Another example of the Yorùbá poetic chants sung at the funerals of dead hunters. See Iremoje for the background and for other examples of this genre.
Death does not kill alone,
Nor does he fight singly…
The Mouse, the Squirrel and the Tortoise by Oluwatoba Opemip
Iremoje for Ogunjinmi by Lamidi Abonikaba
The following Iremoje was part of the dirges chanted at the funeral of a deceased hunter, Ogunjinmi, whose name means “the god Ogun blesses or favours me”.
Ogunjinmi, you have caught your father’s dog.
A needle that falls into a pit is lost forever…
Iremoje for Pa Ogundele by Atoyebi
The following poem is part of the dirges chanted at the funeral of a deceased hunter, Pa Ogundele, by Atoyebi at Agunpopo, Oyo in 1975. Pa Ogundele was a member of the hunters society, the Asipade, (see The Asipade) for whom magical charms are an essential tool for capturing animals and surviving in the forest. However, whilst these charms are highly prized ultimately no magic can defeat death.
Ajuwon Akanbi,
Hunter, I thought you had egba magic…
The Asipade
Iremoje are a Yorùbá corpus of poetic chants sung at the funerals of dead hunters. The activities of hunting and warfare fall under the providence of the Yorùbá god Ògún, and thus Iremoje also emphasise the virtues and talents associated with this Òrìṣà.
Ogun, Chief Lakaaye
Chief Osin Mole…
Incantation for Luck
A Yorùbá poem describing the performance of a magical enchantment performed at a crossroads by someone seeking wealth and good fortune in life.
I am waiting at the crossroads
I look to the right…
