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Olurombi And The Iroko Tree

Long ago in a far away land, lived a woman called Olurombi. Olurombi had no children and longed to have a child to love, to hold, to talk to and care for. She decided to go to the great Iroko to ask for a child.

 

She set off to see Iroko along with so many other people who wanted their wishes granted for one thing or the other.

 

“O powerful Iroko, please bless my herd this year and I promise to give you my best cow”, pledged a farmer.

 

“Please great Iroko, bless my household this year and I will give you my fattest ram”, promised a woman.

 

Olurombi stepped forward and cried, “O powerful Iroko, please grant me a child and I will give this child back to you.”

 

Not very long afterward, Olurombi gave birth to a beautiful baby. The baby was so beautiful that people came from far and near to see it. Iroko came to collect the baby promised to him. Olurombi begged and begged but Iroko paid no attention to what she said. “You promised me this baby and you must keep your promise.” Iroko took the beautiful baby away but not without a great struggle from Olurombi. Iroko overpowered Olurombi. Olurombi wept and wept but it was all too late.

 

The people around began to sing a dirge as they watched Iroko carry Olurombi's child away never to be seen again.

Song
Everyone pledged a goat, a goat, a goat,
Everyone pledged a lamb, a lamb, a lamb,
Olurombi pledged her only child,
Fair as the golden sun
Olurombi at war, Iroko at war.

 

map of nigeria

 

The Tortoise & The Dog

Long ago the tortoise and the dog were bosom friends.  They did everything together.  Everything went well until there was a famine.  The land became dry and there was no food.  Everyone became lean and haggard from hunger.  People and animals had to ration the little food there was. Despite the difficult, hard times, everyone went about his or her daily life.

 

Soon everyone noticed that dog was looking fresh and plump.  No sign of the bad times showed on him.  They all asked him what was going on and how he was keeping so well while everyone else looked hungry.  He would give a false answer each time.  Sometimes he would say he had saved up and did not use up his ration as quickly as others.  Other times he would say he is not a heavy eater.  He just gave lots of reasons that were not the truth.

 

Tortoise vouched to get the truth out of dog. One day dog was coming home from the fields when tortoise approached him.  'Hello, my dear friend dog.  Don't you look fabulous?  How long now have we been friends?  'Since we were babies,' dog replied. We should not keep secrets from each other you know?', said tortoise.  "Tell me my good friend, how do you manage to remain so fresh and plump when the rest of us are looking so lean and haggard?'  Dog would not reveal the secret.  But tortoise would not take no for an answer.  After probing for so long, dog gave in to tortoise and told him about the farm far away in the middle of the forest where he dug yam tubers from the ground.

 

It did not take long before tortoise persuaded dog to take him along too.  He promised to be good and would not cause any trouble.

 

In the middle of the night, they set off.  Dog brought a small basket to put his yam in.  Tortoise on the other hand brought a huge basket to fill up with farm crops for him and his family.  It was too late to go back now or they will be caught.  The darkness hid them as they crept to the farm dog had discovered.  Dog took only one yam tuber but tortoise took three and some other vegetables.

 

It was nearly morning and they had to go back.  Dog carried his basket easily but tortoise's basket was too heavy for him to carry.  Dog was a yard ahead of him and tortoise was frightened so he started to sing:

 

Dog, stop and help me,
Dog, stop and help me.
If you don't stop and help me,
I will shout and the farmer will hear us.
He will hear us and come and get us.
He will come and get us and then detain us.
So dog you better stop and help me.
So dog you better stop and help me.

 

Poor dog had no choice but to stop so that tortoise would be quiet at least.  He came to help tortoise and as he was re-arranging the yam tubers, the farmer came running because he heard tortoise's song.  Tortoise crept into the bushes while poor dog was caught.

Tortoise ran home and covered himself with oil pretending to be ill.  He tucked two fresh eggs in his mouth.   Poor dog told the farmer the whole story but the farmer did not believe him.  Dog took him to tortoise's house.  When they got in, tortoise was found shivering in his bed, his body glistening like someone sweating and suffering from a high fever.  The farmer still did not believe that the tortoise was involved.  He asked tortoise if this was true, tortoise could not answer clearly and mumbled because of the eggs in his mouth.  Dog was outraged and gave tortoise a slap across the face.  This reaction made the first egg crack and it looked as if tortoise was being sick.  He gave him another slap and the other egg cracked.

 

Dog could not prove anything.  The farmer then decreed.  "For all you stole from me, you will now serve me on the farm and be my sheep dog.  You will work hard on the farm as a punishment.'

And that is why we have sheep dogs on farms today.  They are paying for what the first dog did so long ago.

What about tortoise I hear you say?  He got away?  I am afraid he did this time, after all tortoise is a very cunning and crafty creature.  I think he paid dog a visit and apologised.

 Do you think dog forgave him?

The Song In Yoruba

Aja duro ran mi l'eru
Aja duro ran mi l'eru
To ba duro ran mi l'eru
Ma kigbe oloko a gbo
Agbo o a gbe wa de
Agbe wa de a gba wa n'isu
Aja duro ran mi l'eru

Aja duro ran mi l'eru

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

Ferenkunfen

 

Ododo Mi

O: 

 

 

 

 

E:

 

 

 

 

O:

 

 

 

 

E:

 

 

 

 

O:

 

 

 

 

E:

 

 

 

 

O:

 

 

 

 

E:

 

 

 

 

O:

 

 

 

 

O:

Ododo mi o
Ododo mi o
Ododo mi o
Ewa ba mi ra.

Elelo ni o
Elelo ni o
Elelo ni o
Ododo re o

 

Sile marun ni
Sile marun ni
Sile marun ni
Ododo mi

 

Sile merin nko?
Sile merin nko?
Sile merin nko?
Ododo re o

 

E m’owo re wa
E m’owo re wa
E m’owo re wa
Ododo mi o

 

Sile meta nko?
Sile meta nko?
Sile meta nko?
Ododo re o

 

E m’owo re wa
E m’owo re wa
E m’owo re wa
Ododo mi o

 

Sile meji nko?
Sile meji nko?
Sile meji nko?
Ododo re o

 

Ko gba sile meji
Ko gba sile meji
Ko gba sile meji
Ododo mi o

 

O ya e wa ma lo
O ya e wa ma lo
O ya e wa ma lo
E ko ni nkan ra

 

 

 

Yoruba Rap

 

Yoruba Rap

Powerpoint Document Of The Rap (422KB) - Download

 

Play - Odun Keresimesi

Cast
Titi:
Yewande Ladipo
Iya:
Fiona Kuyoro
Wale:
Lamide Adeosun
Taiwo/Kehinde:
Savannah and Samara
Baba:
Molade Kuyoro
Baba Agba:
Marcel
Play
Titi
Iya mi, Keresimesi ti de.
Iya
Beni omo mi.
Baba
Kilo de ti a nse ajodun keresimesi?
Wale
Ki a le gba ebun pupo.
Titi
Ki a le jeun to po.
Iya
Rara o. Beko. Ajodun Keresimesi wa lati ran wa leti
Jesu
Kristi ati ohun ti o se fun wa.
Baba
O wa lati gba wa la ninu ese.
Baba Agba
Eje ka yin Jesu Kristi fun ore re.
Taiwo/Kehinde
Jesu Kristi E se o.
Song: Keresimesi, O dun de o
Written by children of Roots Language School

 

 

 

 

Nigerian National Anthem
Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria's call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and
unity.
Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice
shall reign.

 

 

Moonlight Games (Ere Osupa)

1 OKO RELUWE

Mo le goke, mo le so
Mo le goke , mo le so
Oke ti alajapa ko le gun
Mo ti gun, mo ti so
Gbarigidi, gbarigidi, gbarigidi
Foooooooooooooooooooooo.

2 EIYE META

Eiye melo t'olongo w'aiye
Tolongo
Okan dudu aro
Tolongo
Okan rere osun
Tolongo
So, So, So, f'iru ba "le
So
So, so, So, f'iru ba "le
So
So, So, So f'iru ba "le

3 BOJU BOJU

Boju boju o
O
Oloro nbo
O
Epara mo o
O
Se ki nsi
Si
Gb'otun yo
Gb'osi yo
Gb'agbedemeji yo fo fo

4 TALO WA N'NU OGBA NA

Talo wa n'nu ogba na
Omo kekere kan ni
Se nwa wo
Ma wa wo
Tele mi kalo

5 BAYI L'AWA N'SERE LO

Bayi l'awa n'sere lo
B'igbin nu karawun
Bayi l'awa n'sere lo
B'igbin nu karawun
Ka sowo po, ka sowo po
Lai l'ewu l'awa nlo
B'igbin nu karawun
Wo b'awa ti n'sere lo
B'igbin nu karawun
Bayi l'awa n'sere lo
B'igbin nu karawun
Wo b'awa ti so'wo po
B'igbin nu karawun

 

 

Poems (Arofo)

1
Iyan l'onje
Oka l'ogun
A iri rara l'a nje eko
K' enu ma d'ile ni ti guguru
Iyan l'onje
Oka l'ogun
Iyan l'osupa abe orule
A ran ma de'le ole

2
Ologbo mi kekere
Nibo ni'wo ti lo
Emi ti lo si oja ni
Lati pa omo ekute.
3
Mo ni ni, mo ni ni.
Mo ni ni, mo ni ni.
Mo ba'rugbo kan l'odo
Mo ni o bun mi l'omi mu
O l'oun o bun mi l'omi mu
Mo lo s'apa pelenge
Mo lo s'ese pelenge
B'ikako abi'amo
Mi ni mi ni ka yi ko.

4

ISE NI OGUN `SE

ISE NI OGUN SE
MURA SI ISE ORE MI
ISE NI AFI NDENI GIGA
BI AKO BA RENI FEHINTI
BI OLE LA A RI
BI A KO BA RENI GBEKELE
A TERA MOSE ENI
IYA RE LE LOWO LOWO
BABA RE SI LE LESHIN LEE KAN
BI O BA GBOJU LE WON
O TE TAN NI MO SO FUN O
OUN TI A KO BA JIYA FUN
SE KII LE TOJO
OUN TI A BA FARA SISE FUN
NII PE LOWO ENI
A APA LARA
IGUNPA NI IYE KAN
BI AIYE BA NFE O LONI
TI O BALOWO LOWO
WON A MA FE O LOLA
JEKI O WA NI IPO ATATA
AIYE A MA YE O SI TERIN-TERIN
JEKI O DENI RAGO
KO O RI BI AIYE TI NYINMU SI O
EKO SI TUN SENI DOGA
MURA KI O KO DARA-DARA
IYA NBO FOMO TI KO GBON
EKUN MBE FOMO TO NSA KIRI
MA FOWURO SERE ORE MI
MURA SI ISE OJO NLO.

5

OMO KEKERE SA NI EMI

Omo kekere sa ni emi
Ti ko mo ehin ola
Ako mo ibi ti ori mba ese re
Bi Gusu ni
Bi Ariwa ni
Ebe l'a mbe Olodumare
Ko ma gba wa l'owo obi wa
Ko ma si gba obi wa l'owo wa.

6

OLOGBO

Ekun inu odede
Oko awon ekute
Ode ninu eranko
Bo ba ri eko ko binu
Eran jije lo yan laayo.

7

IYAN

Iyan funfun lele
Oba ninu ounje
Ijoye atata lawujo okele
Osupa abe iti
A - ran maa dele ole!
Ore ila, oloro egusi
Imule tete
Ko sobe ti ko ba re
Gbegiri nikan leewo re
Lafun l'ounje won nile alake
Amala l'ounje won nile Mesiogo
Iyan l'ounje won nile Obokun
A - je b'oko daweeke
A – je b'oko rerin ofofo
A – je poyi ranyin bi eni muti oyinbo yo.

8

IGI ILA

Eso re la npe ni ila
Ewe re ni I je ilasa
Ila to ko see se orunla
Ati ila, ati orunla pelu ilasa,
Gbogbo won nii dun l'obe.

9

JA ITANNA TO N TAN

Ja itanna to n tan,
To tutu to si dara,
Ma duro d'ojo ola,
Akoko n sure tete.

 

10

PEPEYE ELESE ABEBE

Pepeye ti mo ra
O farabale ni irin
Elese abebe
Abiye gbagegbage
Eye to niyi l'owo asa
T'awodi o gbodo pa
Eye to l'owo lara
Pepeye o-wu-bantutu
O bimo ko reyin pon'mo.

 

 

 

Alo Apamo (Riddles)
Question Move your mouse over the empty area to the right of each question to reveal the answer.
Arewa obinrin larin egun.
Ahon
Kilo nkoja l'ojude oba ti ko k'oba.
Agbara
Opa tinrin kanle okan orun.
Ojo
Kini nkan oba n'ko.
Abe
Oruku tindin tindin, oruku tindin tindin, oruku
b'igba omo, gbogbo won lo le tiro.
Ewa
Oruku tindin tindin……………… Oruku b'igba omo gbogbo won lo y'aje.
Atare
Akuko baba mi lai lai, akuko baba mi lai lai, owo ni'nje, ki j'agbado.
Igbanu
Pete lo, pete bo.
Atelese
Kilo bo s'omi ti ko dun talo.
Abere
Ki l'on b' oba jeun ti ko k' ewe.
Esinsin
Awe obi kan, a je d'Oyo.
Ahon
Oruku tindin tindin……………Oruku b'igba omo, gbogbo won lo de fila.
Olu
Won ni ki n mu wa mo mu wa,won ni ki n da p'ada, nko le da pa da.
Irun
O nlo s'Oyo, o k'oju s'Oyo, o nbo l'at'Oyo, o k'oju s'Oyo.
Ilu
Aso baba mi lai lai, aso baba mi lai lai, eti ni ngbo kii gbo laarin.
Odo
Gbogbo ile sun, kanbo o sun.
Imu
Oruku tindin tindin……………. Oruku b'igba omo o ko gbogbo won s'ojule kan.
Atelewo
Mo ya'gbe rabata, mo f'ewe rabata bo.
Aiye ati Orun
O nja ni papa, o nre ni dodo, K'oto de le o so'gba esinsin.
Igbe
A duro, o duro; A joko, o joko; a le e, ko lo
ojiji
Ikoko rugudu ki'di bo igbe
Igbin
A ge lori, a ge nidi o ni oun yio lo s'oro ile baba oun
Odi eyin
Orisa kekere a kunle bo
adiro
olota
Omo iya meta sun ti ara won ni odun meta, won
ko ri ara won
awusa
Araba nla ko ni "boji
Oju orun
A ran omo ni akara, akara de ile saju omo
ilu gangan
Ese ina rigidi bo s'omi ko ku
eyin
Ile gbajumo kiki igbe-eran, kini o
Ibepe
Bi ile gbajumo ti dara to, ko lo'ju o kini o
Eyin
Obinrin rogbodo larin egun, kini o
Ahon
Ko so, ko ro, ojojumo l'an ta laya. Kini o
Ilekun
Aja baba mi kan laelae, aja baba mi kan laelae, ibiti baba ba nlo, aja re ntele e
Ojiji
Ile okunrin dara, ko lona, kini o
Eyin
A nru lo, ok'oju s'igbo. A nru bo, o k'oju s'orun o. Kini o.
Kete omi

 

 

 

Fi faweeli si awon oro wonyi

Fill in the missing letters (printer friendly version)

 

_G_

 

B_T_

 

F_L_

 

I____

 

K___________

 

 

 

 

A___________

 

T__________

 

A______

 

I_______

 

I________________

 

D______

 

A___

 

S_______

 

 

B____

 

 

E______

 

 

T__________

 

 

K________

 

 

S_______

 

 

O___

 

 

 

K________

 

 

 

E___

   

 

A_________

   

 

O_________

 

 

A______

 

 

O_______

 

 

E____  ati B_____

 

E_________

                     

 

 

 

 

 

I_______

 

 

 

A____

 

 

O_________

 

 

 

E_______

                                

 

 

I_________

 

 

O______

 

 

O____

 

 

A_________

  

 

I___

 

 

O_____

 

 

O______________

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Name:

Write these phrases or sentences in English (printer friendly version)
Yoruba
English
Ki l’oruko mi?  
Je ka lo sere  
Igi orombo  

Onje re wa ni yara.

 

Gbogbo yin e fosoke

 
Mo ti joko  
Dide  
Mo ti kunle  
Gbogbo yin e patewo  
Mo ti dubule  

 

 

p o b k l i u w y a d s

m gb s h r e f t e g j n o

Put the Yoruba alphabet in order:

 

Now write them in capital letters:

 

 

p o b k l i u w y a d s

m gb s h r o f t g j n

Put the Yoruba alphabet in order:

 

Now write them in capital letters:

 
Now draw a picture to match each letter:

A              

B