The Okedere of Kanoko: Understanding “Blockchain” through storytelling
The "oro leye ngbo" were a tribe of ancient storytellers who lived in the lands of "Kanoko" and gathered around campfires each night to pass on the knowledge of their ancestors. People of "Kanako" wanted to find a way to ensure that their many stories and intellectual exchanges would remain true to the original versions passed down through the generations.
One day, a talented craftsman by the name of "Ajekuikale" emerged from the heart of the tribe with an idea that would revolutionise the tribe's culture of information sharing. Using a term that resonated with their ancestral wisdom, "Ajekuikale" envisioned a tapestry called "Okedere" that would preserve all of their priceless intellectual conversations, or "Ogbon." The members of the popular storytelling group, "oro leye ngbo," can each be thought of as a thread in "Okedere," an intricate weaving that represents the unique "Ogbon" shared by each member." These strands entangled to form a sturdy tapestry. Ingeniously, "Ajekuikale" reasoned that the "Ofintoto Knot," a symbol of unity and purpose, would bind each thread of "Ogbon" to the rest of the tapestry once it was woven in. No one, not even the most powerful sorcerers, would be able to untie this knot and change the past of the "Ogbon" that was bound within it.
The people of "Kanako" were interested in "Ajekuikale's" vision, but they were wary of entrusting the safety of the tapestry, "Okedere," to just one person. Their strong sense of community served as inspiration for a new course of action. They entrusted the weaving of "Okedere" to the collective wisdom of a group of storytellers known as "lukuluku" from the larger community of storytellers. These watchmen, who are known as Lukuluku, were tasked with threading Ogbon. Gathering under the full moon, they shared stories of "Ogbon" and agreed to work together to create a masterpiece. In the same way that the "oro leye ngbo" employed songs and puzzles to pass on information, the "lukuluku" would verify the accuracy of each "Ogbon" through the use of elaborate puzzles.
A new story was woven into "Okedere" whenever someone wanted to contribute to the ongoing narrative. The story's heartbeats and the aspirations of its people were woven into this thread. The "Lukuluku" collaborated effectively, deciphering puzzling situations to incorporate "Ogbon" into the fabric. Over the course of several lunar cycles, "Okedere" blossomed into a colourful tapestry that perfectly encapsulated "Ogbon's" essence. The sacredness of the tribe's intellectual legacy was symbolised in this tapestry, where each thread represented an actual conversation. So the people of "Kanako" kept weaving "Ogbon," making sure that their conversations were always honest and trustworthy, influenced by the voices of their ancestors. As a result of "Ajekuikale's" foresight, a trustworthy and open system for trading "Ogbon" was born, which would do justice to their country's enduring spirit for all time.
NB: The Yoruba Language is used all through the story apart from the English language.
