Oral Poetry from Africa
A modern praise-poem by Amore David Olamide, in praise of the Egba (Yorùbá people who migrated into Egba Forest before establishing new townships around Olumo Rock) and their heroic ancestors.
Egba, the cradle of the renaissance
A city built atop steep hills…
A new poem by Amore David Olamide, in praise of Oníkòyí one of the provincial chiefs in the Ọ̀yọ́ Empire (see also Oníkòyí, the Warrior King).
Oníkòyí played an important part in the political and military administration of the kingdom, defending the Ọ̀yọ́ Empire against external forces and leading the army to battle as their Field Marshal. It was also his responsibility to lead all provincial kings to the metropolis at Ọ̀yọ́ on the annual festival when these chiefs paid homage and tribute to the Aláàfin, ruler of the empire.
Tell them about an unflappable warrior
A warrior both at home and on the battlefield…
A new praise-poem by Amore David Olamide dedicated to the city of Ìbàdàn, the capital of Ọyọ State in Nigeria. Founded in the 19th century as a warriors camp, Ìbàdàn has grown into one of Africa’s most populous cities.
According to local historians, Ìbàdàn was founded by a military commander from Ilé Ifè called Lagelu in 1829. Lagelu chose the forest site to be a camp for warriors as its elevated hills made it easy to defend. The city-state became a wealthy trading centre ruled by a warrior class rather than the traditional kingship institutions that dominated other Yoruba cities. Ìbàdàn’s military associations led to the city being nicknamed idi Ibon (“butt of a gun”).
Ìbàdàn, the home of heroes
Who could not be opposed…
Yorùbá poet Lanrewaju Adepọju performed and recorded Ìlú le! (‘Hard Times!’) in 1980. At the time Nigeria was transitioning from the miltary junta of Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ to the elected government of Shehu Shagari whose regime was becoming deeply unpopular with citizens.
Hard times!
As if by a deluge of evil
Everyone is in trouble
And everyone now cherishes common ninepence!…
The annual Ọ̀ṣun-Òṣogbo Festival takes place in the capital city of Osun State in Nigeria and lasts fourteen days. The festival celebrates the discovery of the large river in Òṣogbo by Prince Ọlároóyè in the 18th century. Oba Ọlároóyè was a prince of the city-state Iléṣà, about 20 kilometers from Òṣogbo, who had led an exploratory expedition due to water-shortages in Iléṣà. Yorùbá mythology describes the expedition encountering a powerful goddess, Ọ̀ṣun, dwelling within the river who granted permission to these pioneers to settle near the river.
Aládékojú, I am calling on you
Hail My Beloved Mother Aládékojú…
