Obaledo and the Beauty Thief

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Obaledo, known throughout her village for her charm. During a time when monsters roamed the land at night, taking what they wanted, everyone knew to follow the rules to stay safe.

The written record

One day, while her parents were away, they left her yam and snail for dinner. They warned her to roast the yam before the snail, as the snail’s water could put out the fire. But Obaledo, craving the snail, roasted it first. The fire went out, and after eating the snail, she went to borrow matches from a neighbor.

Historical context

On her way back, Obaledo encountered a terrifying monster. She tried to run but couldn’t move. The monster stole her beauty and left her with its own ugly appearance. From that moment on, no one in the village spoke of Obaledo anymore.