|
|
Emmanuel Jegede - The Sacrifice
Ododo Ni Mi - I was a flower
Hear Emmanuel recite this poem in the original Yoruba
ODODO NI MI (in
the original Yoruba)
ododo ni mi
ododo ni mi ooo,
olabisi leni tu mi nigbo
olabasisi gbin mi sinu iko dudu
ikoko dudu ti n dan ginringinringinrin
bologini inu okun kun owuro,
ododo ni mi ooo.
Mo n hu; mo n dagba nile olabasi
baba omo yeye,
olabisi n fowo pa mi lara
aya olabisi, omo olabisi n fowo pa mi lara,
won o ranti? ati fun mi lomi mu,
mo n gbe, mo n ku nile olabisi baba omo yeye,
olabisi ni je, aya olabisis n je,
omo olabisi ni je -
mo ni won or ranti? ati fun mi lomi mu
Mo womi; mo romi.
mo dota eni ni mi ooo.
olabisi tu mi, laitegbo mi,
mo ni lola omo mi a womi, ku ku omi.
a fi komo olabisi fomi fomo mi.
ododo ni mi oo.
ododo ni mi loni
ododo ni ma je lola
ododo ni mi oo.
View large version of painting
|
|
I was a flower
I was a flower, a blossoming flower
Olabisi plucked me from the bush,
Olabasi transplanted me into a black pot.
A black pot, as gleaming as the cat's eye in a dark dawn
a blossoming flower I was.
Flourishing, in Olabasis's family house.
They fed on the fat of the land,
Olabasi, his wives, children and relations.
Yet they offered me not a drop to drink,
a blossoming, flourishing flower that shone
in the bright sun of day,
in the dark pall of night,
reflecting the mood of the times.
They would caress my sweet-scented petals,
nectar-laden for the butterflies.
Thirsty, I search in vain for a drop,
drying out and dying in drought.
No more a pretty sight,
my master cut and threw me out
but not my root.
It was then I swore my offspring would seek and find water
unless Olabasi's children give my children their birth right.
The flower of the day must produce the flowers of tomorrow.
I was a flower, a blossoming flower.
Chorus: I'm a flower - I'm a flower.
(from JIGI OJU OBA - the King's mirror, 1985/86)
|
|
|
