ÒGBÓMỌ̀ṢỌ́
Ò gbé orí Ẹ̀lẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́,
Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ ògbómọjúgun
Ọmọ afògbójà
Ibi tí wọ́n gbé ń jẹkà,
kí wọ́n tó mùkọ yangan.
Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ begotten by Ajilete,
where they eat amala gobbling pap.
Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ uses ògbó to fight like devil,
if Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ is done fighting with you
and you are insensitive, you will think
Ajilete was frolicking with you.
Never defeated in wars before,
we’re now in our haven,
we can now rest and relax.
Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, we hail thee!
A one time walled city,
fast becoming a cosmopolitan city.
Bordered in the north by Ìlọrin Àfọ̀njá,
to the South by Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin,
to the west by Ìgbẹ́tì ilé ọyẹ́,
to the east by Òsogbo and Èjìgbò.
First inhabited in 1600
by Aálẹ́ followed by;
Òrìsàtólú, Ohùnsílé,
Akandíe, Ogunlọlá.
Together they formed Ẹgbẹ́ Àlòngò,
a group of brave hunters and warriors.
Ìdágìrí, a tyrant that terrified Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́;
subdued by Ṣọ̀ún.
“Iwọ” a sound from an invincible
suspected to be Ẹ̀lẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́,
it also terrified Òyó empire; subdued by Ṣòún.
“Ìwọ wẹ̀, b’Ẹ̀lẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́ jà, ẹni táàrí”
Igi Àjàgbọn
an age long tree, old as the town,
still at the back of the palace.
Also is igi àràbà at Másìífà
very wide in diameter,
with deep history and significance.
Ogun ọ̀ jàlú
a small one roomed, doorless building.
The shield and war-inhibitor.
Never dare rest your back on it
or you’ll lose your way home.
Overturning clothes to regain senses.
Òkè-Elérin sọ̀kọ̀ sọ̀kọ̀, the elephant hill,
the genesis of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́,
the metropolis of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́,
abode of stone throwers.
Headquarter of masquerade festival.
Odò ọbà, the major river,
a tributary of River Niger.
“Óba rán ni nísẹ́,
odò ọbà kún.
Isẹ́ ọba kò sé má jẹ,
odò ọbà kò sé rọ́tọ̀.”
Takie square, clumsy and ever busy,
named after the first post office director Mr Tackey.
Commercial base of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́,
filling stations, like we own the oil and gas sector,
book stores, like we control the education sector.
There, people hustle to earn a living.
The heavyweight of agriculture
known for food crops;
Yam, corn and cassava.
cash crop; tobacco
fruits; mango, cashew.
vegetables; spinach, amaranthus.
Staple food is Àmàlà
with the yellow and green soup,
ewédú and gbẹ̀gírì, jointly called àbùlà.
hence the part of the panegyric;
“Ibi tí wọ́n gbé ń jẹkà
Kí wọ́n tó mùkọ yangan”
Èlùbọ́ Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́,
produced from the best yams
hence called Èlùbọ́ isu.
“Bẹ́ jẹkà bẹ́ jẹkà ká ròkè Ọ̀yọ́ o,
Òkè Ọ̀yọ́ la gb’àmàlà sí o,
Àmàlà kere l’Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ o.”
Morning is valuable,
it’s palmwine time in a place,
we use it to work here.
We farm and trade,
produce and build.
We’re so assiduous.
The land of valiant people;
Brave and strong
Industrious and adventurous
Scattered all over the earth,
feared wide and near.
a stronghold fort with brave men.
An haven for over a thousand
towns and villages during war.
“A dé inú ọkọ̀ A sinmi o
A dé inú ọkọ̀ A sinmi
Ogun ọ̀ jà jà kó kó Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́
A dé inú ọkọ̀ A sinmi.”
A land of many kings and monarchs,
with notable matriarchs and patriarchs
The most eminent of them is Ṣọ̀ún
“Àti aya àti ọmọ kí wọ́n máa ṣọ̀ún o”
more Yorùbá nation generalissimo (Ààrẹ ọ̀nà kakañfò)
than any other town.
In politics; Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá, baba lámi lámi.
In the army; Benjamin Adékúnlé, the black scorpion.
In folklore; Daniel Àmùdá Ògúndáre Fọ́yánmu.
In the Police Force; Late IGP Sunday Adéwùsì.
In Nollywood; Lérè Pàímọ́, Ẹ̀dá onílé ọlá.
In Music; Alexander Abọ̀lọre Àdìgún, 9ice.
Amidst several others.
Outstanding institutions;
Pastors manufacturing in NBTS,
Doctors and nurses manufacturing in BUTH,
Professionals manufacturing in LAUTECH.
“Ọmọ Ládòkè, ówọ́ lókè.”
amidst other notable institutions.
In media and communication;
NTA Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ Channel 5
Ajílété FM 92.1
Parrot FM 101.1
In sports;
Amos Àdàmú, ọmọ ẹbu ọsẹ.
Sòún stadium, home of Crown FC,
Ògbómòsó Recreation Club, home to
a golf course and tennis court.
Ayò ọlọ́pọ́n; a game that dates back to ages.
A place where your careless watching
could be a death trap.
hence the popular saying,
“Ìran wíwò ni yó pa Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́”
Careful and sensible ones survive.
I’m not a tourist guide.
But I’ve guided you through the whole town,
Not need to pay me.
Just pay the town
a visit.
By Èlíjà Ọlásúnkànmí Ọdẹ́tókun.
©️hollic
