A Special Breed!

A Special Breed!

On her DNA,

Africans-male

and female are coded;

her ovaries carry eggs

that created

Afro-American, Afro-Asian,

Afro-European, Afro-Arab,

and her the womb had raised

Brazilian Mulatto and Black.

Her imprint is etched on

Caribbean islands of 700

islands, reefs, islets, and

cays.

Her skin-a great shield of

all times-

survived plantation

sweltering heat for

centuries,

endured criminal cold

of western hemisphere’s

winters,

and defied burning sun

of centuries of summers.

The good news is-

yesterday’s

harsh seasons-

hostile weather, and

inclement climate

help beautified her

skin,

made her

tough, irresistible and

conqueror;

with public and

private image

synonymous

with success and

undefeatable.

 

On her lips were

lyrics of life,

songs-sang on trans-

Atlantic trips,

on her vocal cord were

renditions sang on

plantations, and

on her mouth were dirges

recited in homes, churches,

and funerals about man’s

inhumanity to man.

 

Thank goodness-those-behind-

the-curtain-cries-and-tears

had transformed into

hymns-for-soul-healing,

today’s blues and ragtime-

forerunner of jazz.

Jazz for life,

blues-Afro-American

encompassing song-

reminiscence of

holler, work song,

dance tune, minstrel

and spiritual.

Rhythm and blues-

created-that gave

birth to soul, funk, and

disco.

Photo Credit: www.globalblackhistory.com/2016/06/african-head-gear-african-identity.html

OSOGBO OROKI EULOGY

OSOGBO-OROKI.

Yoruba Version and                              The English                                          Translation:

                                                                                       

Osogbo Oroki asala omo                                              Osogbo Oroki a refuge  
                                                                                          outpost                                                                                            

onile obi,                                                                         owner of a large  kolanut                                                                                                 

Osogbo ilu aro,                                                               farm; Osogbo-city-

omo dede bi okun,                                                        of tie-dye, custodian of strong

are o peta, arepeta mogba o,                                      dye like a blue sea.

esuru ni won jesun                                                        when  a sojourner does not kill

lode Osogbo,                                                                  civet cat or does kill,

aro n be l’ Osogbo                                                         it belongs to me; bitter-water-

lo’ Osogbo se n wun ni,                                                yam-dinner in Osogbo inner

esuru n be l’ Osogbo                                                     city. For her quality dye,

l’ Osogbo se n wun ni;                                                   Osogbo beckons to all and

Osun  n be l’Osogbo                                                      sundry.

l’Osogbo se n wun ni;                                                    Her plenty bitter-water-

t’ arugbo t’ majesin,                                                      yam makes Osogbo alluring

a o jo sun ilemo                                                              and inviting; also home to Osun

l’Osogbo ni.                                                                     goddess that makes Osogbo                                                  

Osun Osogbo pele o,                                                     very enticing;

eyin olomoyoyo;                                                            without dubiety-old and young

Osogbo oroki gbe onile,                                                live together.                                            

otun gbe ajoji Osogbo oroki,                                        Osun goddess-greetings-

Osogbo oroki omo                                                          mother of many children,

yeye Osun, yeye atewogbeja,                                      city that cares for both the                              

aniyun labebe oroki ti eja                                             natives and residents,                                   

oroki ti iba eja n la soro,                                               Osogbo Oroki-children of Osun

t’ ran iko ni se,                                                                goddess, matriarch with

Osun Osogbo, rere ni                                                    defensive open-palm,

o sun fun mi                                                                    town that converses with

Oroki onile obi, alaro omo asala                                 behemoth fish that sends

Edumare bawa da ilu Osogbo                                      representative; Osun Osogbo,

si;                                                                                       it is well; give me water.

Ase.                                                                                   Oroki owner of a large kolanut

                                                                                          farm, dyer-children from

                                                       refuge outpost. May God

                                                                                         protect Osogbo and her

                                                                                         children. So Be It.

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                               

                                                                                        

OSOGBO-OROKI EULOGY

OSOGBO-OROKI.

The Yoruba Version and:                                                      English Translation:

                                                                                       

Osogbo Oroki asala omo                                              Osogbo Oroki a refuge outpost,                                                                                            

onile obi,                                                                         owner of a large kolanut                                                                                                 

Osogbo ilu aro,                                                               farm; Osogbo-city-

omo dede bi okun,                                                        of tie-dye, custodian of strong

are o peta, arepeta mogba o,                                      dye like a blue sea.

esuru ni won jesun                                                        when sojourner does not kill

lode Osogbo,                                                                  civet cat or does kill it,

aro n be l’ Osogbo                                                         it belongs to me; bitter-water-

lo’ Osogbo se n wun ni,                                                yam-dinner in Osogbo inner

esuru n be l’ Osogbo                                                     city. For her quality dye,

l’ Osogbo se n wun ni;                                                   Osogbo beckons to all and

Osun  n be l’Osogbo                                                      sundry.

l’Osogbo se n wun ni;                                                    Her plenty bitter-water-

t’ arugbo t’ majesin,                                                      yam makes Osogbo alluring

a o jo sun ilemo                                                              and inviting; home to Osun

l’Osogbo ni.                                                                     goddess also makes Osogbo                                                  

Osun Osogbo pele o,                                                     very enticing;

eyin olomoyoyo;                                                            without dubiety-old and young

Osogbo oroki gbe onile,                                                live together.                                            

otun gbe ajoji Osogbo oroki,                                        Osun goddess-greetings-

Osogbo oroki omo                                                          mother of multiple children,

yeye Osun, yeye atewogbeja,                                      city that cares for both the                              

aniyun labebe oroki ti eja                                             natives and residents,                                   

oroki ti iba eja n la soro,                                               Osogbo Oroki-children of Osun

t’ ran iko ni se,                                                                goddess, matriarch with

Osun Osogbo, rere ni                                                    defensive open-palm,

o sun fun mi                                                                    town that converses with

Oroki onile obi, alaro omo asala                                 behemoth fish who sends

Edumare bawa da ilu Osogbo                                      representative; Osun Osogbo,

si;                                                                                       it is well; spring out for me.

Ase.                                                                                   Oroki owner of a large kolanut

                                                                                          farm, dyer-children from

                                                                                          refuge outpost. May God

                                                                                         protect Osogbo and her

                                                                                         children. So Be It.

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                         

Eko-A City Sandwished by Two Waters

Eko-A City Sandwiched by Two Great Waters.

Eko-

ebullient city of

two great

waters-

in her front is Lagoon,

tossed daily by trillion ripples

from waves running from

Ebute-Ero through

Ikorodu to Epe;

behind her is

boisterous Atlantic Ocean,

whose roars and greatness

date to many millennial.

 

Eko-from the

small beginning

many centuries ago-

Olofin Ogunfunminire-

unlocked and gave you life;

our Bini brothers

gave you the name-

EKO.

Portuguese visited you,

changed your name to-

Lagodikuramo-

calm water;

however,

British, French, and

Italian that came later

abused your warm

welcoming spirit.

Eko-your open-hand

and large heart-

they repaid with

ignoble 300-hundred-year-

immoral-and-criminally-run-

trade in human

from Africa to Americas,

and Europe.

Regardless-

Eko-

you have come

a long way;

Eko-many were your

cries and trials-

but you triumphed,

many were your

weeping and tribulations-

you came out victorious.

 

From pain-to-gain,

from lack to plenty,

from cry to laughter,

from yesterday’s little

to settlement to most

populous African city,

from prison-to-palace.

Eko-we wouldn’t for

Kosoko-Dosunmu-

intransigent-

British turned to

gain;

Eko-we remember

arm twisting-consular-

annexation story-

to crown colony

of 1861.

Eko-should we forget

the land grab,

by Royal Niger Company,

which dispossessed

natives of their inheritance?

Never should we forget

arbitrary geographical

demarcation of Southern

Nigeria Protectorate

hand delivered to

foreign economic class

at a give-away price.

Eko-still-

many were

the blessings you

brought upon mankind,

many were the

benedictions you

caused natives and foreigners

living within your gates.

 

Should we forget

the revolutionary

spirit in your bosom,

or the activism within

your gates;

Eko-thanks to torch-of-

freedom,

elite in you lit.

Kudos to waves of

freedom marches,

which heralded

give-us-freedom,

sermons by our ancestors;

thanks to resistance

African trained professionals

spearheaded in 19^th and 20^th

centuries.

Thanks to individuals,

groups, associations, and

interest groups that changed

Lagos dynamics; and

later Nigeria landscape.

Thanks to champions of

yesterday’s fighters-

Herbert Macaulay,

Moses Da Rocha,

Hezekiah O. Davis,

Bode Thomas, Obafemi

Awolowo, Adeyemo Alakija, Kitoye Ajasa.

Thanks to early newspapers,

pamphlets, magazines,

even religious books that

served as vehicle for

information,

means of communication.

Their roles were unique,

their place in history

remain eternal;

Eko-thanks to social and

economic changes-

you

brought to Nigeria.

Thanks to Eko-

being the center of

excellence in sports

and

finance and commerce

headquarters of Nigeria

and beyond.

Thanks to all trades you

facilitated,

all

diplomacy you anchored,

for decades-you were and

still,

culture and entertainment

ambassador,

Nigeria’s

window to the world.

Merci beaucoup-

for eighty years

of being

federal capital

and

centuries of being

homes to everyone

without discrimination;

thanks to those

innovations in you

that changed Nigeria

for life.

But

apologies to

yesterday’s sad

memories-violent

change of government,

all

assassinations,

some not to be

proud of social vices.

Eko-your place in

history is guaranteed,

with words about you,

writings on your past,

books on your activities,

humans you have endowed,

mankind-you have made rich,

society-you keep remaking-

and tomorrow you have made

certain.

Eko-we say-

thank you,

o seun, a dupe,

na gode,

daalu,

avo,

uwese,

obolu,

obe,

anya.

Eko-Akete-ile Ogbon,

Aromi

sa legbe legbe,

Eko aro sese maja.

Eko-Akinsemoyin,

Eko-Ologun Kutere,

Eko-Erelu Kuti,

Eko-Adele,

Eko-Adamo Orisha,

Eko-Akete,

Eko-Igbehin.