Igue Festival

By Clement Odia

Iguoyemwen! Oyemwen!
Iguoyemwen!! Oyemwen!!
Iguoyemwen!!! Oyemwen!!!

I bring forth coconut, broken and cut with care
Arranged on a plate, a symbol of our prayer
Kolanut cloves, fragrant as morning dew
A guinea fowl, decapitated, its blood flowing free

Before the family shrine
Where ancestors whisper secrets to the wind
We gather round eyes aglow like embers
Our good fortunes have brought us thus far
Like the gentle flow of the Ikpoba River
Our heads adorned with coral beads, symbolise good fortune, a blessing from the gods above

Iguoyemwen! Oyemwen!
Iguoyemwen!! Oyemwen!!
Iguoyemwen!!! Oyemwen!!!

The chant echoes, a symphony of gratitude
I recall my journey, winding like forest paths
My head has led me through darkest roads
Lit only by the glow of fireflies

Through thorns of Iyekogba, I walk with careful pace
Each step deliberate, to avoid the sharp, pointed space
The heart of the cactus plant, a path that’s hard to tread
But with each step forward, I rose above the pain and dread

I have a good fortune, and I must celebrate
With the rhythmic beat of ube drum
As I look back, Isee footprints of my ancestors
Leading me through ages, like ancient paths
And moon dips into the horizon

I touch my head with this plate of coconut three times
To connect with the earth, home of my forebears
I touch my head with this plate of kolanut
To honour the gods of our land

I dip my hand into the blood of the guinea fowl
To seal my covenant with the ancestors
Each touch connects me to the earth
Where my roots run deep, like the iroko tree

Iguoyemwen! Oyemwen!
Iguoyemwen!! Oyemwen!!
Iguoyemwen!!! Oyemwen!!!

The chant swells, a joyful noise
That echoes across the land
A celebration of a good year, and all its blessings.