Urhobo
Historical
Society
Urhobo
is
not
just
a Nation
By
Ochuko Tonukari
Urhobo is not just a people.
Urhobo is the celestial music,
And inside that music
Anybody from any corner of the globe
Can find the real significance of life.
Urhobo,
my
Urhobo,
where
first my eyes awoke to
heavenly light!
A
wonder
of
delight,
great land of might!
Urhobo,
first
giver
to
her people philosophy and
sacred tradition,
Urhobo,
knowledge
thou
gave
to your children,
God-love, works, art, religion's opened door.
O
even
with
all
that grandeur dwarfed or turned
to bitter loss and maim,
How
shall
we
mourn
who are thy children and can
vaunt thy mighty name?
Before
us
still
there
floats the ideal of those
splendid days of gold;
A
new
world
in
our vision wakes, with Love of
Urhobo we shall rise to mould.
Urhobo,
my
Urhobo,
who
dare call thee a thing
for pity's grace today?
A
name
that
radiates
wisdom, worship, works,
nurse of the spirit's inward ray!
I
felt
the
heat
of Urhobo, the sun�s heat of
raging fire.
I
have
touched
the
rain of Urhobo, the sweetest
hum of thunderstorm.
I
have
seen
the
girls of Urhbo,
with intelligence and a beauty unimaginable.
I
have
danced
the
music of Urhobo, around the
fireplace with the beating drums.
I
have
sung
the
songs of Urhobo and heard children�s
laughter echoing among the trees.
I
have
seen
and
heard the many great musicians
of Urhobo, crooning in melodious ecstasy.
I
have
swum
in
the most treasured blue river of
Urhobo, where mermaids hide beneath her shoreline.
I
have
beat
the
drums of Urhobo, a rhythm divine
for the whole of Urhobo people to hear.
I
have
seen
the
passion for Urhobo, in Urhobo
Historical Society.
I
long
to
go
back home, where the drums rhythm
so divine, and I will sing along, My home, my land, my treasure� my
Urhobo.
Once
my
foot
touches
you Urhobo, you fills me
with nostalgia! ! !
O
Urhobo,
my
dear
Urhobo, A place of big hearts,
the cynosure of the world; land of mythologies and gods, the cradle of
human
existence.
O Urhobo, The land of childhood dreams, blessed with serene scenery
sending
gentle breezes to cool my warm body.
O Urhobo, my happy home. I am proud of its friendly and rich culture; a
place
loaded with natural resources.
O Urhobo, my paradise with evergreen forests and beautiful waterfalls
flowing endlessly and bringing peace.
O Urhobo, Land of proud warriors, heroes past, the likes of Mukoro Mowoe
And
T
.E
.A
Salubi, who fought so hard for our
freedom.
O Urhobo, the home of world-class scholars, the ilks
of Peter Ekeh, Bruce Onobrakpeya �.
O Urhobo, the soul of an ancient culture, the culture of a wonderful
tribe, The
tribe of a wonderful people.
O
Urhobo,
It�s
your
sonorous voice I hear;
your voice of the talking drums;
your beaded drums and the royal trumpeter; the metal gong of your town
crier.
I have come to see your music dance. I have heard of your ageless
minstrels.
Have I not heard of your swinging hips! I have heard enough and have
come to
watch; wouldn't you dance for me Urhobo?
O Urhobo, would you not teach me your ways, the golden
aspect of
your sweetened tongue which is a veritable feature of your
Culture.
O Urhobo, tell me more about your gods; your gods of the trees and of
the
mother earth; your gods of the hills and of the rivers abound : Aziza, Akpobrisi and other powerful gods.
Oh
Urhobo,
for
a
very long time, I have often
wonder why did God use you to bless me amidst myriad of nations. But
hurrah!
The answer resonated after the protracted puzzle: you are not just a
nation.
O
Urhobo,
it
is
now obvious that Oghene
really loves me and since love is the
core of His Commandment, He chooses to plant me in your nation; a place
where
love and love alone is the keynote of creation.
Oh
Urhobo,
the
first
time I took cognizance of
your valued culture was a feast of fairyland; the night dreams of
rapture.
Oh
Urhobo,
I
never
got tired of thinking of you;
your beauty never got palled on me; you grew fairer with each day of
possession
and hitherto, you have stolen the depth of my being.
Oh
Urhobo,
you
are
more than just a nation.
Wherever I go or wherever I may go, it is my earnest wish to exhibit
how much I
care for you. Then, only then, can I truly be fulfilled.