(poetry is of the people, from the people, by the people, for the people – Ibadan, 2006)
Poet: We pay homage to the sun
Bright shiny rays piercing the darkest gloom
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to the moon and stars
Our mothers and ancestors, guides of the night
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to the rain
And fiery Sango1 who rides the rolling thunder
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to the winds,
Friends from the east to the west, north and south
Soothing breath of the creator, angry belch of the gods
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to the earth
And Orisha Nla2, clad in white, father of all
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to the heavens,
Mysteries beyond the grasp of little minds,
Endless cover encircling the earth
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to the waters,
Omi l’abu we, omi l’abu mu, omi o se mu l’ota3
Greetings to our mothers in the ocean depths
Greetings to all the spirits of the rivers and streams
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to all the gods of the land
The elders and custodians of ageless wisdom,
Knowers of riddles and masters of time
The People: We all pay homage!
Poet: We pay homage to Olodumare4,
Lord of the one thousand seven hundred divinities
Whose breath gives life,
You whose shrine is in our hearts
The People: We all pay homage!
(1 Yoruba thunder deity; 2 Yoruba arch divinity; 3 Water is essential – no one can make it an enemy; 4 Yoruba Supreme Being)
