An Appeal to Ancestral “Opandatas”- A Poem

By Saturday, 25th of April, 2009, whatever  Nigerian time, My Ancestors will be trooping out from the heavenly abodes to pay visits to their Children. As a Lagosian faced with the prejudice of being called a highly uncultured element because of Economic Developments that has made my once ancestral village a hub of Activities, I am delighted to have them grace the Further developments happening in Lagos through the New Governor.  Lagos is Nigeria’s New York but this does not undermine the admixture of tradition and modernization.

I need also to say, that this poem might be published by one of the Nigerian Dailies, I sent it them.

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                                          An Appeal to Ancestral “Opandatas”

                                                       Morgan Oluwafemi

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Welcome, ancestral spirits

Let your language reach the ears of Eleedua

May ours be hearts as pure as your garbs, Esua*.

You of gory Opandatas* for offenders

You of bestowing blessings for the good residents

You of long gone residents.

Speak to the sea; may it not swallow our homes

Pray for your children; bring wealth from the ancestral banks

Order we shall have, when you proceed in ranks.

Fear not for fallen old buildings and new ones

Hit our leader with your Opa sorire*,  serere*, setoju*

For things and beads are changing, so we can beat new ilu*.

Let migrant birds see- culture dances and binds our blood,

May we be worthy to join you for visitations

When white clothes of silence gives us invitations.

But may we not join you yet-

Lagos is getting sweet

Hoodlums are getting off the street.

Let migrant birds see- culture dances  that Fund our blood,

When you are gone leave behind everything good

And our sorrows, pain, pangs  be your loot, empty, where they once stood. 

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NB: Meanings of non English words

Opanbata- The Stick in the hands of the masquerade

Esua- a greeting of the initiates and a cliché used during this period by the initiates and indigenes

Opa Sorire- The Sticks in their their hands have names, names that have strong meanings. This sticks name means that any one patted gently with it will be successful.

Opa serere- just like the above, but this means that the person will do well in life and in his or her endevour.

Opa Setoju- just like the afore-mentioned but this means take care, Telling the person to take care of the affairs of the family left behind by the visitors.

Ilu- means land or country