Jẹyọ: So next time Şẹgun finds something he and Patrick have in common and tells you to change, you will give in?

Joyin: Follow peace with all men.

Jọla: Sounds more like follow violation with Şẹgun. He has no right to make demands of you.

Jadun: Şẹgun’s just crushed you didn’t take him back. He’ll come around later.

Jayọ: If he likes let him not come around. Look at him parading girls all over the place trying to make her jealous. The boy thinks like a toddler.

Iyabọ: Just ignore him.

Delaja: Precisely! Why do you even notice whom he’s with?

“What did Alex or should I say Patrick say when you told him about the name change?”

Joyin: Patrick didn’t care. He sort of liked it because his family calls him Patrick; it’s his friends that call him Alex.

“Then that’s all that matters. The person responding to the name makes the final decision.”

Jayọ: Auntie, thank you for reiterating what I knew all along. I need to change this Ajayi name.

Jẹyọ: O please, don’t start.

Jayọ: I’m serious. I just can’t decide on a name. There are too many nice names.

We all laughed and Kris stirred.

Delaja: Let’s continue the Yoruba proverb game.

Joyin: No more jokes please. We don’t want to wake Kris up with our laughter.

Jayọ: Then let’s do the real proverbs. Iyabọ, finish this proverb, Ọrọ abọ laun sọ f’ọmọluabi (We tell a reliable child half of the issue)?

Iyabọ: I don’t know. I don’t speak Yoruba very well.

Jadun: T'oba de’nu ẹ ad’odindi (when the words get inside the mind of the child they become whole).

Joyin: Amukun ẹru ẹ wọ (Crippled person, your head load is crooked)?

Iyabọ: What’s Amukun?

We all laughed. Kris did wake up but she went back to sleep.

Jọla: Leave Iyabọ alone, her parents did not teach her Yoruba. She’s promised to attend mummy’s Yoruba classes.

Jadun: Even I don’t know what Amukun is.

Jẹyọ: Amukun is also called Arọ.

Jadun: Oh! I know that. Arọ, ẹru ẹ wọ, oni oke lẹ wo, ẹ wo salẹ (A crippled person is told that his/her load is crooked, s/he responds, you are looking at my headload and not my legs – moral of the proverb; focus on the root, the cause or the major issue, not the fruit, end result or the minor issue).

Iyabọ: Isn’t that proverb offensive to the disabled?

“It could be.”

Jẹyọ: Maybe we’ve had enough of Yoruba stuff, let’s play another game.

Joyin: Could we finish the scripture game? Delaja and auntie didn’t participate.

Jayọ: Auntie, the scripture I gave was Psalm 31:16.

Joyin: Mine was Acts 1:7, Delaja, you have to quote a scripture with time in it.

So we all sang the chorus “God has something to say, halleluya, God has something to say, listen, listen, pay close attention, for God has something to say”.

Delaja: Phil. 4:4

“My scripture is Genesis 1:1”

Everybody laughed, that’s an easy one, they chorused. I laughed as well.

Jẹyọ: If we really think about it, time is wrapped up in most scriptures.

Jọla: I like Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Jadun: I like Revelations 22:7

My phone rang and I took the call. “Well ladies and gentleman, I have to leave in twenty minutes. It’s been nice fellowshipping with you.”

“Adeşola, ọmọ Ọba, iranşẹ Adonai, ẹlẹri ihinrere Kristi, olukọ igbagbọ, apetide sọrọ ibi, ayara siwa mimọ, arin pẹlẹşọ eso Ẹmi Mimọ, bawoni? (Adesola, child of the King, Adonai’s messenger, witness of the gospel of Christ, teacher of the faith, one that closes her ears to evil words, one who is quick to holiness, one who walks with the beauty of the fruit of the Spirit, how are things)?”

I turned to see prophetess D’vorah and was overjoyed. We exchanged greetings in Yoruba and she gave me a parcel. I thanked her for my gift, introduced her to my friends and she left to her table. When I opened the bag it was Irukẹrẹ (a hand object made with horse tail usually held by kings and chiefs as a sign of royalty and authority).

“This is such a blessing. She told me she would bring me a surprise gift from Nigeria and she did.”

Delaja acting the comedian got up, postrated on the floor (the usual way to greet kings and elders in Yorubaland), and chanted; “Kabiyesi, kade pẹ lori, kibata pẹ lẹsẹ.”

I indulged him and touched his shoulders with the Irukẹrẹ responding “Ọba n ki ọ, dide l’alafia.” (The king receives your greeting, rise up in peace). Everyone laughed.

Jadun: Auntie, why did you introduce her as Deevora, shouldn’t it be Deborah or Debra?

Jẹyọ: That’s the way the Hebrews say it.

Joyin: Abraham for instance should be Avraham, and Isaac, Yit'zchak.

Jẹyọ: That reminds me, since I’m planning my calendar for next week, I need an intralineal bible.

Jọla: All these bible school graduates, so so book book.

Iyabọ: What’s with the Hebrew thing?

Jadun: The Old Testament was first written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek.

Joyin: Some parts of the Old Testament were first written in Aramaic.

Iyabọ: So?

Jọla: Some meanings got lost during translation. Learning the original languages makes it easier to study the word.

Jẹyọ: It also reduces errors. In reality Jesus Christ should be called Yeshua Mashiach.

“And if that had been transliterated into Yoruba bible instead of Jesu Kristi it would have been Yeşua Mesaya.”

Iyabọ: Then my daughter’s name would not be Kris, I see.

Delaja: This is too much mental stress. So what should our Lord be called, Jesus Christ or Yeshua Meshiach?

“Let Him tell you what He prefers.”

I proceeded to return my Irukẹrẹ to its case then I noticed a postcard at the bottom of the parcel. It was a card listing the days of the 12 months and 7 days of the week in Yoruba.

“I have a quiz for you. Who can tell me the days of the week in Yoruba?”

Delaja: Aiku (Sunday)

Joyin: Aje (Monday)

Jayọ: Işẹgun (Tuesday)

Iyabọ: Ọjọru (Wednesday)

Jọla: Ọjọbọ (Thursday)

Jadun: Ẹtti (Friday)

Jẹyọ: Abamẹta (Saturday)

“You are all right. But I have a card here with a different listing. Prophetess D’vorah’s ministry does stuff like this. Godly names have been given to the days of the week and the 12 months of the year. Even the feasts of the Lord have been proposed as replacement for the festivals practiced in Yorubaland. Listen to this: Sunday is Ijinde, Monday, Ifẹ, Tuesday is still Işẹgun, Wednesday, Iwosan, Thursday, Igbẹkẹlẹ, Friday, Irẹpọ, and Saturday, Isimi.”

Delaja: I like it. So I was born on ọjọ Iwosan, not ọjọru, I love the way it sounds.

Jadun: Mine is ọjọ ifẹ, (day of love), that’s neat.

Iyabọ: Mine is still Işẹgun, nothing has changed.

“Then there is a list for the months:

January is Oju rere (Good favor) no longer  Sẹrẹ

February is Ayọ (Joy) and not Erele

March is Suru (Patience) no longer Erena

April is Anu (Mercy) and not Igbe

May is Idapọ (Fellowship) no longer Ebibi

June is Ireti (Hope) and not Okudu

July is Ọrọ mimo (Holy words) no longer Agẹmọ

August is Itunu (Comfort) and not Ogun

September is Iyi (Honor) no longer Ọwẹrẹ

October is Isọji (Revival) and not Ọwarọ

November is Igbala (Salvation) and not  Bẹlu

December is still Ọpẹ (Thanks)”

Jọla: I like Ọrọ mimọ for my month, I was never thrilled with that Agẹmọ*** name.

Jẹyọ: I'd like to get to know this minister. She’s blessed.

“Come, I’ll officially ask her to mentor you.” Jẹyọ and I walked over to D’vorah and we chatted for a little while. On return to the table, Jọla asked “Could we use your irukẹrẹ in a drama skit?”

“Sure.” I responded handing her the case.

Iyabọ: Auntie, so now that I’m saved, apart from reading my bible, praying to God and going to church, what should I do?”

“Basically learn about who you are in Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit and utilize your authority in Jesus Christ.”

Iyabọ: You mean that funny language Tayọ speaks, he doesn’t even understand it.

Jadun: He’s not supposed to understand it.

Jọla: Let me show you. Jọla opened her bible and shared some verses of I Corinthians 14 with Iyabọ.

“Iyabọ, before I leave, I want to email you my write-up on what you should do now that you are saved. Give me your email address.”

Joyin: Auntie, just send it to her right now.

She placed the laptop in my hands. I opened my email and sent some resources to Iyabọ. As I shut down the computer, prophetess D’vorah came by and asked;

“Which of you lovely ladies is Ruth?”

Iyabọ responded that Ruth was her middle name.

D’vorah gave her a gift and gave Kris who was still fast asleep some money. Iyabọ was very grateful. When D’vorah left, Iyabọ asked; “How did she know my middle name? I hardly use it!

Jẹyọ: She is a prophetess, she must have heard, seen or picked it up in her spirit.

Jadun: Let’s see the gift.

Iyabọ unwrapped the gift and beamed. “It’s beautiful.” It was a headtie.

Jọla: That will go with your new lace.

Joyin: God has just blessed your decision to become born again. Imagine what you’ll get when you receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

Delaja: Iyabọ, I encourage you to get filled. Don’t let the Devil lie to you that because you don’t understand you do not need it or any other lie of that nature. Satan is our enemy and when we pray in tongues, even the devil does not understand us.

Iyabọ: Hmmm. The thing sounds weird but I guess if it is from God, it must be important.

“I have to leave soon but I want us to have communion. Joyin please bring the elements.”

When Joyin arrived with the elements we all held hands, bowed our heads, repented of any sin, forgave any wrong and gave thanks for the sacrifice of our Lord. I was about to give the go ahead for the serving of the communion when I felt Minister D’vorah’s hand on my shoulder. She wanted to partake in communion with us. We welcomed her and as Jadun read I Corinthians 11:23-34, and Delaja, Luke 22:19-22, the Lord’s presence filled our table. Jọla raised a worship song and as we worshipped, each receiving the bread and wine, I remembered the great love that God has for humans, making us in His image. Psalm 8:4-5 loomed in my mind and I shared it with the group. Jẹyọ gave a word of prophecy. We partook of the bread and wine. Then prophetess D’vorah prayed and I heard Iyabo pray in tongues. We were all awed by God’s faithfulness. Kris was fast asleep all the while.

Jẹyọ passed me a note as I got up, it read; I know what to do now, the Lord just spoke to me. Thank you for standing with me. I flashed her a smile.

Jayo: Auntie, I like that verse you quoted. So I have a crown of glory and honor, just lovely. The name I choose will have crown in it, Adeiyi (crown of honor), Adeogo (crown of glory) ... hmmm.

Delaja: Just call yourself Adelaja to honor me.

We all laughed.

As I got in my car I was grateful to God that I had put on my calendar for that day, fellowship with the JesuJays.

*** Agẹmọ is a name of one of the orishas (gods) in Yoruba religion.

Derbrah writes courtesy of Agape for All Ministries. Author retains copyright.

Jadesọla’s restaurant is a drama ministry of the Yoruba Christian Women (YCW), an international faith-based non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Similarity of names and stories are coincidental. Feel free to copy for non-commercial use. Commercial use requires permission. For more information on YCW write Jesutoyin Ajikẹ-King (toyinking@yahoo.com). 

Robot  # 1 | 26.08.2008 21:25

Jẹyọ: So next time Şẹgun finds something he and Patrick have in common a...Read the full article.