Ìyá Ìlèkè and the Magic Bead

In a town called Aró, where birds spoke like men and animals patronized the women of Aró, there lived a kind-hearted woman known as Ìyá Ìlèkè. She was the most skilled bead maker in the land, crafting beads so fine that even queens adorned themselves with her creations.

With her beautiful daughter, Àmòlé, Ìyá Ìlèkè traveled from village to village, selling beads of every color—deep blues like the night sky, fiery reds like the setting sun, and golden yellows like ripened corn. But their wealth was not in money; it was in kindness. No traveler left their stall hungry, and no thirsty man went without water.

One day, at a bustling market, Àmòlé’s eyes caught a magnificent fabric—a shimmering cloth of deep purple and gold, fit for a princess. She ran her fingers over its smooth surface, longing to own it. But when she asked for the price, it was far beyond what she and her mother could afford. With a sigh, she walked away.

That evening, as they rested beneath a large tree, Àmòlé absentmindedly held the strange bead she had found earlier on the forest path. Its glow was soft but enchanting. With a playful smile, she whispered, “If only I had that beautiful fabric I saw at the market

The moment she spoke, a gust of wind blew through the trees, and before her eyes, the very fabric she had desired appeared in her lap with the bead on it. She gasped, her hands trembling as she realized what had happened.

Rushing to her mother, Àmòlé breathlessly explained what she had just witnessed. Ìyá Ìlèkè, wise and cautious, took the bead and studied it carefully. “If this bead can grant wishes,” she said, “then let us use it wisely.”

Together, they made their first true request: “Let this bead give us money to buy the finest beads, and let it place a deep desire in the hearts of the people—both royals and chiefs—to seek us out and buy from us.”

The next morning, they awoke to find bags of gold and money beside them. With it, they bought the most exquisite beads from the best traders.

With their newfound wealth, Ìyá Ìlèkè and Àmòlé bought the finest beads—some shimmering like the stars, others as rich as the earth itself. They displayed them in the marketplace of Aró, arranging each piece with great care. But what happened next was beyond even their wildest dreams.

The magic bead had worked. As if under a spell, people from all corners of the land—hunters, traders, weavers, and even the nobles of Aró—felt an irresistible urge to own Ìyá Ìlèkè’s beads.

The chiefs sent their messengers. The king’s wives arrived in grand carriages. The wealthiest merchants of the land offered sacks of cowries for just a handful of beads.

In just a short time, Ìyá Ìlèkè and Àmòlé became the richest bead sellers in all of Aró. They no longer needed to travel; people now came to them. They built a grand palace, larger than any the town had seen. Their home had tall gates, golden furniture, and courtyards filled with music and laughter. Servants and maids attended to them, and every corner of the palace gleamed with prosperity.

Yet, through all their success, they remained kind, never turning away the poor or the hungry.

Among Àmòlé’s childhood friends was Fadé, a girl who had once shared in her joys but now burned with jealousy. She had watched, bewildered, as her friend rose from a simple bead seller’s daughter to one of the wealthiest women in Aró.

Fadé could not understand how Àmòlé’s fortune had changed so suddenly. She noticed how Àmòlé always held onto a particular glowing bead, whispering to it from time to time.

One evening, as they sat in the palace courtyard, Fadé asked, “Àmòlé, what is your secret? How did you and your mother become so wealthy so quickly?”

Àmòlé, trusting her friend, smiled and replied, “It is a blessing, Fadé. A rare fortune from this bead that came our way.”

But Fadé was not satisfied with this answer but she wanted everything that belong to Àmòlé. That night, as Àmòlé slept soundly in her lavish room, Fadé crept in. The soft glow of the magic bead illuminated the space beside Àmòlé’s pillow. Heart pounding with excitement, Fadé reached out and stole the bead.

Fadé ran to the riverbank, gripping the bead tightly. With greed filling her heart, she whispered, “I wish for all the riches in the world! Let me be greater than Àmòlé!”

But the moment the words left her lips, the bead shuddered violently in her palm. Suddenly, it grew hot—too hot to hold. Fadé screamed, trying to drop it, but it clung to her skin.

In an instant, the bead transformed into a massive serpent, its scales glistening like fire, its eyes glowing red with fury. Before Fadé could run, the serpent struck, sinking its fangs deep into her flesh. She let out a final, chilling scream before falling lifeless to the ground.

At dawn, the magic bead reappeared beside Àmòlé’s pillow, as if it had never left. When she awoke, she immediately knew what had happened. The bead had chosen her, and her alone, as its true custodian.

From that day forward, Àmòlé guarded the bead with wisdom, using its power only to help others. She and her mother continued their trade, ensuring that their blessings were shared with the needy.

And so, the legend of Ìyá Ìlèkè and Àmòlé was told for generations in Aró—a tale of kindness rewarded, greed punished, and a magical bead that chose its owner wisely.