TRUTH BEFORE THRONE (Ode to My Beloved Kindred Spirits)

 

Disclaimer: I do not have the copyright to the photo. It is only used for illustrative purposes. No infringement is intended. 

I was born where ancient titles breathe,

Where dust remembers every name it weaves,

Two royal rivers meet within my frame,

Ejigbo, Isolo, blood and flame.

Yet, lineage alone cannot command,

The right to speak or shape the hour,

It is the vow to truth that steadies hand,

And grants the voice its moral power.

I watched this struggle from a patient height,

Where silence learns the measure of its weight,

Not from the drums of hurried claim or cheer,

Nor camps where factions sharpen hope and fear.

I seek no crown, I beat no partisan drum,

No banner stitched with borrowed grace,

I come as one who knows what must be done,

To heal the land before the face.

They call restraint a fearful pause,

Mistake stillness for retreat or loss,

But silence held with conscious care,

Is fire maturing in the air.

My loyalty is not to names that rise,

And fall with tides of sudden praise,

But to the sense that time itself refines,

And futures shaped beyond our days.

This conflict stretches past the will,

Of any single heart or claim,

It tests how memory learns to walk,

With present need and future aim.

Tradition is not costume worn,

Nor ritual emptied into show,

It is the breath of those long gone,

Still shaping how the living grow.

Yet, memory sealed against the now,

Will fracture under its own weight,

A past that will not speak with time,

Converts inheritance to fate.

The law stands firm as ordered frame,

To guard the fragile common good,

But law detached from daily life,

Becomes a truth half-understood.

In kingship all these tensions meet,

The court, the state, ancestral right,

Yet, people wake each morning still,

To live the outcome, not the fight.

Stability, once rooted deep,

Becomes a good the state protect,

For peace, though silent in its speech,

Is shattered by unmeasured acts.

Acceptance does not crown the law,

Yet holds the fragile ground in place,

And history reminds us still,

That crowns once lived resist erasure.

This is not counsel to ignore,

The wounds injustice leaves behind,

Let errors stand in honest light,

So clearer paths may yet be found.

But justice is not always served,

By pulling settled roots apart,

Sometimes restraint preserves the whole,

Where haste would tear the communal heart.

A people cannot truly thrive,

In endless trial of claim and name,

No future grows where conflict lives,

As permanent and daily flame.

I pass no sentence, I wield no sword,

I claim no wisdom set in stone,

But to offer thought as careful guide,

For service, not for rule alone.

The throne may gleam with ancient grace,

Yet, conscience outlives carved estate,

No crown alone secures a land,

It is the truth that seals its fate.

Isolo’s future will not turn

On who ascends or who must fall,

But how equity is lived in deed,

And justice answers freedom’s call.

In moments thick with dispute and pride,

The noblest path is rarely loud,

It walks with care, with measured stride,

And bows to wisdom, not the crowd.

May Isolo rise, reflective, whole,

May truth lead first, yet temper role,

May peace and justice share one soul,

Before the throne, let conscience rule.

ASEEEEEE...!!!

My Reflection:

Truth Before Throne (Ode to My Beloved Kindred Spirits)

Truth Before Throne was written as an ode not to power but to conscience, not to office but to the shared spirit of a people. It is addressed to my beloved kindred spirits, those who carry history not as burden but as responsibility, and who understand that truth must always arrive before authority if a community is to endure.

Though shaped by lineage, this poem is guided by restraint. It does not rise from rivalry or ambition but from the quiet obligation to think carefully in a moment of contention. I write neither as a claimant nor as a partisan but as one who believes that silence, when chosen deliberately, can be an act of care. In times when voices compete for dominance, reflection becomes a form of service.

This work stands at the crossroads of memory and time. It honours tradition as living inheritance while acknowledging that memory must speak with the present to remain whole. It respects law as the structure of order yet recognises that communities must live inside its outcomes long after judgments fade. Stability, though often unnoticed, is sacred ground, the soil upon which future generations stand.

Ultimately, this ode is not a verdict but an offering. It is a call to those bound by blood, history, and shared fate to remember that leadership is sustained by conscience, not conquest. Truth must always come before the throne, but truth, to remain worthy, must walk hand in hand with humility, restraint, unity, and the common good.

Prince Adeola Goloba

Lagos, Nigeria

Friday, 6 February 2026

3:26 a.m.

@Prince Adeola Goloba 2026

Ink, Image, and Inheritance: Art as Memory, Witness, and the Making of Self

 

The Author as a Body of Art

This incredible creative caricature does not merely resemble me, it actually reads me. It reads my silences with the same attentiveness as my declarations. It stages a quiet but insistent argument about what it means to live as a thinking African in a world that often prefers spectacle to substance, noise to memory, and speed to meaning. At the centre stands a man formed by words long before he was shaped by institutions, a writer who began at fourteen not as an experimenter but as someone already aware that language could wound as much as it could liberate. The pen and the camera are not ornamental here; they are witnesses, bearing testimony to a life spent documenting what power attempts to erase and illuminating voices history habitually relegates to footnotes.

What radiates from the image is a tension deliberately embraced, royalty without arrogance and radicalism without chaos. Rooted in Ejigbo Awori soil and refined through the discipline of linguistics and literature, the figure stands at a crossroads where ancestry meets inquiry and heritage confronts injustice. The Awori dialect, the palace motifs, and the ancestral calm embedded in the image are not nostalgic gestures. They are intellectual positions. They insist that indigeneity is not intellectual poverty and that tradition, when interrogated rather than idolised, can serve as an instrument of justice rather than a refuge for silence.

From this grounding in identity and place emerges the body of work that surrounds the figure. The books stacked beneath him do more than announce authorship; they map a moral geography shaped by lived experience. ISA N WO RUU – The Boiling Cauldron is not a metaphor fashioned for effect but a condition lived daily. The boiling is social, political, emotional, and psychological, reflecting the unrest of women denied safety, children denied futures, elders denied dignity, and persons with disabilities denied visibility. In this visual narrative, poetry does not escape reality; it confronts it directly. Literature becomes civic labour, journalism evolves into cultural defence, and advocacy emerges as art sharpened by ethical responsibility.

It is this merging of identity, work, and purpose that gives the caricature its deepest resonance. The image refuses to compartmentalise the self. The artist does not retreat to make room for the activist, and the professional does not silence the poet. Instead, they coexist in productive and sometimes uncomfortable dialogue. This convergence mirrors my work with Voice of Awori and Unchained Vibes Africa, my long commitment to the local and international creative cum human rights communities that have shaped my journey the years, and my insistence through reportage, blogging, performance, and poetry that African narratives must be authored by Africans accountable first to their communities, not to applause or institutional convenience.

Seen this way, the caricature becomes more than representation; it becomes a point of reference. For critics, it offers cultural advocacy as practice rather than posture, and art as an ethical stance rather than ornament. For readers, it extends an invitation to read deeper, question harder, and listen more carefully to indigenous voices speaking in their own tongues and on their own terms. For me, it stands as a reminder that the work remains unfinished. The pen is still warm, the camera still searching, the cauldron still boiling, and the responsibility to memory, justice, truth, and the making of self remains urgent and non negotiable.

@Prince Adeola Goloba 2026

Vow of the Unbroken Self

If my soul spoke in one paragraph, it would say: "I seek meaning, not performance. I value truth, dignity, and depth. I honour where I come from and where I am going. I love with intention, speak with care, and walk away without bitterness when alignment is absent." - Adeola

I swear by the ground that taught me my name,

and the breath that reminds me I’m still becoming flame.

I will not kneel where carelessness mangles my sound,

nor pour my whole spirit in cups not built to hold ground.

I walk with a compass hammered from truth,

I do not bow to noise or the hunger of youth.

Where clarity trembles and honesty’s shunned,

I pass like a river already well-run.

My word will be bone, not vapour or air,

my actions, drumbeats carefully announced everywhere.

I will not perfume a lie with my grace,

nor shrink my own standards to earn a place.

I choose depth like roots choose the dark of the soil,

not for ease or escape, but the strength born of toil.

What holds me is deeper than surface or gleam, 

because I was not designed for the shallow or thin.

I will wrestle injustice with clean, open hands,

light fires for warmth, not to scorch who I am.

Even in battle, my tenderness stays,

a heart turned to stone is a conquered place.

I love like a gate, not a net cast awide,

what enters must come with purpose and pride.

What leaves, I release without venom or chase,

true alignment has never required a race.

When loneliness knocks, I answer with calm,

not surrender disguised as the need to be held.

And when love arrives, it must stand aware,

knowing clearly the ground it steps on is rare.

I stand with my ancestors steady behind,

and my future awake in the edge of my sight.

I move without panic, without delay,

neither rushed by fear nor stalled by dismay.

This is my oath! Let the record be whole,

to remain unbroken where fragments are sold,

to walk fully formed, to love wide awake,

and leave every season with dignity safe.

@Prince Adeola Goloba 2026

Thursday, January 1st, 2026

Ejigbo, Lagos

3:07:57 AM

                                  Statement & Reflections

"Vow of the Unbroken Self" is both a poem and a declaration! A conscious commitment to live with integrity, intentionality, and dignity. It reflects my journey as an Awori Yoruba writer and cultural advocate, rooted in ancestral wisdom and a desire to remain whole in a world that often values fragments over substance. Every image, from the earth beneath our feet to the flowing river and steadfast gate, symbolizes grounding, clarity, and the courage to stand aligned with one’s truth.

Writing this poem was an act of reflection and assertion. It emerged from examining the compromises we make in love, work, and life, and recognizing the quiet power of boundaries, discernment, and intentional action. I wrote it as a mirror, not only for myself, but for anyone seeking alignment between their inner values and the life they lead. It reminds me that real strength is calm, deliberate, and principled.

Ultimately, the poem is a bridge to my ancestors and a guide for my future. It honors the continuity of lineage, the responsibility of becoming, and the choice to remain unbroken. Through these lines, I affirm that dignity, clarity, and intentional love are not optional but essential. This work is my vow, my compass, and my invitation to others to walk awake, anew and whole. Again, this is my New Year Gift to the World, and it comes...straight from the heart❣️.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Sunset on the Sea

Sunset on the Sea - Oil on Canvas. Painting by: ©Prince Adeola Goloba (PG) 2025 

When the sun sinks crimson upon the sea, 
My heart remembers your fire in me.
I am a dreamer, yet never in vain,
I dream of the spark that still burns in my veins.

You lit up my soul with a radiant flame,
A light everlasting, beyond time’s name.
Before you vanish with your final kiss,

I wait by the tide, in sorrowful bliss.

The ocean keeps whispering echoes of you,
Its waves are the tears I no longer subdue.
Your shadow ascends where the skylarks fly,
Your song a lament that haunts the sky.

The dirge of your absence cuts deep, cuts wide,
It floods my spirit like an unbroken tide.
I grieve for the nights, for the moments we lost,
For love is a treasure, too precious the cost.

But solitude lingers a season, not all,
For love is immortal, it answers no fall.
Someday beyond where the starlight streams,
I’ll see you again in the land of dreams.

Our souls will be bound where forever resides,
Where memory lives and eternity hides.
No shadow, no silence, nor sorrow shall be,
Just endless love, like sunset on the sea.

My Reflection on "Sunset on the Sea" 

Sunset on the Sea was inspired by Céline Dion’s timeless ballad “My Heart Will Go On,” during a soul-stirring Sip & Paint with Vibes & Thrills session organized by my wonderful creative colleagues at Unchained Vibes Africa on Thursday September 25, 2025, in Magodo Estate GRA Phase 2. In that creative moment, the song awakened within me a rush of nostalgia, echoes of decades of heartbreak, the ache of love lost, and the tender beauty of memories that never fade.

The poem is not simply about grief, but about the endurance of love that is beyond separation. For me, the imagery of the sea and sunset reflects both the sorrow of farewell and the promise of eternal return. Like the sun that sets only to rise again, true love, once kindled, can never be extinguished by time, distance, or even death.

Every stanza carries the weight of longing. It is the fire that still burns, the tide that whispers memories, and the sky where the beloved soars. Yet, beneath the lamentation is also hope i. e a belief that love is immortal, and that one day, reunion awaits in the realm of dreams or eternity.

Sunset on the Sea is both elegy and celebration. It is a strong solemn lamentation for what was lost, and a sparkling hymn to what endures. This is my way of saying that though heartbreak may span decades, the memory of love, once felt deeply, becomes eternal light, like a sunset upon the sea, fading from view yet never truly gone.

©Prince Adeola Goloba 2025

When a Lantern Refuses to Dim: The Shonde Legacy of Service in Ejigbo Awori Lagos.

 Hon. Prince Tajudeen Adebola Shonde

 (Former Councillor representing Fadu Ward in the just concluded legislative council Ejigbo LCDA) 

 "Let your power be a lantern, not a chain; so when your season ends, the light remains in the lives you touched, not in the titles you wore.” — Prince Adeola Goloba

A kì í mọ̀kànjúwá kí ìlú máa bàjẹ́, ẹni tó bá mọ̀kànjúwá kò ní í jù ú lọ́wọ́ ilé ayé (He who serves self before the people will see his kingdom crumble; but the selfless leader leaves a name that outlives time). 

I speak today as a proud son of the soil, a voice from the lineage of Fadu Onimewon the Elejigbo Awori Family, custodians of Ejigbo’s heritage. I have watched this land grow, danced with its hopes, and wrestled with its pains. And in all my years of keen observation, few men have worn the garment of leadership with as much dignity as Hon. Prince Tajudeen Shonde after the successful and impactful tenure of Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan (the former Executive Chairman, Ejigbo LCDA) who has left a remarkable legacy and impact on the lives of the people of Ejigbo Awori Lagos.

When power entered his hands, Shonde, just like Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan did not chain us with oppression like the wild elephant that tramples its own forest. He became a lantern that illuminated our paths. Àgbà kì í wọ̀lú kó ṣ’ẹ́kùn lọ́wọ́, ẹni tí ó bá jẹ́ kó rí jẹ́kí òkè ó, kò ní gbàgbé nígbà tí ìsàlẹ̀ yóò bà jé (A true elder enters a land to stop its tears; a just leader lifts the lowly, never forgetting their struggles). 

The Birth of a Vision

Recently, as I strolled past Ejigbo High School, my feet carried me to a sight that stirred my soul: a towering structure, bold, unbowed and a dream cast in concrete. It was meant to be a digital library, a citadel of knowledge for our children. A place where books would whisper wisdom and screens would open doors to the world. But then, as with many noble dreams, the river of funding ran dry. Most men would have walked away, leaving it to the weeds and whispers of decay. But not Shonde.

Òmùgọ̀ ń fi ọwọ́ rẹ̀ wẹ́ inú ògùrò, ògìdìgbó ni kì í fọ́gbọ́n s’ójà (The fool washes his hands in the dregs, but the wise man turns hardship into harvest). 

Shonde refused to let the sun set on that dream. He took the bones of that abandoned vision and breathed life into them. He turned the empty hall into a Free Coaching Centre, a cradle of hope for indigent students. And like a farmer who shares his seed, he went further:

Free JAMB and GCE forms for those whose pockets were empty but whose minds were full of light. A sanctuary for learning where the poor could dream without shame.

Storm on the Horizon

But as every shining moon attracts the gaze of owls, shadows began to stir. It is rather unfortunate development to learn that the CDC Chairman, Mr. Jelili Atiku, out of desperation appeared at the gates, claiming ancestral land, issuing threats and stretching his hands toward what was never his sweat. In spite of all, Shonde stood firm anyways, ignoring Jelili's strange drama.

Bí o bá jẹ́ wípé lóòtọ́ ló jẹ́ ti bàbá ẹ, níbo ni alákòrí rẹ̀ wà nígbà tá a ń tiraka? Àgùntàn tó bá s’ẹ́yìn agbo, ìkà kì í pa á; ẹ̀dá kì í gba ohun tí òun kò fi ọwọ́ ṣẹ́ (If it were his father’s, where was he when we labored? The stray sheep does not lead the flock; no man should seize what he never built.)

This was no personal empire; it was a state-backed gift for the children of Ejigbo. And Shonde vowed to hand it over to a credible committee, ensuring that no greedy fingers would soil its purpose.

His Footprints in Our Dust

But the Coaching Centre is only a chapter in his book of service. His pen wrote other stories:

1. Skills acquisition programs, arming our youths with tools of trade.

2. Boreholes, pouring life into thirsty streets.

3. Solar street lights, scattering darkness on Fatusi and Edagbeja like the morning sun chasing the night.

And through it all, Shonde remained what politicians rarely are: accessible. His door was never shut, his ears never deaf to the voice of the people.

When the Drums Go Silent

Now, his tenure has ended. The title is gone. But the light? The light still burns. Orúkọ rere sàn ju wúrà àti fàdákà lọ (A good name is better than gold and silver). 

While others leave office trailing the stench of greed, Shonde leaves the fragrance of service. His legacy is not etched in granite monuments but in the smiles of students, the gratitude of mothers, and the peace of streets he lit up. If leadership were a dance, many would dance for themselves. But Shonde danced for us all. And for that, Ejigbo will never ever forget.

Ìwà l’ẹ̀ṣin; ìwà rere ni òye àtàtà (Character is religion; good character is wisdom everlasting). 

Here is my parting shot and a poignant call to action. Let those who seek power learn from this: Be a lantern, not a chain. Let your season light lives, not lock them in bondage. For when the drums go silent, it is the echo of your deeds that the world will dance to. Ire o! 

©Prince Adeola Goloba 2025

EVELYN, GOLDEN SONGBIRD

Evelyn Osagie 

It came to me, a sudden blow,

A shock too deep, a heavy woe.

This loss has torn the tender air,

A heart so bright is no longer there.

This was not in our sacred talks,

Nor whispered dreams on winding walks.

Never did you hint, nor vow,

That you would take your final bow.

Evelyn Osagie, fierce and true,

A radiant light the world once knew.

A fearless voice, a rare, rare soul,

Whose craft brought life, whose words made whole.

She spoke of hope, she carried flame,

She lifted spirits in freedom’s name.

I still recall, in two-thousand sixteen,

Her courage stood tall, her fire serene.

Among the artists, bold and free,

She raised her voice in defense of me.

When justice faltered, she took her stand,

With fearless heart and open hand.

Our last deep talk, in twenty-four,

Dreams of poems and justice’s roar.

We dreamed of change through verse and song,

But fate has called your soul along.

Yet echoes linger, strong and clear,

Your courage sings, we still can hear.

In every fight, in every plea,

Your fire lives on, eternally.

So rest, dear bird, in heavens high,

Your gentle wings now grace the sky.

May God console, may strength abide,

For those you loved, who weep beside.

We’ll keep your flame, we’ll guard your name,

Through justice, freedom, truth’s bright claim.

Golden songbird, your spirit flies,

Beyond the silence, where hope never dies. 🌹✨

©Prince Adeola Goloba 2025

This poem reflects my deep grief over the sudden loss of a dear sister, colleague and friend in the Nigerian creative community, Evelyn Osagie, a fearless journalist and radiant soul whose voice championed justice and freedom. It honors her unwavering courage, her role in defending me during a difficult time, and the shared dreams we held for change through art and advocacy. Though her passing leaves a profound void, her spirit endures as a guiding light, inspiring us to keep her flame alive in the pursuit of truth, justice, and hope.

© Prince Adeola Goloba 2025

Photo Credit: Evelyn Osagie

A NEW DAWN RISES!

The Newly sworn-in Executive Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Hon. Aare Taoheed Adebayo Taiwo receiving his certificate from the Lagos State Governor, Babajiide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on Sunday 27th July 2025. 

The ballots have spoken, the people have stirred,

In Ejigbo’s heart, democracy purred.

Today, we stood, not merely to vote,

But to sail with hope on a civic boat.

We cast our voice in silence and ink,

A moment to pause, reflect, and think...

Of dreams we share, of roads unpaved,

Of promises made and homes to be saved.

Now that the tide has ebbed and flowed,

And winners wear their victor’s robe,

Let it be known from shore to shore,

You’re called to serve, and then, so much more.... 

With purpose pure and vision wide,

May you lead with truth and none to hide.

Let honour be your daily guide,

And let no voice be cast aside.

To you, our new custodians true,

I raise my pen and hopes anew.

We stand with you, both firm and proud,

A people resilient, a voice unbowed.

May your steps be lit by wisdom’s flame,

And may justice dance in your noble name.

For Ejigbo’s sons and daughters dear,

The time is now...the path is clear.

May the spirit of our ancestors strengthen your hand,

As you build and lead this cherished land. 

Ejigbo Mekun, the land of the gallant royal tigers,

Where shadow dancers were born as brave fighters.

Undying spirits, fortified to check the excesses of infamous aggressors,

here, in the royal land of my ancestors. 

Now a new day dawns, let greatness grow...

Àṣẹ, Ire o, let Ejigbo glow!

©Prince Adeola Goloba 2025

My Reflection on the Themes and Messages in the above Poem:

In writing this poem, I sought to capture the powerful moment of democratic transition in Ejigbo Awori, Lagos State. At its core, “A New Dawn Rises” is a reflection on civic responsibility, cultural pride, and the hopes we share as a people.

This piece celebrates our collective action i. e the quiet strength in casting a vote and the loud message it sends. It speaks to the idea that democracy isn’t just about elections; it’s about purposefully participating in shaping the future of our community. By voting, we are not only choosing leaders; we are reaffirming our commitment to progress, accountability, and justice.

Prince Adeola Goloba after casting his vote on Saturday 12th July 2025 during the Lagos State Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in Ejigbo LCDA. 

This poem also serves as a call to those elected, a reminder that leadership is a sacred trust. I emphasize the need for honesty, transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. Every voice, especially the marginalized, matters. True leadership should be rooted in service and guided by wisdom.

The New Executive Chairman flanked by his Vice, Councillors and Council Leaders. 

Cultural identity plays a significant role in this piece. As a proud descendant of Ejigbo’s founding and paramount royal lineage Fadu Onimewon, I wove in references to our ancestral strength, bravery, and resilience. From the “gallant royal tigers” to the “shadow dancers born as brave fighters,” the poem honours the spirit of our forebears and reminds us of the legacy we are duty-bound to protect.

Ultimately, this is a hopeful poem. It envisions a brighter tomorrow, and one, where justice flourishes and unity prevails. It is a poetic blessing to our new leaders and a call to action for all of us to stand firm, stay proud, and continue building a more vibrant Ejigbo.

Àṣẹ. Ire o! 

©Prince Adeola Goloba 2025

Photo Credit:

 1: Public Affairs Unit, Ejigbo LCDA.

 3: Comrade Onadeko Damilola Edwards

IKONSO

"Sabotage...

Ikonso Don was a well known hardcore IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) member before he joined ESN (Eastern Security Network) and emerged a commander... He was eliminated today, Monday 26th April 2021 when he surfaced at Umuoma alongside other ESN to defend the land... His own people are the informants that gave his details to Nigerian DSS.

Hope Uzodinma, the Governor of Imo State has tried bribing him with #50M into Ebubeagu, but because of his refusal to accept the offer, he gave it to his village GOC to get information about him so he'll be eliminated.

We'll never forget.

Rest In Power our Comrade!"

 -  Neche Chukwunenye

IKONSO DON... The Fallen Hero! 

Though with heavy heart but also with sense of joy and fulfillment, I dedicate the following poem to the memory my dear brother, Comrade IKONSO "The Great Warrior!" who became a Martyr sacrificing his life fighting in defense of his people and the entire BIAFRA Land, the Lands of the Rising Sun. I pray for his families to be strong at this very trying time. The Great IKONSO Don is a Hero and Martyr, a Gallant Soldier, Courageous Selfless Fighter,  And my greatest wish for IKONSO is to find eternal peace and rest with his ancestors...Aseeeee...

I want you all to know, borrowing from Prof. Femi Osofisan's words that "We must struggle out of our grief in order to carry on with our lives. Wherever he may be today, I am sure that one of IKONSO's strongest wishes will be that we carry on: We who are left behind and refused to be overwhelmed by our sense of loss." 

IKONSO

The Great Warrior! 

The dragon spirit... 

From the Land of the Rising Sun...

Disciple of Freedom, Truth, Justice and Courage... 

IKONSO... 

Is a Martyr!

Yes!

A Martyr has fallen though...

Fallen... 

That many may live...

To see the Sun Rise...

Whenever morning comes...

Yet, a Martyr never dies...

A Martyr falls, only but once...

Only once! 

To #Rise a thousand times...

The Great IKONSO! 

May your journey back to your ancestors be smooth and peaceful...

Iseeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Though you left...

Laying down your life...

That, in BIAFRA...

The Sun may Rise Again...

And forever, her Light may shine...

IKONSO...

The Great Warrior! 

Undying Spirit of the gods...

You were sent forth, here... 

In the Lands of your ancestors...

But not beyond the pang of fate... 

Even though... 

The message you have delivered...

But know...

That we...

Who are left behind...

Shall never let you go in vain...

For we shall by the gods...

Fulfill our appointed destiny...

We shall never ever forget...

Forget your sacrifices...

For we shall Rise! 

Rise and Stand!

Stand up and Fight! 

Fight on! 

Till we get it back! 

Our Ancestral Legacies...

Away...

Away from them...

These wandering bloodthirsty sahel Urchins..

And Lunatic bestial marauders... 

Who suddenly have...

Have crept into our midst... 

Like deadly parasites...

Who have soiled our Lands with their filthy faeces...

But we shall fight! 

Fight to pierce their flesh! 

In solemn reverence to the gods...

We will spill! 

Spill them into shreds! 

And joyously water our breathing shrines with their bloods...

And in the end...

We will venerate our ancestors, with... 

The native dance of the earth... 

We will cleanse our Lands, with...

Your beautiful songs of Victory...

#IKONSO THE GREAT! 

Your gallant name forever...

Shall reverberate through the whole earth...

Trudge on, in peace brother...

Peace! As you journey...

Towards the moon... 

         -Prince Adeola Goloba

              Ejigbo, Lagos State.

                 Tuesday, 27th April 2021.

                       (3.57am)

@Prince Adeola Goloba2021

AWORIS : Our Ancestral Memories - The Narratives!

                                 

According to verifiable oral/documented historical accounts laced with facts and figures, which are also backed up with evidences from judicial records handed down to us by our ancestors, the Awori people are descendants of Olofin Ogunfunminire who sojourned from Ile - Ife with his brothers and families in the 14th century or thereabouts.  One cannot be specific about all the dates because it is time immemorial. It is a predated time, a very long time ago. Olofin Ogunfunminire sojourned with his brothers Adeyonmbo, Ifadunlaiye also known as Fadu, Aro who later founded Abule Aro in the present day Abeokuta where the famous psychiatric hospital is located, as well as Akinbaiye and so on and so forth. It was affirmed according to historical investigations that the brothers were all Royal Princes from Ile - Ife. It was gathered that in the 14th century when there was need for the expansion of the progenitors of Oduduwa, Ifa Oracle was consulted for guidance. After the Oracle has been consulted, Oduduwa's progenitors were instructed to move to far places to meet with their destined prosperities. Just as we know that traditionally the Yoruba Race rever and worship so many gods who are also regarded as Olodumare's messangers on earth, among whom are Ogun Lakaiye Oshiimole (the god of Iron), Sango Olukoso (god of Thunder), Esu Laalu Ogiri Oko (god of Justice), Obatala, Obaluaye, Osun, Oya, e.t.c. Ogun was mostly their (Aladimu La) who was to guide, protect and create that path to their destined abode and prosperity. So, they were asked to offer sacrifices to the gods. Prince Adeyonmbo, Aro, Fadu, Olofin and Akinbaiye were given the sacrificial mud plate after offering prayers and supplications at the Ogun Shrine, and were later told to move. It was revealed that igberi Okun (Sea Shore or River Bank) were supposed to be where these people's prosperity lies and were further instructed that during their journey, they should place the Sacrificial mud plate on the river while they sail towards where the plate moved. They all therefore moved with their Royal Paraphernalia. And that at every point where the plate sink, that place was supposed to be their destined founding abode. However, when the plate resurface again, some of them should continue their journey until when the plate gets to a point where it finally sinks which symbolised the end of their journey and the founding of their place of prosperous abode. Meanwhile, it suffice here to say that at every point where the plate sank, the soujourners exclaimed "Awo Ri... Awo Ti Ri o!), meaning the mud plate has sank. So it is in the event of this concurrent words and exclamations whenever the plate sank during thier journey that these set of Yoruba Race divinely came about their Unique Name, THE AWORIS. Wherever the sacrificial mud plate sank, people stopped, created their homes, Kingdoms and started living there. After the plate resurfaced, others continued their journey by following the moving plate according to Ifa's instruction. This is what obtained for others until the plate finally sank at Ido in the present day Lagos Island.

As the Royal Prince Olofin Ogunfunminire and his brothers sojourned, it was said that Olofin founded Iseyin, Oke Ogun in Oyo State as well as Ilero, and we also learned that when he left Iseyin to continue his journey according to the Oracle's instructions, he left three things behind namely, Esu Oja, Ogun Akoko (The First Ogun) and Onikoyi. That's why our Oriki goes thus :

"Awa Lomo Aseyin Oro...

Ase a maa se ni kikan ni igba lomole gun...

Awa Lomo Olowo Isenmbaiye ti n fowo sile kediiye...

Egbon n lowo, Aburo n lowo bi i tiran baba wa o..."

It was also gathered that Olofin Ogunfunminire stopped at and founded Iganna before he moved on. As we know that by traditions, culture and customs, Oduduwa was a hunter, Warrior, farmer and ifa priest which by Divine design handed down to his progenitors from one generation to another, Olofin Ogunfunminire and his brothers who led their people on the sojourn were also farmers, hunters, warriors and Ifa priests aside the fact that they were Royal Princes. At a certain period in their sojourn, Olofin Ogunfunminire got to a place later to be known as The Ogun River which extended from all the Oke Ogun in Oyo State, passed through Abeokuta and led to Lagos here. It is the same Ogun River that passed through the Karra Bridge i. e the Osun River at Ojodu Berger in Isheri ile (known as Isheri Olofin). The Ogun River used to be a stagnant pond but for the sacrifices that Olofin Ogunfunminire made when they got there, it was after then, that it transformed and became a large flowing River according to history. And consequently the place is now known to be "Ogun River"....i.e Ogunfunminire's River (meaning Ogun has blessed me). It was after that they put the sacrificial plate on the flowing river and started following until they reached the present day Abeokuta. The plate sank in the flowing river when they got to Abeokuta where Prince Aro stayed and founded Abule Aro with certain set of people. All of them are Olofin Ogunfunminire's Kinsmen. After a long period of time, the plate resurfaced again and Olofin Ogunfunminire left with his people including Fadu and others until they reached Lagos State here at Isheri Olofin where the Plate sank again. It took a very long time before the plate resurfaced at Isheri Ojodu Berger. But before that time, Olofin and his people including Fadu and others have settled there and have turned the place to their abode. During that time, as a hunter and farmer, some of them went on a various hunting expedition at different times to different places at the mainland here in Lagos. As time goes by, it was during the hunting expedition that Fadu came to found Ejigbo Awori Lagos State in 1469. Olota also went on a hunting expedition from Isheri to found Ota in Ogun State. We learned that the first two Olotas were crowned in Isheri Ile before it was decided to crown the subsequent Obas in Ota till date. Akinbaiye who also sojourned with Olofin and who is also Olofin's Kinsmen came to found Isolo. Years later, the Clay Plate resurfaced again at Isheri River and Olofin left some of his children there, followed the plate with others till they reached Iddo River in Lagos Island where the plate finally sank. Olofin finally stopped there and founded Eko where he got married to Ajaiye and they beggot 8 Children known as "the Idejos" , among whom are Olumegbon, Aromire, Oloto, Onitolo, Elegushi, Oniru, Ojora and Onikoyi. They are the Original Land owners of Lagos State. 

From the foregoing, this is how Olofin came to be the Original owner of the entire Lagos State. Also, amongst Olofin's children are the founders of some parts of Ogun State like Ota, Lafenwa, Ifo, Sango, Aro, Yewa e. t. c. Therefore, wherever Olofin, his Kinsmen and their children stopped and settled, they found and established their kingdom. So, on the final analysis, it is where the Clay Plate sank that the people spread to different parts of Lagos and some parts of Ogun State and that's how we the AWORIS came to be regarded so, an obvious fact even before Olofin Ogunfunminire and his Kinsmen left Ile - Ife in 14th century.

On a final note, and for emphasis purpose, according to popular established and enduring documented research findings, the Aworis are an ethnic group that traditionally inhabit the coastal areas of Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State. They are also found in other parts of Nigeria, as well as in the neighboring countries of Benin and Togo.

The Aworis are known for their rich cultural heritage and are well known for their traditional music, dance, and drumming. They are also known for their traditional religion, which centers on ancestor worship and the belief in a supreme being. They are also known for their traditional oral literature, which includes folktales, proverbs, and riddles.

The Aworis are mostly farmers and fishermen, and some of them are also traders. They have a strong sense of community and value the importance of family and tradition.

The Aworis are known to be one of the major tribes in Nigeria, They have a significant influence on the history of Lagos, particularly in the area of politics and governance.

The Olota throne is a traditional royal stool or seat of authority among the Awori people of Nigeria. It is a symbol of the Olota's (king) power and authority within the community and is passed down through the generations.

The Olota throne is considered to be a sacred object and is usually kept in a special palace or shrine, which is typically only accessible to the Olota and other members of the royal family. The throne is usually adorned with intricate carvings and symbols that hold deep cultural and historical significance.

The Olota is the traditional ruler of the Awori people and holds a great deal of power and prestige within the community. The Olota is responsible for the welfare of his people and is the ultimate authority in matters of justice, law, and order.

The Olota throne is seen as a symbol of the continuity of the Awori culture, tradition, and heritage and is an important part of their cultural identity.

Oriki Awori….

Mariwo eh eh, agan eh eh

Mariwo tu yeri yeri

Agan tu yeri yeri

Awori Omo Akesan, omo oloko ni ilu Isheri,

Omo iwaju oloko to n s’owo,

Eyinkule oloko to nso ejigba’leke,

Omo ogedengede oloko to ntan yebe yebe loju omi,

Omo kafopa wa kafaje wa, ka tun sopa nu ka s’aje nu,

Kafogede gede owo w’ako de’le Isheri,

Omo agbeleke r’eru, omo eyigba, omo onitigbo mokun,

Omo erin gbokun yin ibon ode, omo ere fa kalu,

Omo oro nje omo oro nso, omo abi maku omo are maso,

Omo okansoso ajanaku to n migbo kijikiji…..

Omo Ogunrombi, omo arogun masa, omo ogun

niwase.

Edumare Jowo Bawa Da Ilu Awori Si

Aseeeee ooooo....

@Prince Adeola Goloba 2020 

Source : From The Archives 

OJON OF IJON AND ELEJIGBO OF EJIGBO IMPASSE: AROLE ONIMEWON, CROWN PRINCE OLAWALE EDAGBEJA GIVES VERDICTS.

AROLE ONIMEWON/ELEJIGBO-ELECT, CROWN PRINCE OLAWALE EDAGBEJA

The Head of Fadu Onimewon Royal Family, Ejigbo Awori Lagos State also known as Arole Onimewon and Elejigbo-Elect, Crown Prince Olawale Edagbeja has given his unapologetic thoughts and verdict on the raging Impasse between the Ojon of Ijon and ELEJIGBO in Ejigbo Awori Lagos State. Speaking to the Press on Wednesday 8th August 2018, through legal perspective said "The Status of the. Supreme Court judgment on Lagos State is submitted to be binding on it by virtue of section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution As Amended that provides inter alia:

" The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts of with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the the Supreme Court."

According to him, "The implication of this Constitutional provision is that Lagos State Government will correct the anomalous recognition of a trespasser, the Ojon of Ijon, to Ejigbo land as their Oba and limit his reign to his territory or community, Ijon, wherever it exists and recognize for the Ejigbos a distinct stool and crown peculiar to them, in this case the Oba Elejigbo of Ejigbo, gazette and approve same for installation in order to give effect to the Supreme Court's judgment of 1953 in Suit SC/57/51. To do otherwise is to dwell on unconstitutionality which we know that the Government of Lagos State, His Excellency, the Executive Governor will not cherish or condone."

The Crown Prince further stressed that an application and sincere request of the Ejigbo people represented by him is lying with the Honourable Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to act on.

He said, "From the provision of the Constitution, it doesn't appear that the Hon. Commissioner has discretion to refuse to align itself with the Supreme Court Judgment. It is submitted that the sooner he does the needful, the better for the State, as this wrongful state of affairs cannot continue."