The Tale of Omekagu – Introduction, Igbo to English translation, Mike Ejeagha’s song, Omekagu, lyrics, igbo folk music, Opi, Omenani, folksong, fablingverse folktales, Igbo folktale, fabling, ọfọ na ogu, free to read, read free stories from Africa
THE TALE OF OMEKAGU – Lyrics
Here it comes.
Beautiful people
The Queen and the Husband, introducing to you, the Omenani series. And this is your Omenani special, number 1.
Prelude to verse 1 of Omekagu
Ndi be anyi, onye sị nwantakịrị jide nkakwụ, Ya dobekwara ya mmiri ọ ga-eji wee kwụọ aka.
Our people, He that asks a child to hold a rat, must prepare water that he will wash his hands with
Ọkwazi ihe jọgbulu onwe ya, Na mmadụ ga-afụ oke luulu onye Ọzọ, O welu ya je nye onye ọ sịrị na ya furụ n’anya.
It is also a disastrous thing for the owner, that somebody will see the thing that belongs to someone else, take it, then give it to the person he claims to love
Onye ahụ ga-emechakwanu lota na efi e wero ọdụdụ chi ya na-achụlụ ya ijiji.
That person will later remember that a cow without a tail, its god chases away flies for it.
Maka ị lachasigodu ogede ntụtụ tụnye mkpụlụ ya na mmiri. O mesia, o see enu
Because when you finish licking the seed of pawpaw and put the seed in water, after a while, the seed will come to the top.
Verse 1 of Omekagu
Onye a ị na-emegide, ị ma na ọ bụ ya ga-nopu gị ji n’ọkụ echi?
The person you are doing, do you know if they are the one who will remove yam from the fire for you tomorrow?
Ọ bụgodu na ọ bụru ya wa, Ị ma na ọ bụ nwanne ya na ọ bụ nwanye.
If it’s not them, do you know if it will be their brother or their sister?
Ọ bụno ọ buru ya wa gị wa ka o menyeere , n ma na ọ ga emego onye nke gị?
If it is not you that they do it for, do you know if they will do it for one of your own?
Ife ọkotolo oke e bu na ofodu nwote nwa
What brought about this talk is that someone can birth a child
Fa welu na fa fụlụ ya n’anya, wee togide ya otuto, Otuto ntogbu, otuto ntogbu na-egbu nwa nkịta
They decided that they loved this child so they throw him praises, The same praise that killed the dog.
Ka a na nwatakili a nu iyi
That’s what they gave the child.
Nwantakịlị na-eto ajọ otuto
The child that you shower with wicked praises
Sị na ị fụlụ ya n’anya
Because you love them
Ị kpọọ ya agụ, ị kpọọ ya dike
You call him leopard, you call him strong person,
Ị kpọọ ya nke a, ị kpọọ ya nta, ị kpọọ ya imo
you call him this, you call him that, you call him everything
Na a nụkwa na o mekata mekata mekata wee welu ife a wee se onye chie
Till we learned that he did this and that until he thought
Na Ọ bụlụ o buru onye o sogie n’ilo, o sowe nginwa
Like he has no sibling before him, that he came after you.
Ọ kwa nụ ife mere nwantakịlị a bụ Omekaagụ
This is what happened to the child who is Omekagu.
Ka anyị na-achọ ịkọ akụkọ ya kịta a.
That we want to talk about his story now.
(The Tale of Omekagu)
Chorus of Omekagu
Opi mu fugbuelum Omekagụ; fugbuelum Omekagụ
My horn, please, blow Omekagu to death
Omekagụ li ji Mmụọ; Omekagụ li ede Mmụọ
Omekagụ ate the yam of the Spirit; Omekagụ ate the cocoyam of the Spirit
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Verse 2 of Omekagu
Nna Omekaagụ nekatara nekata nekata nwee fụ na o ye kwewego ukwe ụna
Omekagu’s fater looked and looked until he saw that his time to die was close.
O wee kpọkuo ndị ichie ya na so na-achị obodo
So he called his age grade in his community
Sị fa na ya ga-echikwanụ ofu nwa ya echichi
Told them that they will coronate one of his children
Ka ọ ga-abụ ụbọsị achọrọ nwoke ma afụafo ọ bụlụ ya nọchiri anya
So that when he dies and they are looking for his son, they will not say they saw none
Ndị ọ kpọkọbara wee jụzie ya kedu onye ị na-achọ ichi ya bụ echichi?
The people he summoned then asked him who he wants to coronate.
Na i nwelu umu umuaka ụmụ nwoke n’abuọ
That he has two male children
Ọ sị fa na ọ bụ nwa ya nke ọdụdụ a na-akpọ Omekaagụ
He told them that it is the younger one called Omekaagụ
Ụfọdụ ndị obodo wee iwe
Some of the community members became angry
Ụfọdụ wee iwe naba
Some became angry and left
Ọ na-ayọ fa, kpọchighee ya azụ
He began begging them, calling them back
Fa nwe sị na fa fụnụrọ ebe ji na-esi n’ọdụdụ wele epu ome
They now said that that they have not seen where a yam starts growing out of the ground with its buttocks
Ke o si bụrụ nwatakịrị ka a ga-echi echichi?
That ow did he decide that the child will be coronated?
Ma nke okenye anọdụ ka ọ ga-abụ
While the elder will stay and let it happen.
E ruofa echi niile, fa ebido mebe nsị, mebe arụ
That is how tomorrow, they will start doing juju, and abominations
Ka ọ ga-abụ ndị ụmụaka ha ga-amụta n’ọdụniihu echi a sị fa jee kpochibe
So that the children of his children will have to undo the sins of their father.
Fa wee kpọọ nna Omekaagụ wee sị ya na fa agaghị anọkwa emee ife dị otu a
They now called Omekaagụ’s father and told him that they will not be part of this
Ya onwe ya, wekwuazi iwe sị kama ọ ga-abụ na ya machi Omekaagụ echichi
He, himself too became angry and said that rather than he not coronating Omekagu,
Ife dị ofu emee
Let the, whatever that will happens, happen.
O wee mekata mekata we bụrụ mbọsị Eke
And so he kept doing until it became the day of Eke
Nna Omekaagụ wee kpọọ Omekaagụ wee kebe ya ekike a na-eke nwa eze
And Omekaagụ’s father called him and adorned him with the clothes fit for a prince
Wee kechasịa ya bụ ekike wee duru ya dọkwasa n’elu inyịnya
Then placed him on top of a horse when he was done.
Gwa onye isi odibo ye sị ye kpụrụ Omekaagụ
Told his chief maid servant to take Omekaagụ out
Ka ha gbagharịa afịa be ha ka ọ bụrụ na ndị obodo amara onye ga-achị ha
That they should go into their market place so that the whole community will know who will be their king
Ma ọ bụrụ na ọ dị ka ọ ga-adị
In case of if the unexpected should happen
Ka fa nọzi ebe ha na-agbagharị afịa
While they were on their way to the market
Nwanne Omekagụ nu
Omekaagụ’s brother heard (what was about to happen)
Wee welu opi yaaaa o wetara n’agụ bụ opi ike wee fụa
And so he took his horn which he got from the forest, the great horn and blew:
Chorus of Omekagu
Opi mu fugbuelum Omekagụ; fugbuelum Omekagụ
My horn, please, blow Omekagu to death
Omekagụ li ji Mmụọ; Omekagụ li ede Mmụọ
Omekagụ ate the yam of the Spirit; Omekagụ ate the cocoyam of the Spirit
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Question of Omekagu
Ndị be anyị onye ị sị na ị ga-eme ajọ ife, Ọgịnị ka o mere gị?
“Our people, the person you said you want to do something evil to, what did he do to you?”
Nke a bụ ajụjụ ị ga-ajụgodu onwe gị tupu i mee mmadụ ajọ ife
This is a question you must ask yourself. Before doing evil to a person,
Welukwa aja wee meli elu/mee n’elu.
Take sand and lift it up
I kpote aja nke izizi, i cheelu anyanwụ
If you carry the first sand, you show it to the sun.
I kpota nke ịbụa, i cheelu anyanwụ
If you carry the second sand, you show it to the sun.
I kpota nke ịtọ, i cheelu anyanwụ
If you carry the third sand, you show it to the sun.
Ka o welu ya na na iji ọfọ
So that it will be that you are using fairness
Maka na idide ụbọsị ụtụtụ na-ekwulị na ọ ọfọ na a ji awa ala
Because the earthworm from the early morning has been saying that he breaks the land with justice.
Ejule wee wee sị na ọ bụ ire ọma ka e ji aga n’ogwu
And the snail then said that he uses a good tongue to passes through thorns.
Gị na onwe gị, i jikwa ogu jide ọfọ?
You yourself, are acting in justice and fairness?
Chorus
Opi mu fugbuelum Omekagụ; fugbuelum Omekagụ
My horn, please, blow Omekagu to death
Omekagụ li ji Mmụọ; Omekagụ li ede Mmụọ
Omekagụ ate the yam of the Spirit; Omekagụ ate the cocoyam of the Spirit
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
VERSE 3 of Omekagu
Omekaagụ afụzie, arigozie elu ịnyịnya na-agbago zi afịa
Omekaagụ had left, he had climbed on to the horse, and was heading to the market
Nwanne ya wee bilu opi a dọnye n’ọnụ, O gbuzie opi nụ gbuo ya gbuo ya gbuo ya bụ opi
His brother now carried the horn and put it in his mouth., then he blew it consistently
Omekaagụ wee si n’elu ịnyịnya katakpii n’anị. Ọ bụlụkwana ọnwụ
Omekagu now fell from the top of the horse ‘katakpii’ straight to the floor. It was death.
Hei! Obodo wee delụ, ụfọdụ na ọsọ
Hei! The community was in great shock, some were running
Ụfọdụ nọ n’obodo nụ ife merenụ, fa e were ọsọ na-agbata n’afịa Eke
Some who heard what happened used speed to gather at Eke market
Ka a malụ ife mere chi ji wee jie n’efifie
So they will know why the unexpected happened
Nna Omekaagụ anụzie ya bụ ife ka ọ nọ n’ụlọ
Omekaagụ’s father heard about what happened while he was at home
Wee chọtakwa ndị e nụ bụ ndị gwara ye ụbọchị ụtụtụ
And called together those who told him earlier in the day
Na ji anaghị esi n’ọdụdụ epu some
That a yam does not grow from the tail
Wee kpọọ fa sị fa lekwanụ ihe na-emenu
Then he told them what was happening
Ha niile wee zue sị ya ọ bụrụ na ọ merọ, ị ma ma ife
They all told him that if it did not happen, he will not learn
Ife merenụ bụ na a ga-achọwa anị
So what they will have to do is seak ani
Ife kpatara nwa ji si n’elu ịnyịnya wee daa wee nwụrụ
To know what caused the child to fall from the horse and died.
Ya bụ i fugo ifee nụnwa a na-atụ n’ilu
That is, You have seen what the proverbs say
Ebe ị sị na ị ma chi nwa gị diọkpara eze
Since you have said that you will not crown the eldest child as king
I jee ichi nke ọdụdụ. ị fụrọfụ
And you went to crown the younger. You have seen
Na efi na-enweghị ọdụdụ chi ya achụwafụrụ ya ijiji
That the cow without a tail, its god chases away flies for it.
Nna Omekaagụ wee kpọlu mmadụ, mmadu ole ma ole wee jewe n’afa
Omekagu’s father took some people and went to the place of the diviner
E luzie n’afa, efie na fu onye na afụrụ ya ọfụ
When they reached the place of the diviner, the native doctor who sees
Wee welu ọkpụkpa wụraa n’ani wụraa n’ani wụraa n’anị
Threw his beads on the ground three times
Wee sị ya ya jee ka ọ yọwa nwa ya diọpara na ọ bụ ya bụ ife mekpọrọ nụ
And told them to go and beg the eldest son, that he was the cause of all that happened
Na ọ bụrụ na ọ yọbu ya, Omekaagụ ga-esi n’ebe o dina kulie
If he (the king) begs him, Omekaagụ will rise from the dead
O wee bụlụ ya bụ na nna Omekaagụ anọta
And so Omekaagụ’s father returned
Wee yọba diọkpara sị ya biko bido taata
And begged the first son saying that from today
Na ngwulu ya niile dị ya n’aka
His compound is in his hands
Na ọ bụ na o jizi ike mee ka nwa bụ Omekaagụ kunie
That if he can make his son Omekaagụ rise up
Ya welu ife niile ya bụ ife ya nwele enwe
He should take everything he has
Omekaagụ ya nwa tọgbọkwanụ n’ozu
Omekaagụ was lying lifeless
O mazi ife na-emenụ?
Did he know what was happening?
Otuto ntogbu na-egbu nwa nkịta
The praise that kills the baby dog
O kuniazi gakwulu Omekaagụ
Did it go and meet Omekaagụ?
Nna ya na anya mmiri
His father was in tears
Nne ya na anya mmiri
His mother was in tears
Wa ayọkatazie nke diọkpara a nụ nwa
He kept pleading with his first son
Ndị be anyị, ọ bụrụ na ị nụrọ ayịyọ mmadụ ibe rịọrọ gị
Our people, if you do not heed the advice of your fellow man
Ọ bụ nke mmụọ ka ị ga-anụ
Is it that of the spirit that you will hear?
Eee! Mmadụ ibe gi yọọ gị ife. ị nụrụ
Yes! If your fellow human being begs you for something, listen
Ọbụ ni fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ọbụ na I fugbuelum Omekagụ, fugbuelum Omekagụ
If you blow Omekagụ to death, blow Omekagụ to death
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
So I will sacrifice a ram to clap for you
Ma na gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma na gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Mmm mmm mm mm mm mm, Mmm mmm mm mm mm mm
Unu anugo mgbe akpịrị na-ebe akwa
Our people, you have heard when the termite is crying
Ọ ọ kwanụ akwa arịrị
It is lamentation
Egwu onye agbaghị n’ọkpa, o kwee n’isi
A dance of the legs or nodding of the head
Etu a ka e mekazialụ
It continues this way
O wee bụlụ bụ na nwanne Omekaagụ wee welụkwa opi ya nụ
And Omekaagụ’s brother took his horn
Opi ike wee tinye n’ọnụ
The great horn and put it in his mouth
Wee kpọbakwa opi ya sị ya biko kpọteere ya nwanne ya
And called his horn and begged it to bring back his brother.
Chorus of Omekagu
Opi m futeelum Omekagụ; futelu m Omekagụ
My horn, please, bring back Omekagu.
Omekagụ li ji Mmụọ; Omekagụ li ede Mmụọ
Omekagụ ate the yam of the Spirit; Omekagụ ate the cocoyam of the Spirit
Ọbụ ni i futelum Omekagụ, futelum Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring back Omekagu.
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ọbụ na I futeelum Omekagụ; futelu m Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring Omekagụ back
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ma gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Ọbụ ni i futelum Omekagụ, futelum Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring back Omekagu.
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ọbụ na I futeelum Omekagụ; futelu m Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring Omekagụ back
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ma gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Outro of Omekagu
O ru ka ọ fụchalu ya bụ opi ya
As he finished blowing the horn
Omekaagụ wee si n’ọnwụ wee kunie
Omekaagụ rose from the dead
Nne na nna ya wee fụchasịa anya mmiri
His parents wiped their tears
Anụrị wee ju fa obi
Joy filled their hearts
Ndị nine nọ ebe ahụ wee soro fa na-anụrị
Everybody present rejoiced with them
Maka na ọ gbara fa gharịị
Because it was a mystery to them
Ya bụ ụmụnne m na ụmụnna m
Therefore, my brothers and sisters
E sịkwana na ọ bụ maka ị fụ mmadụ n’anya
Do not say that it is because you love someone
Ka ị ga-eji wee welụ ife lulu onye ọzọ wee jee nye onye a
Then, you will deprive another person of his right to the comfort of the person you love.
Na ọ dịrọ MMA
It is not good.
Ya bụ onye ọ bụla mebe ezigbo ife
That is to say, every person should do the right thing.
Chorus of Omekagu
Opi m futeelum Omekagụ; futelu m Omekagụ
My horn, please, bring back Omekagu.
Omekagụ li ji Mmụọ; Omekagụ li ede Mmụọ
Omekagụ ate the yam of the Spirit; Omekagụ ate the cocoyam of the Spirit
Ọbụ ni i futelum Omekagụ, futelum Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring back Omekagu.
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ọbụ na I futeelum Omekagụ; futelu m Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring Omekagụ back
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ma gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
Ọbụ ni i futelum Omekagụ, futelum Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring back Omekagu.
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ọbụ na I futeelum Omekagụ; futelu m Omekagụ
If you bring Omekagụ back, bring Omekagụ back
Ka m welu ebini guo yi aka
Let me sacrifice a cow to clap for you.
Ma gị jide ogu, jide ọfọ; Ma gị jide ogu, jidekwa ọfọ
But hold justice and fairness when you do this.
Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho. Oh ho ho oh ho oh ho.
End Note
Disclaimer:
I decided to write these lyrics because in 2015 I searched for them online and found none, and in 2021, there was still non, so I wrote it out for people like me who may want to understand what the Master Storyteller, Mike Ejeagha was singing. So pardon my spelling. I’m neither an expert in writing nor speaking Igbo, so my strategy for all lyrics translations is to write down exactly what I heard, see if someone else wrote it better in an academic paper, check with any Igbo speaker who has my time, check an Igbo to English translation dictionary for the most likely word he said, then when I get tired of all the work, publish.
Meanings I felt you may Like To Know
Fugbu is a play on words, to -gbu òpì is to blow a horn, by saying fugbu it is like saying tugbu. Gbu is to kill, fu also means to blow, so because you blow a horn, instead of saying strike to death (tugbu), he says fugbu, blow to death. It also matches the end chorus which is futalu to search for/find then bring.
Although, he could also have been saying figbu, which means to strangle
Katakpii is an onomatopoeia
Opi is a flute/horn made from an animal’s horn.
Ogede is the Igbo word for plantain, banana and pawpaw. Since only pawpaw has (mkpukpu) seeds, it’s safe to assume that it means pawpaw.
Ma na gị jide ogu jide ọfọ literally translates to ‘but hold justice and fairness,’ however it means to be just and fair.
Guo yi aka translates to clap for you but means to show appreciation
Ebini is the Igbo word for cow
Ji is Yam in Igbo, and is highly regarded in the spiritual realm
Ede is Cocoyam.
Okay, I guess that is that. How you enjoyed this beautiful folksong as narrated by Mike Ejiagha. In the following weeks I will be telling the Fablingverse’ version of this folktale, please subscribe to get notified. In the meantime, check out our other African folktales.
To listen to this folk song on Youtube, please follow this link.