An Ode to Yorubaland

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Àtùnyẹ̀wò Ìtàn: Ogun Tútù ti Amẹ́ríkà àti Rọ́ṣíà (A Review of History: The Cold War 

Ìtàn náà dá lórí àwọn ọmọ ogun méjì, ọ̀kan jẹ́ láti Amẹ́ríkà, orúkọ rẹ̀ ni Dáfídì, èkejì sì jẹ́ láti Rọ́ṣíà, orúkọ rẹ̀ ni Ígorò. Wọ́n pàdé nígbà Ogun Tútù, kì í ṣe lójú ogun gangan, bí kò ṣe ní àgbègbè kan ní ilẹ̀ Áfíríkà tí wọ́n ti ń figagbága fún agbára òṣèlú.

Dáfídì àti Ígorò méjèèjì jẹ́ èèyàn rere ní inú, ṣùgbọ́n wọ́n jẹ́ adúróṣinṣin sí orílẹ̀-èdè àwọn. Wọ́n rí i pé ìdíje orílẹ̀-èdè wọn mú kí àwọn méjèèjì jẹ́ ọ̀tá, bó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé wọ́n ní àwọn ìwà kan tí wọ́n jọ. Wọ́n ń jìjàkadì láti mọ ìdí tí wọ́n fi ń bá ara wọn jà, tí wọ́n sì ń rí àwọn èèyàn aláìlẹ́ṣẹ̀ tí ogun náà ń pa lára.

Nígbẹ̀yìngbẹ́yín, ìgbìyànjú wọn láti wá àlàáfíà àti òye mú kí wọ́n kọ orílẹ̀-èdè tiwọn sílẹ̀, wọ́n sì padà di ọ̀rẹ́ tímọ́tímọ́. Ìtàn náà fi hàn pé, ní ìpìlẹ̀, gbogbo èèyàn ni a jọra, àti pé èròjà agbára àti ìṣèlú nìkan ló ń pín wa níyà.

English Translation (for context):

A Review of History: The Cold War of America and Russia

The story is based on two soldiers, one from America, his name is David, and the second is from Russia, his name is Igor. They met during the Cold War, not on the actual battlefield, but in an area in Africa where they were competing for political power.

David and Igor are both good people internally, but they are loyal to their countries. They find that the rivalry of their nations makes them enemies, even though they share some characteristics. They struggle to understand why they are fighting each other and see the innocent people harmed by the war.

Eventually, their efforts to find peace and understanding cause them to abandon their respective countries, and they become close friends. The story shows that, fundamentally, all people are the same, and only power struggles and politics divide us.

The. Blogger ibikunle Abraham laniyan writes poetry about his root Yorubaland 

Here is a poem about Yorubaland, incorporating themes common in traditional Yoruba oral poetry such as history, nature, culture, and character (known as iwa), presented first in English and then in Yoruba.

Ode to Yorubaland

From the ancient city of Ife, where the world began,

To the sprawling hills of Ibadan, built by warrior clan.

Hear the beat of the Bata drum, a rhythm deep and true,

The heritage of Oduduwa, forever shining new.

Land of Oríkì, where praise poetry speaks our name,

Telling tales of ancestors and enduring fame.

From the fertile earth, Iyan and Amala rise,

Sustenance of the people, a blessing in our eyes.

Here, character (Ìwà) is beauty, more than gold or a grand estate,

A well-mannered person is loved by all, sealed by fate.

The wisdom of the Ifá corpus, a guide for every day,

Harmony with nature and the gods, lighting the way.

The Àdìre fabric, dyed in indigo, a story in its fold,

Bold patterns of history, vividly retold.

From Lagos' bustling waters to the quiet forests deep,

The spirit of Yorubaland, a promise we will keep.

Òkìgbè fún Ilẹ̀ Yorùbá

Láti ìlú àtijọ́ ti Ifẹ̀, níbi tí ayé ti bẹ̀rẹ̀,

Títí dé àwọn òkè ńlá ti Ìbàdàn, tí àwọn jagunjagun kọ́.

Gbọ́ ìlù Bata, ohùn kan tí ó jinlẹ̀ tí ó sì jẹ́ òtítọ́,

Ìtàn Odùduwà, tí ń tàn ìmọ́lẹ̀ títí ayé.

Ilẹ̀ Oríkì, níbi tí ewì ìyìn ti ń sọ orúkọ wa,

Sísọ àwọn ìtàn àwọn baba ńlá àti ògo tí kò lè parun.

Láti inú ilẹ̀ olora, Iyan àti Amala wá,

Oúnjẹ àwọn ènìyàn, ìbùkún ni lójú wa.

Níhìn-ín, Ìwà jẹ́ ẹwà, ó ju wúrà tàbí ilé ńlá lọ,

Gbogbo ayé ni ó fẹ́ ẹni tí ó jẹ́ rere, ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ ni wọ́n fẹ́.

Ọgbọ́n inú Ifá, amọ̀nà fún ojoojúmọ́,

Ìbámu pẹ̀lú àdáyébá àti àwọn òrìṣà, tí ń fún wa ní ìmọ́lẹ̀.

Aṣọ Àdìre, tí a fi òjíá pa, ìtàn kan nínú ìpínlẹ̀ rẹ̀,

Àwòrán àwọn ìtàn, tí a sọ pẹ̀lú ọlá.

Láti omi Èkó tí ó kún fún èrò, dé inú igbó jíjìn tí ó dákẹ́,

Ẹ̀mí Ilẹ̀ Yorùbá, ìlérí tí a o pamo.