These three tales are about that cunning character well-known to us, but perhaps not so to our children in whose folk-lore dictionary the Fox, (who is only sly) may have replaced the Tortoise whose character is far more complex. The tales have indeed been retouched, and written, it would appear, for performance by only competent story-tellers, a new dimension to cultural creativity.
But perhaps none can tell these stories better than the writer himself, who succeeds here in lifting familiar folk-tales to the level of high literature. One also virtually 'sees' the stories in moving pictures, thus opening another vista of endless possibilities, for instance, in film animation. Read and re-read these stories for the sheer joy of story and for gaining further insight into the weaving of a literary tapestry which educates, entertains and above all instructs. This is vintage SEGUN SOFOWOTE, and recommended reading-for-practice by our teeming talents in the literary and performing arts as well as a challenge to other older hands in the creative documentation of our oral heritage.

--- Oba Gbenga Sonuga, January 24,2007.

This is a book that many will be delighted to read.
Mr Sofowote has assembled a number of tales from our traditional repertory, and repackaged them for the modern audience, in such a way that they speak to us anew through his own unique and charming voice, and in melodies that he alone has invented.
This virtuoso performance is a worthy act of cultural retrieval, whose value can no longer be ignored nowadays, in this season of voracious globalization. But it is more than that. It is the confident voice of an artist at the summit of his career, showing us his prowess in the art of joyful and scintillating fabulation.
Brother Segun, may your well of songs never run dry!

--- Prof. Femi Osofisan

I found these three tortoise tales and telltale tunes, by Segun Sofowote captivating and hilarious. I was enthralled.

With wicked glee, Segun Sofowote introduces to us three of the most unsavoury fictional characters readers love to hate. There is the man with "The sleight of mind" – the inscrutable, His Royal Maradona majesty, the nimble-witted King Minlutiti. (Oh that name!) I love to read it aloud rocking back and forth enjoying the sound of it. Then we have the father-in-law from hell -- the malevolent, creepy, crawly, sneaky snail -- who got roused for the rabble for going over the top, playing to the gallery, so to speak. Then the real McCoy himself, terrible tortoise, quintessential mastermind, "too clever by half" ruthless, unscrupulous character with always an eye for the main chance. The brother of all opportunists of this world - asleep always with one eye open. This tortoise is more villainous than a certain notorious serpent who once roamed that most famous garden, east of Eden.

Brother, tortoise is thrillingly cunning, comical and deliciously evil. You can't help loving the tortoise. I confess, I applauded all his exploits and reverses, and booed all his machinations. Unravelled, unstitched, I laughed, gut flawed, chuckled I turn over these three scrumptious confection of classic traditional morality tales with cosmological twist to their tail!

With all his antics and villainy, you will be forgiven for liking to hate good old, bad tortoise. He can't help himself. The tales are deliciously allegorical, with a message for our own time graphically stamped all over them.

The tortoise remains one of the greatest sources of many of Africa's myths about itself, particularly that of small towns and villages, made up of good neigbhours whose sense of right and wrong is acute.

Sofowote is a master storyteller. These riveting, elegantly air-brushed, superbly narrated Three Tales of the Tortoise, confirm my own long standing, strongly held observation that Segun Sofowote's quiet reticence conceals; an artist of uncommon elegance, originality and expressive subtlety. I can't wait to have more hilarious tortoise tales… please!

---Taiwo Ajai Lycett, 27/03/07