 |
| Photo credit : Flames |
A piece dedicated to
‘Mojisola’
Whose name inspired the story.
It's another beautiful day in the land of a thousand people where Mojisola alaso ofi resides in a palace. The talking drum beats, calling her to rise from her bed of a thousand peacock feathers.
[1]“ Mojisola alaso ofi o.. nle o…Ojire bi….omo eleni ateika… omo ajifojogbogbo dara bi egbin..gberanle odideo…. Okan to wuyi larin arewa obirin…o dara bi egbin….o sewa bi okin… dide nle o… a o rojo muso lokun o…dide.”
So Mojisola’s day begins in the land of a thousand people.
The call from the talking drum is usually the sound that breaks the silence of the approaching dawn even before the sun parts open the thick curtain of darkness that drew down on the faded beauty of the day before.
The chants of Mojisola Alaso Ofi’s praises from the talking drum would fill the air that even the cocks would often forget their duty of proclaiming the wake of the day with their usual crowing as Mojisola Alao Ofi’s praises drown all, and this would often rouse the people of the land of a thousand people out of their slumber.
Mojisola rises from her bed of a thousand peacock’s feather and steps into the courtyard of her beautiful palace where her subjects would wait on her..
[2]“Ma rora Ibadi aran…ma rora gbese ni ikookan…Omo Ajilala Osho…Omo Ajifojogbogbodara “
The praises of Mojisola Alaso Ofi rings through the palace while the land of a thousand people prepares for the big day ahead…
[1] Mojisola Alaso Ofi…hello…hope you woke up well… the one whose mat spreads out…the one whose beauty grows everyday like that of an antelope….arise…..a distinguished one out of so many beauties….her beauty could be compared the beautiful colours of a peacock…Arise….for the day cannot be tied down….Arise
[2] Easy with your strides beautiful princess….the one that dreams of beauty…..the one that grows beautifully day after day
2
The day of the big market fair has arrived, where the best of which the land could yield avail in plenty for all to purchase and admire. The land of a thousand people receives many on this day as people would come from even as far as the faraway lands beyond the hills and from lands across the great river.
Often you would wonder, why so many would choose to come into the land of a thousand people on this big market fair day, perhaps to make more from their goods or perhaps to see the famous night dance at the village square? Or to be more precise, to catch a glimpse of the famous “MOJISOLA ALASO OFI” for such has become of her fame that no one would deny the fact of not having heard of the name.
The big market fair is usually a day to look forward to, a day when all beings meet at the market square that lies behind the palace of the great king of the land of a thousand people.
The market has come alive with the air filled with sounds that could only be heard from the market only and if you had visited on such a day, I am sure you would have been confused at what to buy as all on display would attract the deepest senses of appreciation.
Now let’s retrace our steps back to the palace of Mojisola Alaso Ofi, the princess of the land of a thousand people.
Mojisola now is dressed and decked as the royalty she is, magnificent and alluring in the sight of those that could catch a glimpse of her majesty.
[1]“Mojisola Alaso Ofi, Omo Oba setan ati geshin woja”
Mojisola is set to ride her horse into the market square, and yes, the big fair day has just begun
Her subjects walk ahead leading the horse on which she rides while the talking drum trails behind rendering the most beautiful lyrics to proclaim her entry.
[2]“Mojisola Alaso ofi nbo o
Mojisola alaso ofi, omo oba nbo o
Ero ona a yago lona….Ero oja e fona le..kolona le koja
Atabga atomode ewa wo omo oba
Mojisola Alaso Ofi , Omo Oba tin geshin woja mbo o”
[1]“ Mojisola Alaso Ofi…the princess is ready to ride her horse into the market square”
[2]“ Mojisola Alaso Ofi is coming …Princess Mojisola Alaso Ofi is coming… give way fellow passer-by….give way to the owner of the road…Both the old and the young, come and see the princess as she makes her entry…..Mojisola Alaso Ofi, the princess that rides into the market is coming.
3
Mojisola’s entry into the market square is being proclaimed loudly, those who have heard had to call on those who might not have heard for no one would miss catching a glimpse of the passing princess, as such was the magnificence of Mojsola Alaso Ofi.
There she comes, on her decked horse, trotting gracefully into the market, beaming with smiles so full like the full moon and her eyes so hypnotizing such that an innocent bystander wouldn't know when he would follow the procession and become like her subjects only to come back to his senses when he reaches mojisola’s palace. Mojisola Alaso Ofi’s entry transfixed all in the market square, once, a woman gave all she had on her stock to a stranger while mojisola passed by, only for her to realize she had lost all when mojisola left. One could say mojisola Alaso Ofi is the reason for the big market fair.
Mojisola Alaso Ofi leaves the market as gracefully as she‘d made her entry. Retiring for the day as she awaits her many suitors who would usually bring gifts to her at the end of the market day.
While so many seek her hand in marriage Mojisola Alaso Ofi only awaits the bold smiling young man she sees often in her dreams. Often the young man would call to her like he was so far away and too many times she had reached out to touch him but often she usually awoke from such dreams.
The dreams, so real that she knew the smiling young man would come someday
While so many may come bearing gifts of extraordinary values , mojisola would never give her heart out as she awaits till she sets her eyes on the smiling young man whom she alone knows
The strong, the mighty, the bravest and even the fairest had come and yet many would still come, mojisola Alaso ofi would rather choose to wait until the day her prince would arrive.
Mojisola Alaso Ofi is humble and her kindness surpasses even her famed beauty.
Mojisola Alaso Ofi, the glowing flame of the land of a thousand people. She loves her people and you could see how much they have come to love their princess and would only wish the smiling hero of her dreams comes in earnest.
Mojisola Alaso Ofi retires to her bed of a thousand peacocks feathers even as she goes into the land where all is made real and in time to behold yet the face of the fair one she awaits.
The talking drum chants her praises till it all grew still in the land of a thousand people.
[1]“Mojisola Alaso Ofi, orekelewa….afinju omo oba tin fi jo gbogbgo dara…Asunji o
To be continued …..
[1] Mojisola Alaso Ofi, the beauty….the delicate princess that grows beautifully daily
By
Bamidele F.Oni
