Shekere Poem by James Mallum

Royal blood
That is what I am
Not by the beads crimson as ruby
Nor with adornments gold and shiny
The king's wives are many
Mother is not any
In the kingdom of spite
A prince must pay the price
It was a call to a journey
Where men have no need for money
Beyond the hills of Olumo
The rock of a victor
And into the warmth of Ikogosi
To wash off my sins
Therefore I arose like the eagle
And followed the sun to its cradle
Where the men sang
And this is my dance

Shekere shekere
Akinmade Shekere
Ibi onilu ban re
L'omoba nlo

Oh how noble it is to be heard
In the parlance of common men
Celebrated, like the vapors condensing in spring
Welcomed, as the drunkard receiving a drink
Where we made music the sound of our soul
Dance is our heartbeat a rhythm of our own
The synergy of beauteous debutantes
And the energy of euphonious chants
O beaded gourds rattling with commotion
Altogether vectors pointing one direction
For our worlds have thus collide
Through each other's eyes
Omorewa your name
The sound of beauty driving me insane
Even myself I know today
The moon will beg you for the sun's ray
While the women still sing
Of your waist with envy

Shekere shekere
Omorewa shekere
Bibi onilu ban lu
L'omoge njo

Beaded gourd
That is what you are
By the Jigida where lust have lavished
And by the bangles you have been ravished
With suitors so many
Only I can make company
If you would be my bride
I would surely double the price
I have heard the rumors
The gods are at war
Because when you spread those arms
And dance by the Ogun river
Tempting the waters as rain to disguise
Late at night with the Ijebu forest to reside
Whenever you throw the Shekere into the air
Suddenly I know how much for you care
Yabara a song as well as dance
The young men chant and hold the damsels.

Shekere shekere
Eyin odo shekere
Bi onilu ban se
Lawa gan o se