Oriki Ibadan

Ibadan, where Oluyole was born. The third largest city in Africa Known for its ancient civilization. As peaceful as anyone could describe As quiet as the people would like it I think of Ibadan, I think of tranquillity in a city, I think of Ibadan, I think of country life and city life same time. Ibadan, the city of great warriors, Ibadan, the town of Ogunmola, Ibikunle, Ajayi and Ojo. I remember the legendary Efunsetan. The kind woman whom by nature’s occurrence turned wicked. A true mother, rich in every way. A woman with the confidence of a man. But the loss of her only daughter turned the tide in her history of good deeds.

Ibadan, the home of “Are Latoosa”. “Are Ona Kakanfo” The great field mashal Who travail in the face of war. Latoosa, the great warrior, valiant in battle and astute in leadership. Can the history of the Kiriji war be complete without Latoosa? Ija ‘gboro ni’ja
Ibadan!

Ibadan that glories in the victories and losses of her valiant ones. Ibadan that learns from the misdeeds of her elders. Bee ba gbo iku Gaa, ki e dawo ibi duro (If you know the end of Gaa, you will desist from evil). Ibadan that stands against that which is bad. Ibadan, with the unique language. Do I hear someone say “shiken” for Chicken? “Shair,” in the place of Chair, “Sow” for Show. They never meant to bastardize another man’s language. They are simply being the Ibadan that they are.

Adugbo bee re bee, Ibadan bee ree bee (Large land area, many compound houses makes Ibadan). From Agodi to Dugbe; Beere to Beyeruka; Mapo down to Gate; Oke Are, Oke Paadi, Ososami, Oke Ado, Orita-merin, Orita mefa Ogunpa Oyo, Yemetu Aladorin, Challenge, Molete, Oluyole, Bodija, Ashi, Basorun, Eleyele, Apata-Ganga, Omi-adio, Bako, Bakatari Owode, Orisunbare,
Aleshiloye, Odo-Ona Ibadan, the town for all.

Ibadan to gb’ole, to gb’ole (Ibadan where both thieves and the lazy dwell safely) Ibi ole ti n gbe jare ol’oun (Where the thief is favoured against the owner) Ibadan mesi ogo! E ba mi ki oke Ibadan o (I salute the Ibadan hill) The hiding place of warriorsThe deliverer of the warrior of old. No wonder they worship you as a deity. Even as you breed other hills. Oke Are, Oke mapo, Oke Mokola, Olorunkole, Bako… Ibadan, where civilization crawled in. The premiere university -University of Ibadan. The first television station in Africa- NTA Ibadan. The first sky-scrapper- Cocoa House Eba odan (Where bats dwell), the home of innovation. Ibadan, ile Aje (Ibadan the home of merchandise). I think of Ojoo market, where the fruits are at a give away price.

Ibadan, ar’egun yangan (Ibadan the home of masquerades) The town where masquerades are highly esteemed. Ologbojo, ar’egun yangan (Ologbojo, that rejoices in masquerades). To the front of the Ologbojo, I see the masquerade’s calabash. To the left of Ologbojo, I see the many masquerades To the right of Ologbojo, I see many masquerades, Behind Ologbojo, I see many masquerades. Lole b’egun sere o, Lole b’egun sere, A f’omo a bi loje Lo le b’egun sere (Only the child born in the Oje’s compound can play with masquerades).

Ibadan, where the corrugated roofing sheets sings ancient civilization. Where the unplanned terrain says, your great- grand
parents lived or passed here Ibadan where the town head is more popular than some chieftain. Ibadan, we can only be proud.

IBADAN. -Gbemi Orims.