know say Elefant count am. E think say na only fufu Elefant dey dip for soup.

7

Hippo wan tek wuru-wuru thief one meat for de soup. The meat fall for ground.

Time come for sharing meat. Elefant say, "Dis meat, no be four dem be?" Hippo lie, "Na three."

"Na four," Elefant say. Hippo ask, "You dis Elefant, you blind true true so?"

8

One morning, Bush go journey. Hungry begin waya dem. Hippo wan tek sense finish Elefant.

"Elefant, mek we go play forget dis hungry. Mek a go teach swim inside river," Hippo say. E know say Elefant no sabi swim. Elefant carry Juju-Stick follow.

9

As dem dey go, Hippo branch enter forest. E carry one big heavy stone. Im dey grunt like pig as e carry de stone. As dem dey go, na so e dey grunt go.

"Why e dey grunt like that?" Elefant ask Juju-Stick.

10

Dem reach riverside. Hippo say na im first go take jump so dat if Elefant jump join, e go helep am. E carry de stone trow for hinside river.

"Dat sound too small for my ear. E no big reach Hippo size," Juju-Stick do amebo for Elefant ear.

11

Elefant send Juju-Stick mek e check. Juju-Stick turn by force nak Hippo for body.

"Chei," Hippo shout. Juju-Stick turn am into water animal. Juju-Stick turn Elefant to land animal and turn imself into de trunk.

12
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Elefant and Hippo
Author - Terkule Aorabee
Translation - Terkule Aorabee
Illustration - Awwalu Sakiwa, Idowu Abayomi Oluwasegun
Language - Pidgin English (Nigeria)
Level - Longer paragraphs