In this article I will be translating the lyrics of the song ‘Ojemba’ by two of Nigeria’s biggest indigenous rappers/singers, Olamide and Phyno. The song was recorded mainly in Igbo language and with a little Yoruba language and Nigerian pidgin.
Ojemba enwe ilo means a traveller does not have/keep enemies. Someone who travels around, should ensure that he or she is in good terms with the people whose land he or she visits. For your own good, you should endure to abide by the rules and the norms of the land you travel to and have a cordial relationship with the locals or indigenes of the land that you visit in order to ensure your survival. A traveller should know how to co-exist with those with a totally different culture from his own. So that’s what the line means, Ojemba enwe ilo meaning a traveller doesn’t keep enemies.
An Igbo man who has travelled round the world or travelled round the nation, a man who is well travelled, and has achieved success in a foreign land is called the name ‘Ojemba enwe ilo’ as an accolade.
So let’s proceed to the lyrics translation.
Mad oh
Hmmmm
Wa
Oluwa cover me oh
(God covers me)
Man no fit be God oh
(Man cannot be God)
They wan make I slow down oh
(They want me to slow down)
But I no go look back oh
(But I won’t look back)
Ọ kwa Chukwu na-enye oh
(It is God that giveth)
E dey sweet me for belle oh
(It sweetens my belle)
Ife ọ sọlụ fa mebe oh
(Let them do whatever they like)
Abụkwa m ojemba enwe ilo
(I am the traveller without an enemy)
God cover me for my front and my back oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(God covers my front and my back (Traveller that doesn’t have an enemy))
You wish me to fall I go jump I go pass oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(You wish for my downfall but I will jump and pass (Traveller that doesn’t have an enemy))
Chasing the bag ife anyị na-achọ bụ ego mbute (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(Chasing the bage, what we are looking for is heavy money)
No weapon fashion against me shall prosper oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
This little light of mine oh I’m gonna let it shine oh
See wetin God don design oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(See what God has designed)
This little light of mine oh I’m gonna let it shine oh
See wetin God don design oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(See what God has designed)
[Olamide]
If I fall I rise I got my eyes set on the prize
You know say shoe get size
(You know that shoe comes in different sizes)
And all my shoes na designer
(And all my shoes are designers)
Heavy is the head wey dey carry the crown
(Heavy is the head that carries the crown)
Omo my shoe no go fit any man
(Yo my shoes will not fit any man)
Even if I dey for dungeon or underground
(Even if I am in the dungeon or I’m underground)
Oluwa cover me anytime
(God covers me anytime)
And if you snooze you collect
(And if you snooze, you will lose)
And if you lose dem forget you my guy you go quench
(And if you lose they will forget you, my guy you will quench/fade away)
So many goons for my set
(So many friends in my set/So many friends are that my mates)
Many goons wey dey para
(Many friends that are angry)
Wey dey zazu for the bench oh
(That are restless on the bench) (Meaning so many of his age mates that are angry and are waiting for a shot at success)
We can’t stop we carry shinning armor
On our way to Zion
All my guys them be Lion
(All my guys they are lions)
Won bi iya won
(They dare not)
God cover me for my front and my back oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(God covers my front and my back) (The traveller with no enemies)
Obstacle come I go jump I go pass oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(If obstacles come I will jump and pass)
See no looking back ife anyị na-achụ bụ ego mbute (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(See, no looking back, what we are looking for it big/heavy money)
No weapon fashion against me shall prosper oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
Anyị ga na-eje eje na-abata abata oh ewoo (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(We will always go and return back)
And fa ya na-akụ aka ma anyị bata abata oh ewoo (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(And they will clap hands when we return)
Gwa onye na-ewe iwe ya belụ ebelụ ewoo (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(Tell the person that is angry to continue crying)
No weapon fashion against me shall prosper oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
This little light of mine oh I’m gonna let it shine oh
See wetin God don design oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(See what God has designed)
This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine oh
See wetin God don design oh (Ojemba enwe ilo)
(See what God has designed)
Leave a Reply