Sunday 6 April 2014

Paulson Kalu: Okwudili

Little is known about this Ohafia Abia State born singer. But his hit track ' Okwudili' once ruled the airwaves in Eastern Nigeria.This song is particularly enfused with Marxist dialectics. The contention between the rich and the poor.

The song start with a thoughtful monologue before he heads into the real thing!

Obuzi gini ka ogbenye meziri onye ji ego
What did the poor do to rich?
Nezie nu ka ogaranya si acho ka so so nyanwa birizie na enu uwa a
See how the rich wants to live alone on earth
Chukwu nna a.
God the Father
Gi kelu ogaranya gi kelu nwa ogbenye
You created both the rich and the poor
Okwu di zielu yi nna, Oseburuwa mezie uche yi nu
Final word is for you father, Master of universe do your will
So ngi ka anyi na echekwube nna
In you we trust Father

Instrument

Okwudili Okwudili o
Final word belongs, Final word belongs

Okwudili onye kele anyi o
Final word belongs to our creator
Olisa amalugo nke onye na eme na enu uwa 2ce
God knows whatever we do on earth

Okwudili okwudili o
Final word belongs, Final word belongs
okwudili onye kele anyi o
Final word belongs to our creator
Chukwu nna amalugo onye obi ya di ocha
God the Father knows the innocent

Ogaranya achoro ka ogbenye biri
The rich abhors the poor from living
Ogaranya achoro ka ogbenye rie nri
The rich abhors the poor from feeding

ogbenye chekwubesie chukwu
Let the poor trust in God
Uche chukwu agwusia ife ga eme
Only God's will happens
Uche chukwu agwusia nke aya eme ne enu uwa
Only God's will must be done on earth
Ife osolu onye ya seghaliba
Whatever that please man let him redraw

Instrument

Ogbenye bebe, ogaranya amuriba
When the poor cry, the rich laugh
Ogbenye anwuru ogaranya ejebe ife solu ya
If the poor dies, the rich walks away
mana ogalanya nwuo ogbenye abia nibe akwa
But when the rich dies, the poor digs his grave
Ogalanya achoro ka ogbenye biri
the rich abhors the poor from living
Ogaranya achoro ka ogbenye rie nri
the rich abhors the poor from feeding
Ogbenye chekwube olisa
Let the poor trust in God
Odizielum mma ka odizieli ibe m mma
If it is well with me, let it be so with my neighbour
odialu nwoke mma ka odialu nwanyi mma
If it is well with men let it be so with women
na anokwo na egbe belu ugo belu
I believe in let the kite and the eagle perch

Celestine Ukwu: Ije enu

Celestine Ukwu : 1940- 1977

An Igbo proverb said ' an orphaned child must wear advice like a necklace so he can peel one off when he needs it'. This song 'Ije enu' (Journey of life) is a song that commends itself to every thinking man.

Ije enu

Ije enu bu na ndi na akwa na akwa/ na ndi na anuli na anuli.2ce
 Life's journey is for mourners and celebrants

Onye na akwa na uwa ya malu na uwa na erughari
He who mourns in the world should know that the world rotates

Onye na anuli na uwa ya mata na enu na erughari
He who is celebrating in the world should know that the world rotates

Oburo ka anyi si lo ka ife uwa si adi
It is not how we plan that the world works out
Oburo onye odialu mma tata ka oga adiri mma echi
He who enjoys today may not enjoy tommorow
Ije enu bu na ndi na anuli na anuli na ndi na akwa na akwa
Life's journey is for celebrants and mourners
Onye na akwa na uwa ya malu na uwa na atughari
he who is mourning should know that the world rotates
oburo ka anyi si lo ka ife uwa si di adi
It is not how we plan that the world works out
maka na uwa di ufu
because life is painful
oburu ka anyi si choo ka ife uwa si adi
it is not how we want that the world works out

A word on oral Igbo history

They get at you in a slow sonorous pace. Humour cutting through tragedies and mischiefs. History flashing in your very before as their voices rise and fall. Listen and learn from those before you. You are the evidence they ever existed. Ofeke amaro oge ekelu nku ukwa. Only the deep calls to the deep. So when next the ekpili drum speaks, listen. When the ogene clangs, draw your chair. These are not old music. They are your stories. Your story right from the day the world began. You were right there then. I know because you are right here now. You are the evidence that they ever existed.

Nuggets of Chief Pericoma Okoye






We choose to start this with the legendary Pericoma Okoye. Pericoma needs no introduction for most Igbophilias. Born in Arondizuogu, Imo state Nigeria.  Pericoma is a walking library of Igbo history, ideas and culture. His music is best described as oral rendition of rarefied Igbo history. And as typical with the Igbo tradition of story telling through songs; there is plenty for the curious to learn. Every sentence is layered with meanings that befuddles the 'ofeke' but intended as beacons for the intelligent. We have deliberately selected lyrics based on their themes in particular track, rather than translating the whole song, for our purpose.

 Ikeji '86

I. Omenana ne eso okwu

Omenana na eso ekwu/2ce
Anyi amaghi ihe ndi Jiri biri be ha

Traditions clashes with one another/
because we are ignorant of others' way of life

MEANING OF WEALTH

Gini ka ana ebu uzo aju e?/ Ihe ana ebu uzo aju bu nwa.
What is the first question people ask?/ The first question is about your child
Ihe onye ilo na aju onye muru omumu si na onweghi aku na uba/ 2wice.
An enemy says to a family man, that he is poor
Chefuo na dike akpataghi aku okpata uduburu afo ya
Forgetting that no matter how wretched a man is, he will fill his stomach
Ma odi na ejighi aku ojide ire oma
if he has no money, he could have sweet tongue

Jealousy/Gossips

okwu nnadi na agwa nnadi ya/
The word a rival tells a rival
okwa ya bu onye kulu ama agbaa/
is a secret exposed by the conspirator

obulu na ha nwa ejebe nku, ha nwa ebulu nnadi kunie
When they head to the woods, they go with their enmity
 Obulu na ha nwa ejebe mmiri ha nwa ebulu nnadi kunie
when they head to the river, they go with their enmity

ihe ha na ne eme, ha nwa eburu nnadi puwa
whatever they do, they do with enmity

chefuo na anu gburu okwa gburu onye be ya
Forgetting that the animal that kills the bushfowl killed a companion
ojiri nnadi kpu uno na mbala ka oga ebi
He who built a house on enemy's foundation, will end up in the street

okolo nkem akoghi nke ya nenu na omaghi ako.
he said mine without saying his, is a false witness
iko nkem ikoghi nke gi, okwa ima na aruru ala egbu o neye
he said mine without saying his, he is full of deceits
ejeghem egesi asiri ha hu
I will no longer heed their gossips
ka mu mere m mgbem ehe
I will do things on my terms