In Igbo mythology and folklore, the tortoise trickster is called Mbe.
Mbe is an animal trickster whose stories circulate in Igbo oral tradition. He is usually portrayed as clever, persuasive, greedy, and willing to bend social rules when food, status, or advantage is at stake. His small size and slow movement make intelligence and verbal cunning his main tools.
In the widely known tale of the feast in the sky, Mbe persuades birds to lend him feathers so he can fly with them. He tells the hosts that his name is “All of You,” then claims the entire meal when it is announced as being for everyone. The birds take back their feathers, and the fall explains the tortoise’s uneven shell in that version.
Mbe is also written Mbeku in some references; Mbeku is formed from the Igbo word for tortoise, and sources use both forms for the character. The figure should not be confused with Yoruba Ijapa or with Ekwensu, an Igbo trickster spirit associated with a different mythological role.