Osun

The still waters above Ilesha's golden soil begin to boil gently as strangers and inhabitants converge at the sacred groove of Irunmole- the white lady of gold adorned in beads,corals and amber,

Yeye Osun boldly watched her children from afar as her river burns brightly without coal fire,

The bata drummer begins to dance,playing his drums to the blind beggar as he sings praise poetry to Sango's favourite wife,rendering her eulogy.He chants sonorously..

Arugba and her committee of priestess along with Ataoja sing and dance in praises, blessing the community as they say in their native language of yoruba,

"JI, RERIN MUSE ,JO!

JE KI OKAN 'RE KUN FUN AYO,

JE KI 'RE ERINJE IMOLE JU INA OLOJUMERINDINLOGUN LO,

NI OJO IWOPOPO YI, KI OMI WURA ILESHA FO AJALU LO,JE KI IGBESI AYE 'RE KOJA LATI KIKORO SI ADUN,

JE KI O DUN JU OYIN LO, NO ALAAFIA TI NSAN SINU OKAN 'RE,

JE KI IJI ABEBE FE AWON WAHALA KURO NINU IGBESI AYE IKU RE"

Virgins in white linen dance remarkably as their waist beads swing effortlessly on their dark waists,

The lady of gold accepts their offerings of coral and white pigeon; a connoisseur of shades that tastes each speciality,

Arugba praises the great mother of fertility who protects her children like a hen that covers her chicks under sun and precipitation,and even when the birds of the air try to attack...

*****

Johnpaul Ifeanyi (nom de plume PAULOPALZTHERIPPER) is a young student who hails from the bigheart of Nigeria,the author of UZORAMAKA. 

Recently featured in a world Anthology titled "HORRORS WITHOUT BORDERS " and currently working on a personal anthology "EAST N WAIST"

Instagram: paulopalztheripper 

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