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GBAJUMO

– A Poem by Kiki Mawuyon Cecilia, translated by Aduragbemi Aganga-Williams

Hmm,

Gbajúmọ̀.

Adé orí la fi ń m'Ọba ní tòótọ́,

ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ la fi ń mọ àwọn ìjòyè,

Àpẹẹrẹ tẹ 
rí 
n la fi ń mọ aláróbo.

 

Hmm,

Sèbi ní ìgbà ìwásè:

Bi igba oju bá le mọ́ ẹ̀dá alàyè kan

tí onítòhún kì í ṣe ọba  ìlú tàbí

jagunjagun tó gbójúgbóyà,

a jẹ́ wí pé Gbajúmọ ni onítọ̀hún,

Ọlọ́gbọ́n,

Ẹni iyì,

Ẹni ẹ̀yẹ,

Ṣè b'ẹ́ni àpọ̀nlé ni gbajúmọ̀ jé̩.

Ẹni igba ojú mọ̀,

Gbajúgbajà,

Ẹni pàtàkì.

Ẹni lágbájá mọ̀,

Tí tàmẹ̀dò mọ̀,

Títí tó fi dórí ọba ìlú.

Ìlúmọ̀ọ́ká.

Gbajúmọ̀ ènìyàn won po,

Ęlẹ́wà àbi ìwà tútù bí àdàbà,

Ó fi ìwà kẹ́wà,

Ó wá fi gbogbo àrà hun ni.

 

 

 

 

Ẹwà níní p’ọgbọ́n ooo,

Mo ní ẹwà níní yàtọ̀ síra wọn,

Àtọwọ́dá, ó yàtọ̀ sámó̩dá,

Àmúntọ̀run wá yàtọ̀ sí ká f'epo para.

ìwà àti ẹwà:

àwọn méjéèjì á ma wà ni.

Sùgbọ́n ìwá gangan ni gbajúmọ̀

Gbajúmọ̀ ò lẹ́wà.

Ó yọ gedege,

O da gòjò gòjò,

Ó fi títù mìmì jọ̀jọ̀ tayọ gbogbo Ęgbẹ́ rẹ̀.

Ojú tó r’éégún,

Tó r’órò,

Tójú náà ò tí ì rí gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́,

Ojú náà ò tí ì  rí nkan kan,

Èyí tó túmọ̀ sí wí pé:

Ojú tóòrí gbajúmọ̀  láwùjọ

kò rí nǹkan kan.

 

Hmm,

Ẹ bámi pe ìkórera kó wo,

Gbajúmọ̀,

Arìn bi ẹni  ẹ̀gbẹ́ ń dùn,

Égbẹ́ ò kúkú dùn ún,

Olọ́tẹ̀ ní ń ruga sí.

Bí gbajúmọ̀  báyọ,

Wọ́n ma ki lọ́tùn ún,

Wọ́n ma ki lósì,

Wọ́n ma gbe gẹ̀gẹ̀gẹ̀,

Bí i ẹyin.

 

Yorùbá bò̩;wọ́n ní: Gbajúmọ̀  kì í wá nkan tí.

Bi a bá ti l’órúkọ tán,

À kì í wá 'kì kún un.

T’ ẹrú t'ọmọ ní i fẹ́ràn Gbajúmọ̀,

Bó ti ń f'óní tọ́rọ́ ní tọ́rọ́,

a sì fún oní 
kọ́bò̩ bí ipa rẹ̀ ti mọ.

 

 

 

Hmm.

Ọlá a máa ṣí lọ nílé ẹni,

Ẹwà a sì tipa àìsàn di àbùkùn,

Olówó òní lè d'olòṣì bó dọ̀la.

Òkùn lọlá,

Òkùn ni ibi ọrọ̀,

Gbogbo wọn ni wọ́n ń ṣí lọ ní ilé ẹni. 

Ìwà nìkan ní í báni dé sàréè,

Ìwà kò sí,

Ẹ̀kọ́ degbé,

Gbajúmọ̀ sọnù.

Ìrẹ́jẹ ò sí nínú fọ́tọ̀ ooo,

Bó o bá ti jókòó náà lo ó ṣe bára rẹ.

A kì í l'óókọ tán Ká tún wá ki kùnu.

Gbajúmọ̀.

 

 

 

 

Gbajúmọ̀ ò
lewà,

Ó yọ gedege,

O da gòjò gòjò,

Ó fi títù mìmì jọ̀jọ̀ tayọ gbogbo ẹgbẹ́ rẹ̀.

Ojú tó r’éégún,

Tó r’órò,

Tójú náà ò tí ì rí gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́,

Ojú náà ò tí ì  rí nǹkan kan

Ojú tóórí gbajúmọ̀  láwùjọ,

Ojú na orí nǹkan kan.

 

 

Ẹ bámi pe ìkórera kó wo,

Gbajúmọ̀,

Arìn bi ẹni  ẹ̀gbẹ́ ń dùn,

Ègbẹ́ ò kúkú dùn ún,

Olọ́tẹ̀ ní ń ruga sí o..

Bí gbajúmọ̀  báyọ,

Wọ́n ma ki lọ́tùn ún,

Wọ́n ma ki lósì,

Wọ́n ma gbe gẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ bí i ẹyin.

 

Yorùbá bò̩ wọ́n ní; Gbajúmọ̀  kì í wá nkan tí,

Bí ó bá ti l’órúkọ tán,

À kì í wá 'ki kù,

Tẹrú tọmọ

ni ń fẹ́ràn Gbajúmọ̀ láwùjọ,

Bó tí fún oní  tọ́rọ́  ní tọ́rọ́,

A sì f'óníkọbọ̀ bi ipa rẹ̀ ti mọ.

Olá á ma ṣílọ ní ilé ẹni,

Ęwà á sì ti pa àìsàn di àbùkùn,

Olówó òní le di olòṣì bó dọ̀la,

Òkùn lọlá,

Òkùn ni ìgboro,

Gbogbo wọn ni wọ́n ṣílọ ní ilé ẹni,

Ìwà ni báni dé sàárè,

Ìwà 
kòsí,

Eko de’ de,

Gbajúmọ̀  sonù.

Ìrẹ̀jẹ kò sí nínú fọ́tò ooo,

Bó o bá ṣe jókòó,

Bẹ́è̩ náà lo ó ṣe ma bára rẹ.

A kìí gbórúkọ tánka tú wá ki
kù.

Hmm,

Gbajumo.

The presence of the crown speaks royalty,

Beads are used by the chiefs,

People are often addressed by the way they dress.

 

Hmm,

In ancient times:

If a person is known by all and he’s neither of the royal lineage, a chief,

nor is he a great warrior,

Such person is a person of prestige.

A wise individual,

A humble person,

A person worth to be celebrated.

Gbajumo is a well respected person.

A person known by the masses,

A well know person across globe,

An important individual.

Known by family and friends,

Also recognised by those he has no knowledge of.

Royalty acknowledges his presence.

Known vast and wide for his craft

there are a lot of Gbajumo.

She’s as beautiful as beauty can be
defined,

Gentle as inland stream,

Beauty and good character enclosed within an individual,

A flawless craft of Creation.

 

Beauty can be categorized,

Yet her kind of beauty is unique,

A cosmetic beauty has no hold on a natural one.

A beauty casted down from the Heavens,

Beauty and character:

These are what defines an individual.

Character itself is what defines Gbajumo.

Gbajumo is beautiful,

A beauty that glows without make up,

A beauty that can’t go
unnoticed

his calmness makes him different from his peers.

You might have seen masquerade,

beautiful festivities,

Even events that put you in awe,

These are nothing compared to the glorious sight of a
Gbajumo

 

 

 

Hmm,

Y’all should gather around,

Gbajumo.

The beautiful gracious strides of a pageant;

Swaying from left to right,

Haters call it pride.

Once he steps out,

Compliments are sent from left,

Greetings are heard from the right.

The people care for him like a fragile artwork.

 

 

In a yoruba  adage:
Gbajumo gets all he searches and aims for

after earning his name.

His character distinguishes him from his namesakes.

Both the workers and the priviledged show their love,

He gives alms to the needy,

He helps others who are struggling.

 

Hmm.

His wealth never diminishes,

Her beauty keeps away sickness and bad energy,

The wealth remains irrespective of how much is given,

Wealth is prestige,

Wealth is influence.

All virtues are found with them always.

Character is the only thing that we will get buried with us
all in the end,

Without character,

There will be no morals,

Gbajumo will cease to exist,

There’s no lie to be told when the
truth is obvious,

A good name is always accompanied with great character.

Gbajumo.

 

Gbajumo is beautiful,

A beauty that glows without make up,

A beauty that can’t go
unnoticed

his calmness makes him different from his peers.

You might have seen masquerade,

beautiful festivities,

Even events that put you in awe,

These are nothing compared to the glorious sight of a
Gbajumo

 

 

 

Y’all should gather around,

Gbajumo.

The beautiful gracious strides of a pageant;

Swaying from left to right,

Haters call it pride.

Once he steps out,

Compliments are sent from left,

Greetings are heard from the right.

The people care for him like a fragile artwork.

 

In a yoruba  adage:
Gbajumo gets all he searches and aims for

after earning his name.

His character distinguishes him from his namesakes.

Both the workers and the priviledged show their love,

He gives alms to the needy,

He helps others who are struggling.

Her beauty keeps away sickness and bad energy,

The wealth remains irrespective of how much is given,

Wealth is prestige,

Wealth is influence.

All virtues are found with them always.

Character is the only thing that we will get buried with us
all in the end,

Without character,

There will be no morals,

Gbajumo will cease to exist,

There’s no lie to be told when the
truth is obvious,

A good name is always accompanied with great character.