Ijapa and the Pot of Wisdom

Olodumare, the Supreme Being, gathered all the wisdom of the world into a single pot and, for a test, gave it to Ijapa the Tortoise. "Take this wisdom," Olodumare said, "and distribute it fairly." But Ijapa was selfish. "I will keep it all for myself," he thought. "I will hang it on the tallest tree where no one can reach it." He took the pot and tried to climb a tall palm tree. He had tied the pot in front of him, on his belly, and it kept getting in the way, making it impossible to climb. He struggled and slipped for hours. His son, who had followed him, watched from the bushes. "Father," the son finally called out, "wouldn't it be easier if you tied the pot to your back?" Ijapa was enraged. He, with all the wisdom in the world, had been outsmarted by his own child. In a fit of pure anger, he threw the pot down. It smashed on the ground, and the wisdom inside scattered to every corner of the world. A great wind blew it everywhere. This is why no single person has all the wisdom, but every person on earth has a small piece of it.