ELEWA SAPON: THE STORY,THE ADAGE, THE LESSON

 

ELEWA SAPON: THE STORY,THE ADAGE, THE LESSON

Sapon was extracted and coined from the word “Saponloore, Se Apon loore” meaning help the bachelors.

Sapon was some sort of a rendezvous for people, especially men who are unmarried. It was a place to wine and dine many years ago in Abeokuta.

Because of its location Sapon connects Ijaiye, Ago-Oba, Itoku, Lafenwa, Isale Igbein and Ake roads.

There was actually a woman who sold beans at Sapon.

Madam Janet Ewusi Odesola was born in 1925. Young Janet attended the Methodist elementary school in Ijoko, Abeokuta. She began her food selling business by selling dry fish before she felt the need to own a restaurant that sold cooked beans in 1951.

Because of the calibre of people that patronized her, her cooked beans sold very fast every day, despite the large quantity of beans she cooked. History has it that she cooked a big bag of beans daily, and there wouldn’t be any leftovers.

However, it came to a point where people started owing her. Some would buy her beans and pay, while some would buy on credit.

There were some people whose money would not be enough and who would promise to pay later, which they never did.

She started drowning in debt as the credit accumulated.

So, she began to think of a solution and then came up with a plan.

The plan was that anyone who bought from her and if their money did not suffice, she would advise with the phrase “sebiotimo” (that is, cut your coat according to your cloth). 

For instance, if they came to her to buy beans, she would ask for money, and if it was 10 kobo, she would sell 10 kobo worth of beans. If such a person then asked to put more (that is more than 10 kobo) that he would pay later, she would respond with “sebiotimo.”

She also stopped cooking more than a pot of beans. So, when they asked for more, she would respond with “mo ti se bi mo se mo” (that is, I have cut my coat according to my cloth).

That’s how her nickname “sebiotimo” became an adage that’s imbibed into the Yoruba culture, which taught the morals of not buying things that you cannot afford.

Many people today have run into great trouble because they try to live up to standards beyond their means.

Young men get into cybercrime and other heinous activities because they want to live a life beyond their means.

Young girls involve in prostitution to get fancy apparel they ordinarily can’t afford and most times don’t need.

Money making rituals are rampant because people refuse to live within their means.

People run into great debts to throw lavish parties and get into trouble after.

If everybody lived according to the tenets of ELEWA SAPON, the world would be a better place to live.

ORE MI, SE BI O TIMO, ELEWA SAPON