Ondo Kingdom, My homeland – a place where our story begins…
Other lands are made of bricks and beams, but Ekimogun is built with love and dreams.
…with four corners that enclose the right people.
Glorious, Glamorous, Gorgeous and Generous
We are the Chief School of Shinning Shimmering Virtues
Illustrious by undisputed surrounding peace in a serene ether.
We travel the world over in search of treasures, but always return home to find it
Warmth! Fresh breath! Long life over hasty death!
Beautiful Looks! Brainy Books! Clean Brooks! Good Foods! Brilliant Cooks!
Ondo Eghi is the home we know and the land we love – a place that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
Listen to a big cock crow in the land where the sun sets
Its break of dawn, all hail the peculiar people of Ijama
Echoes of many feet, we are going to Ondo Eghi
To our homestead, all dressed in Alaari loi Aso, iyi aa mu pon’mo – a cut above the rest
Be it Asho, L’iketa, L’ujomu, L’ishida, L’agbede or L’ifoe…
E ma binu o, a jae monfe
Awa omo a s’oro magbalagbe o, a jae monfe ooo
Omo ala san’bien li, a jae monfe ooo…
Like a Peacock, Omo Logun – a m’ula miji oju s’eye, appears from a distance with so much poise.
Stepping with so much Grace, Glory and Guts.
Don’t tell a deaf man that a soup is spicy, Or a blind man that the market is disarrayed.
Ondo Kingdom, led by a stunning King, is Beauty, Creativity and Uniqueness encapsulated…
Come with me to UGHA and see Arewa Oba l’aafin Ekimogun…
Abaiye o! O ku opolopolo!
O monmo ‘ebo, o mu yie shaif’ana
Uku alashe, ugba’gbomola
Ajiwajiwa’leke! O toitileke b’awon d’obien oyo
O s’oko dudu, s’oko pupa
Om’omo ghun’ko tounti’bebe e
D’ade pe lo’i, di bata pe n’ose Oba wa
Osemawe of Ondo Land
Uwonke’e a d’abe’e n’owo Kabiesi o.
The Bell of Gold blares, the rhythm of Gangan, Ayalu and Omele shakes our feet.
They beat in unison, beckoning to us to remember our Spectacular and Phenomenal Origin.
Singing of the Ugba Uli we will use to S’oge and the Awo Uli we will use to S’eyan
Kajo Kajo Kajo, dance is in our blood…
Kayo Kayo Kayo, rejoicing in our hearts…
Uyo e yo leun yo san, makes goodness dey rush us.
A people that ooze smiles, joy and happiness, like “Shengennenshen”
N’Ondo o shengennenshen, n’Ekimogun o shengennenshen.
Like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions but our root remains the same
Our streets are made of wet cement. The longer you stay, the harder it is to leave and you can never let go without leaving your footprints.
We love soaking Gai yo kan, inside omi tutu yo sewon with Eja Gbede, pelu taibo ati iyo – the definition of a perfect lunch on a hot Afternoon.
An early morning walk from Okelisa to Arilekolasi is highly recommended to keep you fit.
And when dinner time comes, you don’t want to miss Iyán pelu obe Èfó garnished with lúkotokíkí, eangbé ati ìpée.
The ache for Ondo Eghi lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.
We are the salt of any community we find ourselves;
E ka mon bia tein, a boi wa yo e gb’odo.
If “manners makes man” as someone said, then we are the heroes of the day.
And yes, indeed, e si, e si o, e s’onuya n’omo’ndo o eee…
E men s’emi nukan o n’Ondo, Ondo wa dede
E men s’emi nukan o n’Ekimogun o, tuwo dede
E men s’emi nukan o n’ayo, ayo wa dede
E men s’emi nukan o n’Ondo o, tuwo dede … !
written And Composed By : Oni Gege Ara