Lúfadéjù- the slave, because of a crown, is greater

I wrote this poem for my undergraduate final year project. The poem takes the listener through a coronation ceremony of a former enslaved who has become King. This piece was written as an Oriki (Yoruba praise poem) for this character and it was translated to and read in Yoruba by my good friend Omolade Oni.

Incase you're wondering what the poem is saying, here is the English version:

The brave One

Defiant Soldier

Voice of a thousand

Voice for a thousand slaves and many more.

His words prove justice wrong

His words pierce the hearts of the “good” and make the wicked fall face flat to the ground

The ground he treads on shakes with rigour

His speech makes all tremble and his body is like brass

His silence sounds loud like the gong of the town crier

And his rage is the reason for his crown

His crown is a crown of gold

The beads on the front show his royalty

They are like a crystal river

That flows through a desert,

They speak of his excellence

The body of all bodies

Voice of all voices

Initiator of freedom

Ruler for a reason

With his crown, he will lead

Although oppressed, with his crown, he will be

KING

Bearer of the Crown

Bearer of the message

The honour and glory of the people

The slave is King and so a slave no more is he

The slave slave that bears the Crown is greater

And forever will be.

Background vocals by: Sayo Olowo-Ake, Omolade Oni and myself.

Produced by: Iberedem Etim Inyang

Follow me on instagram: @kehindeolowoake