DASA FYB OF THE WEEK

 

  ALÁJÒÓTÀ

Roll out gongs into the ears of Àyánwálé,

to rip out the phantasm

of drowsiness that perches on him

I say:

Roll out gongs into the ears of Àyánwálé;

lift him like the wind does to the helpless leaf,

and set his drums in motion for today's ritual!

 

Àyánwálé,

like the hunter fills his gun for the day's hunt,

swearing to never miss his

shot at any slothful antelope,

let your drums spark my weary bones

intto action!

Like the fight between brutal bulls,

punishing the earth in a frenzy violence,

let them cause my legs

to wrestle with the earth!

 

Ayánwálé,

roll out drums into my buttocks,

and let them shed the pains

that have heaped on my body from the day's toil!

I say:

roll out drums into my buttocks,

and let me dance the dance of the mother hen in her roosting shed, gyrating her body

to the distance sound of ìyáàlù!

 

Let me dance the dance

of  the happy monkey, twacking his chest

to the rhythmic sounds of the bàtá!

 

Let me dance

to fight the land

for  the troubles it has caused me!

 Olasubomi Samuel