The Tale of Amala (yam flour)

Once upon a time, in the heart of Yoruba land, there was a terrible drought. The sun scorched the earth day after day, and the rivers dried up. Crops withered, and the people were hungry and weak. The mighty yam, which had always been the source of their strength, could no longer grow in the dry soil. The people feared for their lives as they had no food to eat.

In a small village named Ilu Aje, lived an old woman called Iya Amoke. She was known for her wisdom and kindness. One night, as she sat under a baobab tree, she prayed to the gods for help. “O kind Orisha, guardian of our people, please send us a miracle to save us from this suffering.”

That night, Iya Amoke had a dream. In her dream, a tall, glowing figure appeared before her. It was Orunmila, the god of wisdom and divination. Orunmila spoke to her in a gentle voice, “Iya Amoke, the earth is tired, but there is hope. You will find a gift from the sky at dawn. Use it wisely, and it will save your people.”

When Iya Amoke awoke, she hurried to the village square, where the people had gathered, their faces filled with worry. She told them of her dream, and though they were unsure, they followed her to the fields.

As the first light of dawn touched the earth, the villagers saw something strange. From the sky, they watched as large white flakes began to fall. At first, they thought it was snow, but as the flakes touched the ground, they noticed that it wasn’t cold. It was soft and powdery, like nothing they had seen before.

The people gathered around Iya Amoke, who touched the white powder and tasted it. “This is yam!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. “It is the gift from Orunmila! We shall call it elubo, and it will become amala when cooked. This will save us!”

With great care, the villagers collected the white powder. Iya Amoke showed them how to mix it with water and cook it over a fire. The powder transformed into a smooth, brown meal, which they called amala. The people ate it, and their strength returned.

News of the miraculous food spread throughout Yoruba land. Soon, people from other villages came to learn the secret of amala. As they ate the new meal, they felt their hunger fade, and their hope was restored.

From that day on, amala became a beloved food among the Yoruba people, a symbol of survival and the blessings of the gods. It was said that as long as they had amala, they would never go hungry again.

And so, the people of Ilu Aje celebrated Iya Amoke and Orunmila, who saved them in their time of need. The drought eventually ended, but amala remained a treasured part of their culture, a reminder of the miracle that saved thousands of lives.