ADUNNI by Moyomade Winnie

Hear me, Awero
Grandmother of our damsel Adunni
Listen Abeni!
Grandmother of the young lad Adio
You failed to teach him
The customs
Of our ancestors Ayeni and Aremu.

Now, he brings death
And loom hovers above our heads
Adio has brought us shame
Esu has used Adio

Adio has broken
The gates of a virgin
As a siren blows,
So also her wails pierce the air
Adunni has become a laughingstock
While Abeke lies on the deathbed.

I still remember those days
When Ajani our father
Drinks wine from his cup
And lies outstretched on his chair
And tells Adunni
Adunni! Sing the ballads of our ancestors
Be a light to Alake and Areo

Adunni used to be our sister
Now, Adunni is gone.
The loose gallows swallowed her spirit
The ballads have been turned to dirges.

Adio, where are you?
The dead will not rest
Until justice has been delivered
The spirit of our Adunni
Still lurks around.

In the shadows of the future,
A future without our bright lampshade
Your generation shall suffer ; Adio
They shall be without light.

Adio! Alake and Areo shall bring back justice
Justice to the one who killed their sister
Abeke will bring back justice
Justice to the one who killed her daughter
Then you shall become a laughingstock
And your brain shall be free
Your brain will fly like a bird
You shall talk alone in your farm
And eat with the spirits
Deserted shall your home be
And of course,
Death will be your end.
           Adunni, goodbye.

By: A. M. M winnie,
LLB 1,oau.