A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The elephant challenges Akiti’s claim to be king of the forest, arguing that he himself holds that position and cannot be defeated. The narrator associates him with wisdom and knowledge of numerous charms. His protection makes Akiti’s spear glance off his hide; arrows and knife also prove ineffective.

When Akiti uses his own shape-changing power, the elephant throws off the hunter’s lion form and withstands the serpent’s attempt to crush him. His strength and protected exterior do not prevent the final attack: Akiti becomes a fly, enters a large flapping ear and reaches the heart. Returning to human form inside, the hunter kills him. The elephant’s defence is therefore attributed to charms, with the ear providing the narrative’s route around that protection. No specific elephant species is assigned.

Protective charmsWeapon-resistant hideForest kingship claimDefeats lion and serpent attacks
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Origins & earliest records

M. I. Ogumefu’s Yoruba Legends attributes its narratives to Yoruba country in southern Nigeria. The preface says songs are abbreviated; it gives no named storyteller or dated field interview for this episode. Its Christian editorial judgments are distinct from the selected narrative.

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Records & interpretation

Complete selected chapter read in the digitized edition: III, Akiti the Hunter, pp. 3–5

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Yoruba Legends

    M. I. Ogumefu · 1929

    III, Akiti the Hunter, pp. 3–5; preface for collection attribution and abbreviated songs.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Collected narrative; digitized historical editionOgumefu — III, Akiti the Hunter, pp. 3–5Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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