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THE TALE OF OMEKAGU – LYRICS

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Omekagu lyrics and story mike ejeagha igbo to englich translation Omekagu - Lyrics

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.

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