"Ayo Olukotun: I Heard Your Voice in the Wind" by Toyin Falola. Translated into English by Akin Solanke. Slightly Edited by Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju

[Oluwatoyin Adepoju]

Bush rat died, its track got lost

Aardvark died, its burrow grieved

The bottle of gin got broken, gin seller could not get a shot

Olukotun is gone, I miss him.

You, my friend, are gone without looking back.

Twelve days became twenty and it looked like it's just a day.

I heard your voice in the air

I saw your reflection on the surface of water.

It seems you are at a location nearby 

Where you can not touch me.

The Earth is revolving, going and coming 

But your remembrance never wanes. 

My head is full of your remembrance 

My heart is full of your grief.

Together, we got to the Earth's water

We shared love

Nonetheless, the Earth does not permit perpetuity, 

She took you away, put wound in the heart.

Oak fell in the forest 

Big fish is gone in the water.

I'm going to speak into the air

It should take my voice to you

Your face has become what I behold in the mirror 

Haa, tree branch got broken

The forest bird flew away 

My friend, you are gone

Your remembrance will not fade from me

I will remember you in the evening 

When the afternoon sun begins to set.

When it's midday 

Your remembrance remains steadfast.

Rest in peace 

In this World void of Death

Nonetheless, don't forget me your friend 

When I arrive, please welcome me.

To encounter the elephant, we penetrate the forest 

To encounter the buffalo, we must enter the savannah 

To encounter the egret, the bird of Òòsà nlá 

We must get to the house of white chalk.

Fare well

Until we share the same realm

Until we meet on the last day.

The big judgment day.

Original poem, in Yoruba at

https://toyinfalolanetwork.org/ayo-olukotun-mo-gbo-ohun-re-ninu-afefe/

[Oluwatoyin Adepoju]

[Mr. E. B. Jaiyeoba]

Dear Elder Prof. TJ

These lines are fascinating and invoke memories of your dear friend and our dear 'public commentator' Prof. Ayo Olukotun.

Thanks.

Babatunde JAIYEOBA

E. Babatunde JAIYEOBA PhD

Professor of Architecture

Department of Architecture

Faculty of Environmental Design and Management

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

ebj...@oauife.edu.ng; tundej...@yahoo.co.uk; +234 8037880023

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