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

Overview

Elenre is the third of three magicians employed by a king during wartime. When the king refuses to let them leave, the first disappears into the ground and the second climbs a thread thrown into the air. Elenre remains and defies an order to depart. The king’s attempts to kill him fail: a sword breaks, a spear crumples and a stone rolls harmlessly over his body.

His wife reveals a means of overcoming the protection, and his head is severed. It attaches itself to the king’s hand and consumes the food and drink brought to him, resisting other magicians’ efforts to remove it. A final magician approaches humbly, acknowledging that he acts only under the king’s command. Elenre approves his response and drops to the ground, becoming the river named Odo Elenre in the tale. His wife also changes into water, but he prevents her river from flowing, leaving a stagnant pool.

Resists execution weaponsLiving detached headAdheres to king’s handConsumes king’s provisionsBecomes flowing river
01

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.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected chapter read in the digitized edition: XVI, The Three Magicians, pp. 28–30

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Yoruba Legends

    M. I. Ogumefu · 1929

    XVI, The Three Magicians, pp. 28–30; 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 — XVI, The Three Magicians, pp. 28–30Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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

FT·2989 · RESEARCH EDITION 01Back to top ↑