Asooremáṣèkà, the Snake, and the Àkàlàmàgbò: A Tale of Kindness and Betrayal | by Kẹ́hìndé Àyànbọ́ádé

 

In a time when the forest held both danger and wisdom, there lived a man named Asooremáṣèkà, known for his kind and generous spirit. One day, while he was in the bush, a frantic snake came rushing toward him, trembling with fear. It begged for help, explaining that a hunter was in pursuit and would surely kill it if it were found.

In desperation, the snake made an unusual plea: that Asooremáṣèkà should hide it inside his stomach until the hunter had passed. Though the request was strange and risky, Asooremáṣèkà, moved by compassion, agreed. He allowed the snake into his body, choosing kindness over caution.

Not long after, the hunter arrived, searching the area carefully. Finding no trace of the snake, he eventually moved on, leaving the forest quiet once more.

Believing the danger had passed, Asooremáṣèkà called upon the snake to come out, reminding it of their agreement. But instead of gratitude, the snake refused. It confessed that while inside, it had seen Asooremáṣèkà’s liver and now desired to eat it.

The man was struck with shock and sorrow. He had offered help in good faith, yet he was being repaid with betrayal. Overcome with grief, he began to cry, his voice filled with pain and disbelief.

As his cries echoed through the forest, the great Àkàlàmàgbò (Ground Hornbill) appeared. Seeing Asooremáṣèkà in distress, the bird asked what had happened. After hearing the story, the Àkàlàmàgbò called upon the snake to come out so the matter could be settled.

The snake, trusting the authority of the bird, began to emerge. In that very moment, the Àkàlàmàgbò acted swiftly—using its long, powerful beak to seize the snake and drag it completely out of Asooremáṣèkà’s body, freeing him from danger.

Thus, Asooremáṣèkà was saved, not by strength, but by timely justice.

This tale, preserved in the music of the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister in his album Barry @ 40 (Side 2), released in 1988, remains a powerful reflection on human nature nearly four decades later. Beyond its surface, each character carries symbolic weight. Asooremáṣèkà represents kindness, trust, and the human capacity for generosity even in the face of risk. The snake embodies betrayal and ingratitude, showing how trust can be violated. The hunter reflects life’s external dangers and pressures that often force desperate actions. The Àkàlàmàgbò (Ground Hornbill) stands as a symbol of justice—swift, corrective, and restoring balance when wrongdoing threatens innocence.

This story is one of the many cultural treasures preserved in the music of the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, whose work gave enduring voice to Yoruba oral traditions through Fuji music. As a pioneer of the genre, he skillfully wove folktales, proverbs, and moral lessons into his art, ensuring that narratives like this continue to educate, reflect, and inspire generations.

Kẹ́hìndé Àyànbọ́ádé is a multimedia journalist who writes extensively on Yoruba culture, mythologies, folklores, folktales, and tradition, with many published articles to his name.