The story that birth this Yorùbá adage, "Alátiṣe ló ń mọ àtiṣe ara rẹ̀”.
Once upon a time,there was once a wealthy man named Alátiṣe who had three wives and children.
A few years after he married his third wife,he became blind And Impotent.
Everyday, his family would lead him to the front of his house, where he would sit and lounge all day, getting up only to relieve himself.
One fateful day,a dove flew straight at him and begged him to go under his dress in order to hide from a massive hawk that Wanted to devour it.
Alátiṣe asked the dove, "what are you going to do for me if I do you this favour?".
The dove replied that it would heal a part of his body that had become nonfunctional.
The man promptly hid the dove under his dress.
In order to hide from a massive hawk that wanted To devour it.
Alatise asked the dove, "what are you going to do for me if I do you this favour?".
The dove replied that it would heal a part of his body that had become nonfunctional. The man promptly hid the dove under his dress.
Shortly thereafter, the hawk came down To beg him that he should release the dove to it in order for it (the hawk) not to die of hunger.
Alátiṣe asked the hawk," what are you going to do for me if l do you this favour?"
The dove replied that it would heal a part Of his body that had become nonfunctional. The man promptly hid the dove under his dress...
Shortly thereafter,the hawk came down To beg him that he should release the dove to it in order for it (the hawk) not to die of hunger.
Alátiṣe asked the hawk," what are you going to do for me if l do you this favour?"
The hawk also replied that it would heal a part of his body that had become non functional.
Alátiṣe told the hawk to give him a few moments and return after a few hours.
Both replies caused Alátiṣe a lot of worry on what to do so he called his three wives to seek for their advices.
The first and second wives, having consumated sexual relationships with concubines dismissed the proposition outright and advices him to come to terms with his condition.
The third wife however told him to find out the proposition that would heal his importence and go with that so she could have children.
So, Alátiṣe decided to think deeply.
He went into The inner recesses of his mind and came up with the idea that he would gain from both sides.
He called his son to get some money from hiis safe, go to the market and buy him a pigeon that was as close to white as possible.
The son did as he was instructed and brought the Pigeon to his father.
The son did as he was instructed and brought the pigeon to it and the hawk flew away to devour its lunch. Sometimes later, the hawk came back and declared its intention to redeem its promise.
The hawk slapped its wings on Alátiṣe’s face and he regained His sight.
He thanked the hawk for its kindness and flew away.
Once the hawk was out of sight, Alátiṣe called out the dove to come out and redeem its promise.
The dove commenced some shifting around under Alátiṣe’s dress and he had uplifting down under. That was the beginning of the saying,
“Alátiṣe ló ń mọ àtiṣe ara rẹ̀”, meaning it is only Alátiṣe that can determine what is good for himself.
Simply means,only you can determine your priorities.
Alátiṣe was overjoyed as regained his sight and conjugal functions from the wisdom with which he handled the entire situation.
Researcher: Comr. Olamide Akinwumi James, 09068215955.
Story credit; Bàbá Olówe (man of proverbs) in Ayegbaju-Ekiti .
Photo credit; Wikipedia
Photo credit; Wikipedia
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