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.