Folklore and voodoo is an integral part of african culture and thus cannot be overemphasized.As a child, I grew up in an environment where these mythic tales were told as if it all happened a day before.
For the sake of this article I will be explaining the folktale in the song of the legendary Nigerian artist Mike Ejeagha.
The global Internet has been on fire following the release of a comic video by one of Nigeria's famous comedian with the name Brainjotter.
The video featured Brainjotter and his colleague walking and shaking their waist to a folklore embedded highlife music by Nigerian popular artist Mike Ejeagha.
The Igbo tribe is the major tribe of south eastern Nigeria.
His songs were made and written in Igbo language.
In Igbo culture, the tortoise is regarded as a very intelligent animal while the lion is seen as the king of the forest.
The mystic art and music behind voodoo practices and folklore tales is quite lovable if you understand the proverbs being used during the course of its exhibitions.This proverbs elucidate the belief of the land and further reiterate the awesomeness of the powers at hand.
This is one of the songs in his album "Enyi ga achi" (meaning Elephant will rule).
I will be using closed brackets to write the English meaning of the lyrics in his song.
Quotable Lyrics Of The Song
Gwo gwo gwo ngwo
Ka ana kpo chairman
Gwo gwo gwo ngwo x3
Nna m Eze akpata m enyi x2
Nwa mbe isi ni kpata onye?
Asi m ani ya dube enyi chebe enyi
Nwa mbe isi ni kpata onye?
Asi m ani ya dube enyi chebe enyi
Odi ka asi nkpata m onye x2
Akwa enyi ga abu isi oche x2
Enyi naga na anyi so gi nazu x2source
In this album, he told a tale of mbe (tortoise) and Enyi(elephant). In his song, the wise tortoise deceived the almighty elephant and used it as a bait to marrying the Lion's daughter who was the King at that time.
Many suitors came to marry the kings daughter
both big and small animals but she refused to marry any of them.
A day came, her father (the lion) summoned her and her siblings for them to help him convince her to choose a suitor.
This is when Adaeze (princess) told the king (lion) that any man that will be her husband must be able to bring an elephant (enyi) to her traditional wedding so that the villagers will know she is powerful.
Meanwhile, (mbe) the tortoise had come for her hand in marriage but the king pursued him away.
After, hearing the kings daughter's proclamation, the tortoise (mbe) was very happy because elephant was his best friend.
However, the tortoise(mbe) knew that the elephant will not agree to be his best man because the elephant (enyi) also had interest in the kings daughter.
So it was a game of who is more clever to convince the elephant.
The tortoise (mbe) went to the king and announced a date for his bridal introduction and wedding.
The king and his cabinet laughed because they didn't believe he could bring the elephant (enyi) to his occasion.
The tortoise (mbe) on the other hand had told the elephant (enyi) that the king (lion) is hosting an "OFALA FESTIVAL" and wants him to be the chairman of the occasion (enyi ga abu onye isi oche).
The elephant (enyi) agreed and followed the tortoise (mbe) to the kings house.
On their way, the tortoise (mbe) began to walk sluggishly and this made the elephant (enyi) to tell the tortoise (mbe) to climb his back so they can reach on time.
But the tortoise (mbe) told the elephant (enyi) that he was too tall for him to climb and thus needed him to tie a rope on his neck and lay it down for him to use and climb on his back.
The elephant (enyi) did what the tortoise (mbe) requested and they started moving with the heavy sound coming from the elephants leg recorded as
"GWO GWO GWO NGWO".
When they reached the kings palace gate,
The tortoise shouted Nna m Eze akpata m enyi (which means "O king I have brought the elephant for you").
And the king replied Nwa mbe isi ni kpata onye (which means "small tortoise who did you say you brought")
In order for the elephant not to catch the event and know he was being deceived.
The tortoise replied the king Asi m ani ya dube enyi chebe enyi
Odi ka asi nkpata m onye (I said ani (earth god) should guide and protect enyi (elephant) but it sounded like I said I have brought the elephant for you 😂).
And the tortoise (mbe) ended his speech with Akwa enyi ga abu isi oche
Enyi naga na anyi so gi nazu (The elephant must be the chairman of the occasion, O elephant keep moving I am with you).
And the sound of their leg walk recorded as GWO GWO GWO NGWOR.
They finally got to the Palace and the tortoise handed the elephant to the King and got his daughter as a price for his prowess.
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