By Adu Ayomikun (Talent Mikun)
Adisa, bring me the mirror of culture
That I might see the beauty of our way of life.
Could this be the culture my mom spoke of?
Or the princely traditions of my dad?
The days of “ekĂşn ìyĂ wĂł” long gone
Leaving tracks of scraped “orĂşnkĂşn ìyĂ wĂł”.
Evidences of the trainings of our men
Who lost the meaning of our own “Ă sĂ ”.
Faces of our ladies now have semblance
With the attires of “Ă©Ă©gĂşn alárĂ©” of old
They now walk about the streets
Like “wèrè aláso repete”.
Who would wake the sleeping watchman
And inform him of the drunkenness
Of “Ă sĂ ” from the party of “òlĂ jĂş”
The beasty friend of the “òyìnbĂł”?
Tell OnĂpĂłpĂł of PĂłpĂł
That the maidens are now baskets
Not useful for harvests anymore
But to decorate the home of “wèrè”.
Convey a message to Aláà fin
That the “aládììre” has stopped her work
But has taken on the weaving of “Ă kĂsĂ ”
To cover the nudity of our “omidan”.
Would you also take a note to “òyìnbĂł”
That the prophecies of their blind priests
Have led our gallant “Ă sĂ ” to the dungeon
And he has lost his steps in his strides.
Mother! I see the crumbs of your beloved culture
And I weep for the failure of Baba’s “ìse”.
Glossary
ekún ìyà wó- a ceremonial song by a new bride
orúnkún ìyà wó- knee cap of a bride
Ă sĂ - culture
eégún aláré- a prominent masquerade in Yoruba Land
wèrè aláso repete- a mad person with tattered clothes
òlà jú- civilization
òyìnbó- Whiteman
OnĂpĂłpĂł of PĂłpĂł- a king in Yoruba
wèrè- a mad fellow
Aláà fin- king of Oyo empire
aládììre- weaver of a type of Yoruba attire
Ă kĂsĂ - rag
omidan- maidens
ìse- tradition.