… “Now, the three princesses being mature and ripe for betrothal, His Majesty has decided to give their hands to the most worthy of suitors in all the land, and this is the task set out for such.

“There shall be no formal display of chivalry or strength or wealth or intellect or good looks. “The suitors shall only prove themselves by coming forth with the names of these special princesses and thereby gain their hands in marriage – any man, be he a courtier or a peasant, a prince or a pauper.”

This was the unusual announcement that went forth from the King’s palace once upon a time.

King Mìnlútìtì had ruled over his people for thirty years. By now they were perfectly accustomed to his whims and caprices. Nobody talked any more about these eccentricities. Indeed they were regarded as part of the fun of living in that kingdom. After all, while other kings elsewhere were clearly cruel, he was nothing of the kind. King Mìnlútìtì was only a capricious ruler. Just for one little example, did he not once ban all cats throughout the length and breath of the kingdom?

Yes! That was after a rather grim incident on one occasion when a palace cat had caught and eaten one of the royal pigeons. Six months later however, at a public gathering on a festive day, just as the first boom of the big drum was struck, a mouse ran out from under the royal seat! Right there and then, King Mìnlútìtì stopped all the celebration and announced by himself that every adult citizen of the kingdom was by royal order commanded to own a cat…

... Recognising in Tortoise a fellow enigma just like himself, King Minlutiti smiled and indulgently granted the request. The princesses, considering themselves extremely lucky to have escaped a frightful fate just by a hair’s breadth, did not mind this dance at all; rather they in fact gave themselves to it quite heartily – for their own sake of course. At the bidding of Tortoise, the music precisely in the selfsame melody as MO RI KEKE KON, their very own ditty which originally gave them away went thus:

Ko nin le fe wa
Pinrin, ko le fe wa o, rara
Ko nin le fe wa
Pinrin, ko le fe wa o
Omo-oba Òpobípobí
Pinrin, ko le fe wa o
Omo-oba Òpobìpobì
Pinrin, ko le fe wa o
Omo-oba Òrípolóbì
Pinrin, ko le fe wa o
Sugbon sa, nwon le ba wa jo
Lalaile fe wa o; a faramon.
[She may not marry us
Not a chance, she won’t
She may not marry us
Not a chance, she won’t
Princess Òpobípobí
Not a chance, she won’t
Princess Òpobìpobì
Not a chance, she won’t
Princess Òrípolóbì
Not a chance, she won’t
But they may well dance with us
Even if not marry us; and we are content.]…