On the 1st of October 2012 which happens to be Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, I was watching a program (THE PLATFORM) on Channels TV sponsored by the Covenant Christian Center. Several speakers came up stage to speak, but the speaker that really got me thinking “IF HARD WORK STILL PAYS IN NIGERIA” was REMI OYO. Her speech caught my attention when she began reciting a very inspiring Yoruba poem, the poem brought back childhood memories, and I wondered if such poems were still been recited in our schools anymore.
If the Nigerian Youth can make this poem a source of guideline for life, I think Nigeria will be a better place
I was once again touched by the wordings of the poem and I thought to share the poem in YORUBA and translate to ENGLISH, so the non-Yoruba speaking readers can also learn from it
The Poem goes thus:
ISE LOGUN ISE – HARD WORK IS THE REWARD
Ise ni ogun ise»» Work is the antidote of conquering lack.
Mura si ise ore mi»» Get busy my friend.
Ise ni afi ndeni giga»» We become great by working.
Bi ako ba reni fehinti»» If we don’t have anyone to help us
Bi ole la a ri »» We are likened to the lazy ones.
Bi a ko ba reni gbekele»» If we can’t find anyone to trust
A tera mose eni »» Just keep working tenaciously.
Iya re le lowo lowo »» Your mum might be so rich.
Baba re si le leshin le kan»»Your father might be affluent
Bi o ba gboju le won »» If you depend on what they’ve.
O te tan ni mo so fun o »» you are just a step from disgrace.
Ohun ti a ko ba jiya fun »» Things you don’t suffer for
Se kii le tojo »» Don’t really last
Ohun ti a ba fara sise fun »» things u struggle to achieve.
Ni npe lowo eni »» last longer with you
Apa lara»» The spoilt brat has relations
Igunpa ni iye kan»»
Bi aiye ba nfe o loni»» if the world loves you today,
Ti o balowo lowo »» if you’ve got money to spend
Won a ma fe o lola »» people will love you even tomorrow
Jeki o wa ni ipo atata»» when you are in an important position
Aiye a ma ye o si terin-terin»» people will sing your praise
Jeki o deni rago »» when things take turn for the worse
Ko o ri bi aiye ti nyinmu si o»» You will see how you are mocked.
Eko si tun seni doga »» Education sure makes u a boss.
Mura ki o ko dara-dara »» learn fast.
Iya nbo fomo ti ko gbon »» suffering pends for the disobedient
Ekun mbe fomo ti o nsa kiri
Ma fowuro sere ore mi »»doesn’t toy with your youth.
Mura si ise ojo nlo.»» face your work because time is fast moving
I want to specially Thank Tope Atiba for giving me the full transcript of the poem and Sola Oni for helping to translate in English
Thanks for reading, do you think HARD WORK STILL PAYS IN NIGERIA? Please kindly leave a comment!
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