Sankofa Creative Competition #3 : Se b'otimo elewa Sapon (Based On A True Story)

"Şe b'o ti mọ, Ẹlẹwa Şapọn" (Do you know the beans seller at Sapon)

That above is the direct meaning of the saying. However as a proverb it means;

Before we get to the origin of this I would love to share with you what Sapon is all about.

Back in the days, Sapon was a meeting place especially for bachelors where they go for relaxation, refreshment, drink and eat.

The name of this place called Sapon was extracted from the Yoruba word Şapọnloore..... Şe Apọn loore (Meaning: Help the bachelors)

Sapon is a historical area still popular and a commercial center in Abeokuta.

Madam Janet Ewusi Odesola is the protagonist of this story. She is also known as also known as "Şe b'o ti mọ, Ẹlẹwa Şapọn".

She went to Methodist Primary School, Ijoko Abeokuta. She only completed primary school education after which she started to trade.

She started to hawk fish on the streets then later upgraded to selling cooked beans. Her shop was set up opposite of Osile of Oke Ona palace.

She cooked and sold beans till her 90's. Her business was later taken over and managed by her children.

Once upon a time. Not so long ago in a commercial center in the city of Abeokuta n a place called Sapon lived a woman.

She specializes in preparing beans and stew (Ẹwa Pẹkulẹ).

Since her beans was very unique and the only place to get it is at Sapon. It was also called the Sapon Beans(Ewa Sapon).

Her beans was so delicious that its news traveled as far as the entire country. Her beans attracted all form of people to her shop.

Commoners and Royalties paraded her shop to buy beans. Fleets of vehicles are seen outside her shop on a daily basis.

Customers do come with their plates sometimes to buy her beans.

The demands for her beans on daily basis was way too high to keep up with. She was advised to make more so she can sell more.

She cooks only one bag of beans per day. I guess that is the secret to her unique beans recipe, well what do know hahaha.

Whenever she is asked why don't you make more beans, she would reply: ''mo se bi motimo ni''(I do as I know how) meaning I'm cutting my coat according to my cloth.

She used this same line for some particular set of customers that buys her food on credit as a result of ordering for more till they are out of cash. Whenever they do ask for more she would ensure that they are capable of paying.

Also she would advise her customers to only buy what they are capable of eating and what their pockets are capable of handling.

The name "Se b'otimo elewa Sapon" became a household name

This is one proverb that I can actually point out its origin. Janet Ewusi Odesola the beans seller maybe lost in history but her saying lives forever.

This simple beans seller was no ordinary trader.

She filled bellies with her delicious meals and heads with her simple word of knowledge.

U P V O T E

R E S T E E M

F O L L O W @dante31

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