Friday, August 12, 2011

Ibadan


Ibadan.
Ibadan, where Oluyole was born
The third largest city in Africa
Known for its ancient civilization
As peaceful as anyone could describe
As quiet as the people would like it
I think of Ibadan, I think of tranquillity in a city
I think of Ibadan, I think of country life and city life same time

Ibadan, the city of great warriors,
Ibadan, the town of Ogunmola, Ibikunle, Ajayi and Ojo
The legendary Efunsetan
The kind woman whom by nature’s occurrence turned wicked
A true mother, rich in every way
A woman with the confidence of a man
The great loss turned the tide in her history of good deeds

Ibadan, the home of Latoosa
Hmn, “Are Latoosa” “Are Ona Kakanfo
The great field mashal
Who travail in the face of war.
Latoosa, the great warrior, valiant in battle and astute in leadership
Can the history of the Kiriji war be complete without Latoosa?
Ija ‘gboro ni’ja Ibadan!

Ibadan that glories in the victories and losses of her valiant ones
Ibadan that learns from the misdeeds of her elders
Bee ba gbo iku Gaa, ki e dawo ibi duro
(If you know the end of Gaa, you will desist from evil)
Ibadan that stands against that which is bad.

Ibadan, with the unique language
Do I hear someone say “shiken” for Chicken?
“Shair,” in the place of Chair, “Sow” for Show
They never meant to bastardize another man’s language
They are simply the Ibadan that they are.

Adugbo bee re bee, Ibadan bee ree bee
(Large land area, many compound houses makes Ibadan)
From Agodi to Dugbe; Beere to Beyeruka;
Mapo down to Gate; Oke Are, Oke Paadi
Ososami, Oke Ado, Orita-merin, Orita mefa
Ogunpa Oyo, Yemetu Aladorin, Challenge
Molete, Oluyole, Bodija, Ashi, Basorun, Eleyele,
Apata-Ganga, Omi-adio, Bako, Bakatari
Owode, Orisunbare, Aleshiloye, Odo-Ona
Ibadan, the town for all

Ibadan to gb’ole, to gb’ole
(Ibadan where both thieves and the lazy dwell happily)
Ibi ole ti n gbe jare ol’oun
(Where the thief is favoured)
Ibadan mesi ogo!

Ebaami ki oke Ibadan o
(I salute the Ibadan hill)
The hiding place of warriors
The deliverer of the warrior of old
No wonder they worship you as a deity
Even as you breed other hills
Oke Are, Oke mapo, Oke Mokola, Olorunkole, Bako...

Ibadan, where civilization crawled in.
The premiere university -University of Ibadan
The first television station in Africa- NTA Ibadan
The first sky-scrapper- Cocoa House
Eba odan (Where bats dwell), the home of innovation.

Ibadan, Ile Aje
(Ibadan the home of merchandise)
I think of Ojoo market, where the fruits are at a give-away price
Hmn, Ogunpa Oyo, where fashion is called home
Agbeni, the place for provisions
Aleshinloye, the market for the upper class
Dugbe, indeed the centre of merchandise

I choose not to offend the traders at Bodija market
Bola Ige International market (Gbagi titun)
Omi- Adio market, orita-merin, Beere, Akilapa
Ibadan, yes I call you again, IBADAN.

Will these lines ever be complete without my ever great Alma Mata?
Queen’s School Apata Ibadan
Indeed the school of charming girls
Do I hear some ladies respond to the
Blue and White! Call
Hmn, Up QSI!!


How can I ever leave out our kings?
The GCI boys, I salute o
The Alma Mata of the living legend, the WS of our time
Many more to the land of Ibadan
The Ibadan Grammar school, the Loyola College
The st Anne’s’ College, St Theresa’s College, Our Lady of the Apostle, Fatima,
Ibadan Boys’ High School, Wesley College of Science,
These are ever green names.

Ibadan, ar’egun jangan
(Ibadan, the home of masquerades)
The town where masquerades are highly esteemed
Ologbojo, ar’egun jangan
(Ologbojo, that rejoices in masquerades)
To the front of the Ologbojo, I see the masquerade’s calabash
To the left of Ologbojo, I see the many masquerades
To the right of Ologbojo, I see many masquerades
Behind Ologbojo, I see many masquerades

Lole b’egun sere o
Lole b’egun sere
A f’omo a bi loje
Lo le b’egun sere
(Only the child born in the Oje’s compound can play with masquerades)

Ibadan, the home of politics
Ibadan will never forget the man at Molete
The confusing personae
Some call him the kind hearted
Others call him the cruel
The great politician cum area boy that controls rulers
The man with the governor’s portfolio

Ibadan gives equal opportunity to all
Just show the will, Ibadan is behind you
Ibadan dislikes cheating and lying
Ibadan, omo ajoro sun

Ibadan, where the corrugated roofing sheets sings ancient civilization
Where the unplanned terrain says, your great- grand parents lived or passed here
Ibadan where the town head is more popular than some chieftain
Ibadan, we can only be proud of our IBADAN.




Saturday, August 6, 2011

Yoruba Proverbs, Their Meaning and Origin. (Itan d'owe- Story turned proverb)

Se b'otimo elewa sapon. (  Cut your coat according to your cloth).


This proverb is adapted from a story. Once upon a time, in the town of Abeokuta, there lived a woman who sells overcooked beans popular known as "Ewa Sapon". These form of beans was well appreciated by many especially people at work.

The woman that sold the beans and  made good sales on a daily basis. People ate and asked for more even when they didn't have money to pay. People bought her woman's beans with cash and when they were out of cash, they buy on credit. It got to the point that the beans seller could not handle the credits anymore.

As she could not cook in large quantity as before, she devised a new means of preventing people from buying on credit. Whenever they came to her, she asked for money, if it was 10k they had, she sold 10k worth of beans. If they beg for more on credit she told them, "se b'otimo", that is "cut your coat according to your cloth." With time, people got used to her new style. Before they asked for more, they knew the response she would give. As a result, they nick-named her "se b'otimo, elewa sapon".

This proverb teaches us to cut our coat according to our cloth so as to always keep our heads above troubles.

Yoruba Proverbs, Their Meaning and Origin. (Itan d'owe- Story turned proverb)

A f'ogbon ologbon s'ogbon ko te boro - (He that learns from others will not make mistakes).


This is a yoruba proverb adapted from a story. In a town, there lived two men with unique names. One was called, A f'ogbon ologbon s'ogbon (One that seeks wisdom from others) and the other, A-tikalaare-gbon (One that believes he knows all).

The king of the town heard of their names and invited the two. He told each of them to bring a pot of water to his palace in five days time. The king gave them a condition and the condition was that the pot must neither be full nor half full.

The two men in question were troubled and almost fell sick. They wondered how the pot will neither be full nor half full. Rationally, the pot would either be full or half ful.

A f'ogbon ologbon s'ogbon (One that seeks wisdom from others) decided to seek an advice from an older friend. The older friend advised him to send a message to the king, telling the king to send two guards to assist him in carrying the pot because the pot would be too heavy for him to carry. A condition was attached- the guard should neither be a man nor a woman.

When the king heard this, he respected A f'ogbon ologbon s'ogbon's (One that seeks wisdom from others) wit. He made him free from the impossible assignment.

 A-tikalaare-gbon (One that believes he knows all) on the other hand did not do anything about the impossible assignment. He believed there was no solution to the problem that the assignment was simply impossible. On the due day, the king sent for A-tikalaare-gbon (One that believes he knows all) and asked that he should be dealt with. The king told him that he deserved to be killed, but for God's mercy. The king advised A-tikalaare-gbon (One that believes he knows all)  that he should learn to hear others opinion on issues.

 A man cannot be an island on his own. There is a need to learn from other people's wisdom.

This proverb is used to correct people that think they know it all. I teaches that two good heads are better than one.
                                                 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Yoruba Proverbs and Their Meaning

-Jomi Jomi, okuroro ni i soni da. (Insisting that one's children act like one makes one a wicked person).
- Joosua, ajooko bi eni wogbe. (Joshua, a name that sounds like an act of jumping into the bush).
- Ka gbekun yile, kii se egbe aja laelae ( The fall of a leopard does not mean he can be likened to a dog).
-Kaka ko san fun alajapa, pipa lori igun n pa. (Instead of things to get better for the trader, he is turning bald like a vulture).
- Kini apari wa de iso onigbajamo.( what is a bald man doing in a barber's shop?)
-Ko seye to le dori kodo bi adan, afi eyi ti eje yio t'enu re jade.(Hanging upside down is the unique nature of a bat, any bird that tries to imitate this unique nature will see blood running down its mouth).
-Ko si iru kaun lawujo okuta.( there is no stone like potash, it is matchless.)
-Kosi ohun to kan baalu pelu pe ona moto ko dara.( The aeroplane has no business with a bad road).
- Kokoro okanjua, ilekun ibanuje ni won maa n fi n si ( Greediness opens the door of sorrow).
- Baa ti se laa wi, a ki yan ana eni lodi. ( we can only state our intentions, but should not keep malice with one's in-law).
-Baba jona, o n bere irun agbon, ki lo fa sababi. (The old man was burnt to death, you are asking for his beard, what do you think caused the fire outbreak).
- Bi a ba na inaki, obo la n ke si. ( When we beat a gorilla, we are looking for the wrath of a baboon).
-Bi a ba kilo fun ole, ka kilo fun onisu eba ona. (If we warn the thief, it is good we warn the owner of the yam tuber by the door post).
- Bee ni 'se, kii je ka mo iku akuwarapa. ( That is how is does, will not allow us to know the attack that will kill the epileptic).
-B'ese o ba se ajanaku, a ki r'eran erin lori ate. (If evil has not befall the elephant, its meat will not be for sale).
- Bi a ba mu akogun tan, oye ku feere.( Once we take out the title of the war leader, other chieftaincy title are insignificant.)
- Bi a ba ro didun ifon, a o hora de egun. ( If we think of the pleasantness of scratching the itch, we will scratch to the bone.)
-Bi adete yio muko, yio gba suuru. (If a leper is to drink pap, then a great patience is required).
- Bi alagbede ba n lu irin loju kan soso, oju amin lo n wa ni be. ( if a blacksmith hammers on a particular point, he wants a distinguishing mark there).
- Bi ati mo laa d'ade, eniti ko l'esin ki de wonwon.( once manner of arrival is based on status, a man that does not have a horse cannot arrive with noise,)

Friday, April 29, 2011

Yoruba Proverbs and Their Meaning

Eera ko fe poroporo denu; kin kinni l'omo araye n fe ni mo ( The ants do not truly like the cornstalk,so is the love of other people minimal)

Epe ibinu ko pa odi (Cursing a deaf in anger has no effect)

Ero ona ni royin oka to gbo (Passers-by are the first to bring the news that the corn is ripe)

Eti baba nile, eti baba l'oko;eniyan ni i je be (Father hears everything because people tell him)

Ewure ti n je alubosa,oju ni i nkan; kini won yoo fi se ( A goat that eats onions is just in a hurry,is that not the ingredient with which it will be cooked?)

Ewure wo alapata bi ko ku ( The goat looks at the butcher and wished him dead)

Eyi ko t'ofo,eyi ko t'ofo; fila imale ku peeki (The loss is small, the loss is minimal culmulated in the smallness of the muslim's cap)

Eyin to ta yo,wahala enu ni. ( A protruded teeth is a problem to the mouth)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Yoruba Proverbs and Their Meaning

Kira kita o dola; ka sise bi eru o da nkan (Wealth doesnt come from hardwork;slaving about will not make you rich)

A bamo; ni gbeyin oran (Had i known, comes after an offence)

N o waye ejo; o fi omo re fun oko mefa (I dont like trouble yet he gave his daughter in marriage to six men)

N o wo o kagbo; eyin re ni yoo fi lana ( I will drag you in to the forest; such a man will have to clear the path with his back)

Mariwo ko woju enikan; afi olodumare ( the palm frond has no other source but God)

Meloo lokanjuwa yoo mu nini odo oba. ( How much of the water in River Oba can a greedy person drink)

Mo yo lana;ko kan tebi ( Hunger doesnt understand that i was full yesterday)

Monday, April 25, 2011

It was Easter Monday, I went to the national theatre to see 'The perfect Church', a film by Wale Adenuga Productions and 'Eti Keta' by Saidi Balogun. It was fun.

The two movies attracted different kinds of audience. The former attracted the butterish, while the latter attracted the Yoruba speaking and less educated people that wanted to have fun in their own way.

More so, the former attracted young lovers that would like to catch fun, while the latter attracted families, because there were more children and their parents present. Anyway, it was all fun.

Life is so full of deceit, every man with a secret or the other.Only if people know that everyman has a skeleton in their cupboard, we will cease to condemn ourselves and rather focus on getting better.

The way of the world is difficult and truly not easy. Only the tough succeeds at the end of it all.

One thing I am sure of is that, what goes round comes round. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It is also good for individuals to wait for their season to come. Believe in yourself because if you don't, nobody will. Life is just as beautiful as we see it.

Cheers!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I was shocked the day on a faithful day that a friend of mine told me that the Yoruba culture has a traditional remedy for big breast. I was very surprised,  i screamed,'how possible?' she said there is a herbal soap that the big breasted could use on the breast and it reduces till the lady in question is satisfied with the size.

On another hand, i was at my nephew's daycare. There i saw a child suffering from malnutrition,

Mo b'okun weri o (A song)

Mo b'okun weri o
Mo b'osa we 'se
Mo b'okun weri o
Mo b'osa we'se
Eni Olorun ba yo lo o mo ro koso
Mo bokun weri

Omo Eni o le se 'di bebere

Omo eni o le sedi bebere
Omo eni o le se 'di bebere
Ka fi ileke si 'di omo elomiran
Omo eni o le se 'di bebere

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Osun-Osogbo Festival

The Osun-Osogbo festival is a festival that is held in Osun state, western part of Nigeria, West Africa. It is a festival that is held to celebrate the River goddess, Osun. In writing any narrative on the Osun-Osogbo festival, there are three important personalities that make the festival sacred. These personalities are: Ataoja, Yeye-Osun and the Arugba.

Ata-Oja is the Oba of Osogbo. The importance of this king is historical. Tied down to history, there was a man named Larooye Gbadewolu Olatimehin who was the king of Iponle-Omu. There was a time at Iponle Omu when there was draught and people had to look for water. The King led them, and they discovered the Osun river. They went there to take water for use and in no time they started to migrate towards the source of water.

The activities of people at the river side was affecting the serenity of the river and the goddess of the river felt disturbed. She decided to make her presence noticed by making sounds whenever people come to fetch water for use. Larooye then named the unseen goddess 'Osho-Igbo,' that is, keeper of the forest. From the name Osho-Igbo, the name of the town-Osogbo was coined.

People of osogbo realised that since they have been using the river Osun water, they have been more fertile and they get healed naturally of their ailments. They realised that the goddess of the river is worth worshipping.

There was a good relationship between Larooye and  Osun goddess. The goddess told him to observe a festival where people will come and say prayers by the river, and a virgin (Arugba) will carry the calabash of sacrifices to the river while the king will 'tewogbeja,' that is, the king will stretch his hands to collect the fish during the festival. The title of the king of Osogbo was coined from this process of receiving the fish with the hands. Tewogbeja became the title-Ata-Oja.

The Arugba has to be a nubile votary. She volunteers to carrry the calabash, and she keeps her purity. The river goddess in turn grants her wisdom and power; she commands respect from the entire community. A family that produces the Arugba is well respected and seen as a favoured family.

The Osun Osogbo festival runs for two weeks. On the last day of the festival, the nubile votary carries the calash full of food ( moin-moin, eko,and oil) to the river, while the people of the town follow her and say their wishes for the year. When she gets to the river, the sacrifice is sprinkled into the river.

I wonder why the Osun-Osogbo festival is so popular. I guess it is because of the influence of the German turned Yoruba woman, Late Susan Wenger, who values the spirituality of the Yoruba people which is unique to them. She is known for been devoted to the Sango worship and to the shrine at Osogbo. Nigerians do not dance bata better than her white children do. In fact, they know better than we do on matters pertaining to our culture and practices.

Lagos

Lagos.
Lagos, the town of hustle and bustle
Where hustlers delight in hard work and
Reap the rewards therewith.

Lagos, the city of enlightenment
The heart of civilization
Where pleasure is as good as work

Eko! Where the waters dance at the struggle of man
Where the waters breeze to cool off the heat
Where the waters smile at the troubled soul saying if you‘ve gat
Nothing, at least i am beautiful enough to make you happy
I can give you a pseudo comfort but beware!

Lagos, where it is every man for himself alone
The bus conductor in his aggression nags as he gathers his fair
While the hungry beggar peeps by the window to beg for alms
From a well dressed troubled passenger whose mother just died, in the mortuary
In debt, landlord screams daily, children and wife are demanding, unable to
Cope with a difficult boss at work, tired of life but still must ‘jaiye’

Lagos, a city of hope,
Where hope is for every man
Every man hopes he will make it someday
Every dawn whispers hope
Every struggle chimes expected victory

Eko, a city of no non-sense
Where everything seems possible for the smart man
When a strainer takes in water, everything goes out of it immediately
Not the case in Eko, where the strainer takes in water and turns it to opportunities
Only for those that can see.

From Ojuelegba to Mushin
Bariga to Akoka,
Yaba to Oshodi
Obalende to Iyana ipaja
Eko la siwa
(We are still in Lagos)

Marina, when i hear Marina
My heart beats for the acclaimed champions
Victoria Island, when they whisper Victoria Island
My eyes strains wide to see the achievers
Ikoyi, when they breathe Ikoyi
I smile at the smart ones
Now I hear of the movement
And I say, oh Banana.
Eko la siwa
(We are still in Lagos)

Eko, where the bridges tells you that you are in the city
Where the journey on the bridges brings solace even when you feel like running out
Lagos as the learned call it,
Las gidi as the happening ones call it
Eko akete, eko, ilu afe
Lagos, where the bridges wave the London bridge rhyme


                                                                      Living in illusion
Illusion turned to reality
      Eko for show; Eko for action

Eko! The city of ‘Eyo
Eyo, the masquerade that displays purity
Bringing simplicity into the proclaimed complexity
Teaching wisdom as essential as it is vital
Saying matching wisdom with smartness is just life

I can imagine why we have the hat as a figure of authority
The long rod for chastisement
And the white robe for purity and sincerity
Eyo, the offspring of Eko

Think of seeing the extreme cases of situation
Think of Lagos
Lagos, where most actions are to the extreme
Lagos, where the inhabitants are hyperactive
Where result is a must.

Ajegunle, the aboard of the powerful
Ajegunle, where the real Lagos is defined
Ajegunle, where hustlers have no resting time
Ajegunle, where humility is as normal as breathing

Lagos, where the true man cries not for help
Where the dignity of labour is respected
Where class is widely defined
As outgoing as one is; the confinement of another
As privileged as one is; the disadvantage of another
As surplus as it is in some areas; the increase in scarcity in other areas

Eko, where poverty is truely defined to the party concerned
I see the child and mother under the bridge begging for alms with excitement
Where hope has turned to bread
Begging for food yet hopeful of a better tomorrow
Begging for shelter yet happy for the breathe of life
Begging for water yet full of smiles

Under the bridge, under the bridge
This is another important place in Lagos
Where under the bridge is a family house for some people
Where orphans choose relatives
Everyone lives in love because no one knows tomorrow
No one owns anything
The land is free for all
Government rule over the land but the people see themselves
 as the responsibility of government
Night comes, each person picks his corner
At the dawn of a new day everyone sets out for the daily struggle

Under the bridge
Packed with dirts
Where the good man tried to make it clean to beautify Las gidi
The poor owners of the area screamed for their home space
Under the bridge turned market

Hmn, i can see the good works
The renovation, clearing and restructuring
Horticulture and maintenance
Lagos is still Lagos

Lagos, where motherhood is appreciated
Extreme plight of the African woman is displayed
She wakes up to ensure the children are up
She prepares them for school
She takes them to school
Conscious of her resumption time at work
Oh! The difficult female boss that will not just understand
She says we are both women; what makes you special
Oh! The difficult male boss that will not just understand that i am married
His eyes turn red at anything in skirt.
Oh! That workaholic boss that will not just understand there should be
Work/life balance.

Lagos, where the mad man knows the value of money
Where beggars have taste and are choosy
Where children knows the value of money
Where money flows like spring water
Slow yet steady
As dirty as clean
As pure as diluted

Lagos the city of liveliness
The centre of commerce
The economy determinant
The land of decision
Where heads hunt for jobs
Where jobs hunts for heads
Where information flies at the same speed as fun


Lagos, where pidgin has turned to mother tongue
Where traditional identity is lost
Where culture is painted western
Lagos the city of fast moves

The town of hustling
Where the hustlers sell water in kegs
Aboki, i heard them saying they are your family members
We are one they say

The home of ideas
Where ideas flourish
Where no idea is left unattended to
You weave your thread together; it becomes money
You gather your dirt; it becomes money
Your waste becomes money
Your errors and mistakes becomes money

Shade cries to Chukwudi
Anana speaks with Ibrahim
Mattew is in business with Zainab
Oluchi weds Babangida
Apekwe fights Jibiya
Mayaki danced with bamidele
Lagos, the home of all tribes

Lagos the city of queens
Lagos where spinsterhood is as abused as appreciated
Do i hear Moremi Chicks?
Do i hear Laspotech babes?
Do i hear LASU girls?
It sounded like Lagos girls
Who bring fear to married women at the sound of their stilletoes

Lagos the city of the young at heart
Where the sixty year old is still trying out a new business line
With the hope of making it
Where the seventy year old granny cares so much about her appearance
Where the Seventy year old man competes with a man
In his late twenties over a maiden head
Where the old are very young at heart
Where the heart breathes a different air from the appearance
Where the wrinkled face still carries a heavy make up
Where the old woman sees herself as a bride
Lagos!

Orile where the masses manage
Where the true Lagosians live
I better be careful with my wallet
Ah! Things are cheap here, i can get my food stuff

Get my cloths, bags and shoes
Yes ma’am, i’m at Balogun market already
Hello! Now i’m at Idumota
I will get the shirts at Mandillas
Tinubu, Isale Eko
Oyigbo, Aguda
Orile, Aswani
The exchange centres

The place of liveliness
The place of struggle
Where everyone tries to make their sales
Man, woman; old or young
Sweating is as good as smiling
Where goods are smiling at you
Where you go for what your pocket can afford
Where people feel happy the most
Because they are making money
Where you will be dazed at the way the so called illiterates speak good English
Where there is no difference between a graduate turned market women
And the traditional market woman
As rowdy as you cannot imagine
Lagos Markets!

Lagos, the land of wonders
Lagos where talents are displayed
I saw the beautiful actress and handsome actor
The home of the film makers
Where the beautiful skyscrapers call for attention
Where the skyscrapers call attention
I saw the talented drummer
The man with the golden fingers
The Lady with the pleasant voice
The great writers and poets
The professional bankers
The intelligent engineer
And other people i can appreciate
Lagos, the city of commerce


National theatre
National stadium
Shoprite; park n shop
Goodies
Musson centre; Tafawa balewa Square (TBS)
The palms; polysonic mall
Lagoon Restaurant
Oniru and Kuramo Beach
Fast food joints at every angle
I think of Lagos!

The land of churches and mosques
As crowded as the number of churches
Decadence is as grand as the population of worshippers
Where every available space brings the thought of a doctrine
The beaches are associated with prophets and the acts of prophets
Lagos, a land of diversity

Lagos, where the water covers the land
Where Agriculture is seen from a far
Where the little green surface is for beautification
Where the flowers blossom
Green leaves as expensive as fuel

Lagos, even the air recognizes Lagos
Where the population control the weather
The rain season turn harmattan
Lagos the home of noise
As noisy as serene
Where the noise sings productivity
The night as active as the day
The day starts before the dawn is set
On the way to work the man is sleeping for sleepless nights
On the way from work the woman is sleeping for tiredness

Lagos where the people measures with the sand
Competing with the pebbles at the beach
Where people travel to work on a daily basis with gladness
The Lagos spirit they chime
Ikorodu, Berger, Ibafo
Or do i hear the whisper of Ibadan?

How will i say Lagos and not say birth place of  Agbero
Agbero, the local transport tax collector
Selfish Tax collector
Do i say tax
Oh, i mean personal contribution into a lazy pocket
Where the driver wakes up very early to make some morning business
Only to see the Agbero waiting even at the time he was in the bathroom

Agbero, a lazy man with pride
Who sees the hungry path and decide to thread it
Who is power drunk illogically but legally
A way of income distribution
A way of sharing the national cake
By exploiting those that have never seen the cake before
Let alone feeling it
Or even imagined what it should look like
Let alone having an idea of what it tastes like

Lagos, where all forms of vices are seen in their raw form
Where the man in the black uniform acts in shame without shame
 Where different uniforms give orders
Do i hear LASMA?
The lion on the road

                        Where the man in the black uniform out of greed and selfishness
Cooperates with the man in the green uniform
To exploit a driver who is running up and down to meet up with delivery
And still have some left over for his family and dependants

On the road on a dark night
The black uniform stopped the Jakande bus
Give me my dues; i heard
What could that mean?
Before i could turn my head
I saw the driver already on the ground crying and apologising over
His sweat
 i said, oh , Lagos.

Lagos, the city of Maruwa,
Some people say keke or better still keke NAPEP
Where the man and the woman
Enjoy the cruise on the three wheels
BRT, the giant lag bus
The messiah of workers on the road

                                                            Eko, where life seems good
Where westernization is at its peak
Where every man has a good taste
Where hope is part of life
Where the government is as active as her people
Where neither the government nor the people can
Out-smart each other

Lagos for
Liveliness
Action
Greatness
Organization and orderliness
Social life and security
Eko, I cannot say enough of the popular smart black man’s aboard

















Lagos.
Lagos, the town of hustle and bustle
Where hustlers delight in hard work and
Reap the rewards therewith.

Lagos, the city of enlightenment
The heart of civilization
Where pleasure is as good as work

Eko! Where the waters dance at the struggle of man
Where the waters breeze to cool off the heat
Where the waters smile at the troubled soul saying if you‘ve gat
Nothing, at least i am beautiful enough to make you happy
I can give you a pseudo comfort but beware!

Lagos, where it is every man for himself alone
The bus conductor in his aggression nags as he gathers his fair
While the hungry beggar peeps by the window to beg for alms
From a well dressed troubled passenger whose mother just died, in the mortuary
In debt, landlord screams daily, children and wife are demanding, unable to
Cope with a difficult boss at work, tired of life but still must ‘jaiye’

Lagos, a city of hope,
Where hope is for every man
Every man hopes he will make it someday
Every dawn whispers hope
Every struggle chimes expected victory

Eko, a city of no non-sense
Where everything seems possible for the smart man
When a strainer takes in water, everything goes out of it immediately
Not the case in Eko, where the strainer takes in water and turns it to opportunities
Only for those that can see.

From Ojuelegba to Mushin
Bariga to Akoka,
Yaba to Oshodi
Obalende to Iyana ipaja
Eko la siwa
(We are still in Lagos)

Marina, when i hear Marina
My heart beats for the acclaimed champions
Victoria Island, when they whisper Victoria Island
My eyes strains wide to see the achievers
Ikoyi, when they breathe Ikoyi
I smile at the smart ones
Now I hear of the movement
And I say, oh Banana.
Eko la siwa
(We are still in Lagos)

Eko, where the bridges tells you that you are in the city
Where the journey on the bridges brings solace even when you feel like running out
Lagos as the learned call it,
Las gidi as the happening ones call it
Eko akete, eko, ilu afe
Lagos, where the bridges wave the London bridge rhyme


                                                                      Living in illusion
Illusion turned to reality
      Eko for show; Eko for action

Eko! The city of ‘Eyo
Eyo, the masquerade that displays purity
Bringing simplicity into the proclaimed complexity
Teaching wisdom as essential as it is vital
Saying matching wisdom with smartness is just life

I can imagine why we have the hat as a figure of authority
The long rod for chastisement
And the white robe for purity and sincerity
Eyo, the offspring of Eko

Think of seeing the extreme cases of situation
Think of Lagos
Lagos, where most actions are to the extreme
Lagos, where the inhabitants are hyperactive
Where result is a must.

Ajegunle, the aboard of the powerful
Ajegunle, where the real Lagos is defined
Ajegunle, where hustlers have no resting time
Ajegunle, where humility is as normal as breathing

Lagos, where the true man cries not for help
Where the dignity of labour is respected
Where class is widely defined
As outgoing as one is; the confinement of another
As privileged as one is; the disadvantage of another
As surplus as it is in some areas; the increase in scarcity in other areas

Eko, where poverty is truely defined to the party concerned
I see the child and mother under the bridge begging for alms with excitement
Where hope has turned to bread
Begging for food yet hopeful of a better tomorrow
Begging for shelter yet happy for the breathe of life
Begging for water yet full of smiles

Under the bridge, under the bridge
This is another important place in Lagos
Where under the bridge is a family house for some people
Where orphans choose relatives
Everyone lives in love because no one knows tomorrow
No one owns anything
The land is free for all
Government rule over the land but the people see themselves
 as the responsibility of government
Night comes, each person picks his corner
At the dawn of a new day everyone sets out for the daily struggle

Under the bridge
Packed with dirts
Where the good man tried to make it clean to beautify Las gidi
The poor owners of the area screamed for their home space
Under the bridge turned market

Hmn, i can see the good works
The renovation, clearing and restructuring
Horticulture and maintenance
Lagos is still Lagos

Lagos, where motherhood is appreciated
Extreme plight of the African woman is displayed
She wakes up to ensure the children are up
She prepares them for school
She takes them to school
Conscious of her resumption time at work
Oh! The difficult female boss that will not just understand
She says we are both women; what makes you special
Oh! The difficult male boss that will not just understand that i am married
His eyes turn red at anything in skirt.
Oh! That workaholic boss that will not just understand there should be
Work/life balance.

Lagos, where the mad man knows the value of money
Where beggars have taste and are choosy
Where children knows the value of money
Where money flows like spring water
Slow yet steady
As dirty as clean
As pure as diluted

Lagos the city of liveliness
The centre of commerce
The economy determinant
The land of decision
Where heads hunt for jobs
Where jobs hunts for heads
Where information flies at the same speed as fun


Lagos, where pidgin has turned to mother tongue
Where traditional identity is lost
Where culture is painted western
Lagos the city of fast moves

The town of hustling
Where the hustlers sell water in kegs
Aboki, i heard them saying they are your family members
We are one they say

The home of ideas
Where ideas flourish
Where no idea is left unattended to
You weave your thread together; it becomes money
You gather your dirt; it becomes money
Your waste becomes money
Your errors and mistakes becomes money

Shade cries to Chukwudi
Anana speaks with Ibrahim
Mattew is in business with Zainab
Oluchi weds Babangida
Apekwe fights Jibiya
Mayaki danced with bamidele
Lagos, the home of all tribes

Lagos the city of queens
Lagos where spinsterhood is as abused as appreciated
Do i hear Moremi Chicks?
Do i hear Laspotech babes?
Do i hear LASU girls?
It sounded like Lagos girls
Who bring fear to married women at the sound of their stilletoes

Lagos the city of the young at heart
Where the sixty year old is still trying out a new business line
With the hope of making it
Where the seventy year old granny cares so much about her appearance
Where the Seventy year old man competes with a man
In his late twenties over a maiden head
Where the old are very young at heart
Where the heart breathes a different air from the appearance
Where the wrinkled face still carries a heavy make up
Where the old woman sees herself as a bride
Lagos!

Orile where the masses manage
Where the true Lagosians live
I better be careful with my wallet
Ah! Things are cheap here, i can get my food stuff

Get my cloths, bags and shoes
Yes ma’am, i’m at Balogun market already
Hello! Now i’m at Idumota
I will get the shirts at Mandillas
Tinubu, Isale Eko
Oyigbo, Aguda
Orile, Aswani
The exchange centres

The place of liveliness
The place of struggle
Where everyone tries to make their sales
Man, woman; old or young
Sweating is as good as smiling
Where goods are smiling at you
Where you go for what your pocket can afford
Where people feel happy the most
Because they are making money
Where you will be dazed at the way the so called illiterates speak good English
Where there is no difference between a graduate turned market women
And the traditional market woman
As rowdy as you cannot imagine
Lagos Markets!

Lagos, the land of wonders
Lagos where talents are displayed
I saw the beautiful actress and handsome actor
The home of the film makers
Where the beautiful skyscrapers call for attention
Where the skyscrapers call attention
I saw the talented drummer
The man with the golden fingers
The Lady with the pleasant voice
The great writers and poets
The professional bankers
The intelligent engineer
And other people i can appreciate
Lagos, the city of commerce


National theatre
National stadium
Shoprite; park n shop
Goodies
Musson centre; Tafawa balewa Square (TBS)
The palms; polysonic mall
Lagoon Restaurant
Oniru and Kuramo Beach
Fast food joints at every angle
I think of Lagos!

The land of churches and mosques
As crowded as the number of churches
Decadence is as grand as the population of worshippers
Where every available space brings the thought of a doctrine
The beaches are associated with prophets and the acts of prophets
Lagos, a land of diversity

Lagos, where the water covers the land
Where Agriculture is seen from a far
Where the little green surface is for beautification
Where the flowers blossom
Green leaves as expensive as fuel

Lagos, even the air recognizes Lagos
Where the population control the weather
The rain season turn harmattan
Lagos the home of noise
As noisy as serene
Where the noise sings productivity
The night as active as the day
The day starts before the dawn is set
On the way to work the man is sleeping for sleepless nights
On the way from work the woman is sleeping for tiredness

Lagos where the people measures with the sand
Competing with the pebbles at the beach
Where people travel to work on a daily basis with gladness
The Lagos spirit they chime
Ikorodu, Berger, Ibafo
Or do i hear the whisper of Ibadan?

How will i say Lagos and not say birth place of  Agbero
Agbero, the local transport tax collector
Selfish Tax collector
Do i say tax
Oh, i mean personal contribution into a lazy pocket
Where the driver wakes up very early to make some morning business
Only to see the Agbero waiting even at the time he was in the bathroom

Agbero, a lazy man with pride
Who sees the hungry path and decide to thread it
Who is power drunk illogically but legally
A way of income distribution
A way of sharing the national cake
By exploiting those that have never seen the cake before
Let alone feeling it
Or even imagined what it should look like
Let alone having an idea of what it tastes like

Lagos, where all forms of vices are seen in their raw form
Where the man in the black uniform acts in shame without shame
 Where different uniforms give orders
Do i hear LASMA?
The lion on the road

                        Where the man in the black uniform out of greed and selfishness
Cooperates with the man in the green uniform
To exploit a driver who is running up and down to meet up with delivery
And still have some left over for his family and dependants

On the road on a dark night
The black uniform stopped the Jakande bus
Give me my dues; i heard
What could that mean?
Before i could turn my head
I saw the driver already on the ground crying and apologising over
His sweat
 i said, oh , Lagos.

Lagos, the city of Maruwa,
Some people say keke or better still keke NAPEP
Where the man and the woman
Enjoy the cruise on the three wheels
BRT, the giant lag bus
The messiah of workers on the road

                                                            Eko, where life seems good
Where westernization is at its peak
Where every man has a good taste
Where hope is part of life
Where the government is as active as her people
Where neither the government nor the people can
Out-smart each other

Lagos for
Liveliness
Action
Greatness
Organization and orderliness
Social life and security
Eko, I cannot say enough of the popular smart black man’s aboard