Mythology · 2

According to a well-known Yoruba folktale, what trick did the deity Eshu use to turn two close friends into bitter rivals?

Answer

He wore a hat that appeared a different color to each of them

In the parable, Eshu walked the road between two farmers wearing a cap colored differently on each side, so the two men later argued over what color the passing stranger's hat had been, escalating into a violent quarrel between former friends.

💡 Did you know?

Eshu the Yoruba trickster deliberately started wars between villages by wearing a hat that looked different colors from opposite sides.

Other options people guess

  • He whispered a different rumor into each man's ear
  • He forged letters accusing each man of betrayal
  • He disguised himself as each man's rival and provoked a fight

Topics

  • yoruba
  • trickster
  • folklore
  • west-africa

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