Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Eko Pride and Culture Week. Eko O ni Baje-Tribute to the city of Lagos By JESUROBOOWIE GIFT IMAFIDON


A beautiful landscape crisscrossed
With fascinating bodies of water
Naturally beautiful and densely populated
From various lands we have come
From different tribes, tongues and race
Our destiny is tied to the chord here
Yes, it is our Eko.

Home to all, hope to many
Blessed land of great opportunities
From Badagry to the breaches of the atlantics
The vast seas of human heads at Oshodi
To the farmlands in Ikorodu
And the fishermen's delight in Epe
Yes it is our Eko

The mainland and the island
Divided between the rich and the poor
Yet we mix up so easily in the epicenter of isaleko
With nightlife like day time in las vagas
With a faster wallstreet in lagos island
and our Maryland is in the mainland
yes it is our Eko

Oh ye city that knows no sleep
Not without the oceans of beautiful faces
Unceasing hustling and struggling is our trademark
We know how to relax in our owambe parties
And cause the fireworks in the sky with our eyo
Beautiful masquerades from the dead that ensure we thrive
As we relentlessly dance and sing, Eko oni baje
O baje ti!

MEANING OF YORUBA TERMS USED IN THE POEM
EKO=the Yoruba word for Lagos
EPE, ISALEKO, IKORUDU, BADAGRY, OSHODI=Areas in lagos
OWAMBE=Lavish celebration
EYO=cultural masquerade dressed in flowing white gown, the symbol of lagos state
EKO O NI BAJE=Lagos will not spoil(a popular slang in lagos)
O BAJE TI=It won’t get spoilt forever

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