A Yorùbá song, partly satirical, partly pragmatic. Sourced from the Black Orpheus magazine that was founded by Ulli Beier in 1957 and co-edited by Wole Soyinka and Es’kia Mphahlele.
My wife told me
I go to the market…
May Allah Give Me a True Friend
A Hausa song from northern Nigeria. The singer is longing for a child. It is from an anthropological record of the Hausa people, partly compiled from an oral account given by Baba (1877–1951), the daughter of a Hausa farmer and Koranic teacher, and translated by May K. Smith.
May Allah give me a true friend whether he’s small or big,
Even an infant sucking at the breast, or one lying in the womb…
Election Songs
Three Yorùbá songs, sung by women supporters of the two parties in the Federal elections of 1959 in western Nigeria.
The palm tree grows in the far bush:
Nobody allows the leper to build his house in the town:
The palm tree grows in the far bush…
Bawa’s House
A Hausa song from northern Nigeria, popular with women. It is from an anthropological record of the Hausa people, partly compiled from an oral account given by Baba (1877–1951), the daughter of a Hausa farmer and Koranic teacher, and translated by May K. Smith.
The barber doesn’t want a burning passion:
He doesn’t wish it to break him up…
Ibadan
A Yorùbá Iwi, or masqueradors’, chant from Nigeria. It is a sharp criticism of modern Ibadan as a town of thieves, violence and disease. See also Oriki Ibadan.
The spirit of the rock protects the town.
Ibadan, don’t fight!..
Song of the Zakkama to the Sultan of Borno
An extract from a Kanuri Praise-Poem from the ancient kingdom of Bornu in northern Nigeria. The Sultan had three official praise singers, who walked beside him procession, or stood before him in audience.
You, son of Gumsu, Gumsu Amina,
daughter of Talba, you Ibrahim,
Have attained to your father’s place among the great…
