Yoruba Affairs - Re: Fwd: RE: Yoruba Affairs - Yoruba Hymn

[Ibukunolu Alao Babajide]

Dear all,

For the benefit of the information requester, I cannot add anything to the erudite responses we have been given to date but what I will attempt with great trepidation is a translation of the lyrics.  I do this with my rather limited handle on a language as resonating and as deep as Yoruba.  I urge all who find my translation inelegant ore wrong to weigh in and correct me.  Thanking you all in advance for your input.

 

IBK

 

Solo: Ise Oluwa

God's work (Sometimes rendered as "Ohun Oluwa se" What God has done)

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Cannot be spoilt (Could also render as It is permanent as in not changeable) 

Solo: Ise Oluwa

God's work (Sometimes rendered as "Ohun Oluwa se" What God has done)

 

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Cannot be spoilt (Could also render as It is permanent as in not changeable)

Solo: Aye fe ko baje o, k'awon ba yo

The world wants it spoilt so they may be happy (May also be rendered as People want it spoilt so they can rejoice) 

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Cannot be spoilt (Could also render as It is permanent as in not changeable) 

Solo: Esu fe ko baje o, k'awon ba yo

Satan wants it spoilt so they may be happy (May also be rendered as Satan want it spoilt so people can rejoice)

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Cannot be spoilt (Could also render as It is permanent as in not changeable)  

Solo: Ise Jehofa, ise Emi Mimo

Jehovah's work, holy spirit's work (Sometimes rendered as "Ohun Jehofa/Emi mimo se" What God has done) 

Ise ti Baba wa ti se

The work that our father has done 

Chorus: Ise Jisesi, Ise Emi Mimo

Jisesi's work, holy spirit's work 

Ise ti Baba wa ti se

Work our father has done 

Aye fe ko baje o, k'awon ba yo

The world wants it spoilt so they may be happy (May also be rendered as People want it spoilt so they can rejoice)

Ko le baje o

Cannot be spoilt (Could also render as It is permanent as in not changeable)

Ase. Amin o

Amen. So be it or so shall it be. 

------ Original Message ------
Received: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:07:23 AM EAT
From: "Ayo Bamgbose" <bamg...@skannet.com>
To: <yorubaaff...@googlegroups.com>, <yoruba...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Yoruba Affairs - Re: Fwd: RE: Yoruba Affairs - Yoruba Hymn

The first version of the Hymn "Ise Oluwa" is to be found in the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Yoruba Hymn Book published in 1923. It is Orin 22 on pages 582-583 of the Hymn Book and the full version is as follows:

Solo: Ise Oluwa

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Solo: Ise Oluwa

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Solo: Aye fe ko baje o, k'awon ba yo

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Solo: Ese fe ko baje o, k'awon ba yo

Chorus: Ko le baje o

Solo: Ise Jehofa, ise Emi Mimo

Ise ti Baba wa ti se

Chorus: Ise Jisesi, Ise Emi Mimo

Ise ti Baba wa ti se

Aye fe ko baje o, k'awon ba yo

Ko le baje o

Ase. Amin o

The author of this hymn is not indicated, but it is one of a group of Yoruba hymns composed to synchronize with the tones of the Yoruba language. One composer specifically singled out for mention in the Preface to the Hymn Book is the Rev. J.J. Ransome Kuti. The curent rendition of the Hymn is often limited to the the first eight lines and, even so, the third and fourth solos end in "k'a won ba le yo". In some other versions of the Hymn, the Chorus has been elaborated by repetition. There also appears to have been a modification of the original tune as adaptations of the original composition have been made by subsequent composers.

I hope George Brandon finds this information useful.

Ayo Bamgbose

[Adeniran Adeboye]

IBK,

Great translation. You may however want to capitalize the "f" in father in the seventh line from the bottom to "Work our Father has done". This would infer a reference to a heavenly father the way "Baba" does in the Yoruba version.

Ise ti Baba wa ti se

Work our father has done 

Best regards,

Adeniran Adeboye