Lúfadéjù (read by Omolade Oni) - a podcast by Oluwasola Olowo-Ake
from 2022-07-22T07:00:41
Lúfadéjù- the slave, because of a crown, is greater
I wrote this poem for my undergraduate final year project. The poem takes the listener through a coronation ceremony of a former enslaved who has become King. This piece was written as an Oriki (Yoruba praise poem) for this character and it was translated to and read in Yoruba by my good friend Omolade Oni.
Incase you're wondering what the poem is saying, here is the English version:
The brave One
Defiant Soldier
Voice of a thousand
Voice for a thousand slaves and many more.
His words prove justice wrong
His words pierce the hearts of the “good” and make the wicked fall face flat to the ground
The ground he treads on shakes with rigour
His speech makes all tremble and his body is like brass
His silence sounds loud like the gong of the town crier
And his rage is the reason for his crown
His crown is a crown of gold
The beads on the front show his royalty
They are like a crystal river
That flows through a desert,
They speak of his excellence
The body of all bodies
Voice of all voices
Initiator of freedom
Ruler for a reason
With his crown, he will lead
Although oppressed, with his crown, he will be
KING
Bearer of the Crown
Bearer of the message
The honour and glory of the people
The slave is King and so a slave no more is he
The slave slave that bears the Crown is greater
And forever will be.
Background vocals by: Sayo Olowo-Ake, Omolade Oni and myself.
Produced by: Iberedem Etim Inyang
Follow me on instagram: @kehindeolowoake
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