Jagunlabi

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Jagunlabi

During the reign of Olugbon

I made three shawls

In the time of Aresa

I made six shawls

In the reign of Aresa,

I bought velvet and Sanyan the king of all clothes

Here comes the ominous reign of Jagunlabi

The sage’s word we had neglected

We sold chickens and purchased Guinea-fowls

The Bugler in Agbada offered to help fix our doors

And we were never suspicious, shame!!!

Who puts a cat in charge of chickens?

My Father’s father bought six shawls in Aresa’s days

A shilling for one in Jagunlabi teary times I have not

Igunugun circles our circles searching for carcass of our dead

The village maidens now sing dirges behind the curtains

For their hunger sunken buttocks will not wiggle to Ayangalu’s drum

Nor will their once sumptuous breast be a delight in the gathering of men

Tell Jagunlabi in his rocky castle

He who stoops to hunt rabbit holes forgets that his own rare is exposed

Tell his elected chief eagles, who are incapable of snatching a chick

The thumbs that thumbed you power, will unseat you from the high places

FOOTNOTES

Olugbon and Aresa- Yoruba kings with prosperous reign

Jagunlabi- A tyrant king

Sanyan- A traditional Yoruba cloth worn on special occasion

Igunugun- Vulture 

Amudipe Opeyemi Marcus

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