A Nigerian lady, Ama, has recently captivated the attention of numerous social media users by unveiling the story behind the widely popular ‘Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo’ challenge that has been making waves online. Ama shared this intriguing tale on TikTok, revealing its connection to a traditional Igbo folktale involving two significant characters: a tortoise and an elephant.
According to Ama's TikTok video, the narrative begins with a unique situation where a king’s daughter, in her quest to find a worthy suitor among the animals, set forth a seemingly impossible challenge. She decreed that any suitor wishing to win her favor must first present her with an elephant.
Despite the daunting nature of this task, the clever tortoise, who was friends with the elephant, decided to take on the challenge. The tortoise devised a cunning plan and tricked the elephant into believing that they had received an invitation to attend the esteemed Ofala festival in Igbo land. Eager to partake in such a grand event, the elephant agreed to accompany the tortoise to the palace.
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During their journey, the tortoise requested the elephant’s assistance to carry him on its back, which the elephant graciously accepted. Subsequently, the tortoise sought permission to tie a rope around the elephant’s neck. The elephant, unaware of the underlying intent, consented to this seemingly innocuous request.
Upon reaching the palace, the tortoise cunningly claimed that he had captured the elephant, presenting him to the king with the rope still around the elephant’s neck. In Igbo culture, as Ama explained, placing a rope around an animal’s neck is a symbolic gesture of ownership, and this clever move effectively allowed the tortoise to assert that he had “captured” the elephant, thereby fulfilling the challenge set by the king’s daughter.
This captivating story has been immortalized in the song “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” by the renowned Nigerian musician Mike Ejeagha, who uses the narrative to deliver a valuable lesson. The song serves as a cautionary tale, advising listeners to be mindful of the company they keep and the true intentions of those around them.
Netizens Reactions…
Slim fave remarked: “Tortoise is a very wise animal.”
Azamanexpensive79 commented: “This short story is very long oo.”
Say_hey_to_shuga said: “So una don give this song story now now.”
Officer Divine expressed: “Nice one…how do we make this trend.”
O_a_f shared: “Welcome to akuko mike ejeagha, whenever I start an interesting story with my mum…. that’s what she will say.”
Leilejlm4rf stated: “Thank you sister, I have been looking for the meaning of this song. Now I can get it you.”
User318812081297daniel mentioned: “Sister you tried good one at least people will know what the song is all about.”
Olademeji said: “This story is the most talked about story in my town Enugu even before now.”
Annabel0157 noted: “Moral lesson learnt. Thank you.”
EssienSam expressed: “Wow, I listened to the whole thing. Now it makes a lot of sense thank you.”
Mimi shared: “My dad has told me this story.”
Clementgeorge_akin pointed out: “In Yoruba stories, Tortoise is well reputed for his ‘cunningness’. We have that same story of him and the elephant.”
See below;
@amastoriesThe short story that led to the gwogwogwongwo challenge on TikTok#gogwogwo trendingchallengeontiktok#brainjotterwithhis realgirlfriend #saygwogworeal page#ngwongwogwocelebritieschallenge #ngwongwogwo bybrainjotter#brainjottervisit mikeejegha#brainjotter#brainjottercomedy#brainjotterchallenge#viral#comedyvideo#mikeejeagha#trendingGwogwogwotrendingchallengeontiktok
♬ original sound – Amastories