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 "ekún ìyàwó" long gone
Leaving tracks of scraped "orúnkún ìyàwó".
Evidences of the trainings of our men
Who lost the meaning of our own "àsà".
Faces of our ladies now have semblance
With the attires of "éégún aláré" 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 "àsà" from the party of "òlàjú"
The beasty friend of the "òyìnbó"?
Tell Onípópó of Pópó
That the maidens are now baskets
Not useful for harvests anymore
But to decorate the home of "wèrè".
Convey a message to Aláàfin
That the "aládììre" has stopped her work
But has taken on the weaving of "àkísà"
To cover the nudity of our "omidan".
Would you also take a note to "òyìnbó"
That the prophecies of their blind priests
Have led our gallant "àsà" 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 ìyàwó- a ceremonial song by a new bride
orúnkún ìyàwó- knee cap of a bride
àsà- culture
eégún aláré- a prominent masquerade in Yoruba Land
wèrè aláso repete- a mad person with tattered clothes
òlàjú- civilization
òyìnbó- Whiteman
Onípópó of Pópó- a king in Yoruba
wèrè- a mad fellow
Aláàfin- king of Oyo empire
aládììre- weaver of a type of Yoruba attire
àkísà- rag
omidan- maidens
ìse- tradition.
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