Jibafẹ: Asasi kọ, iranu ni. B’ọmọde ba jawọ kiku, Iya ẹ a jawọ sinsin. Oun to bama gba la ma fun! (What spiritual attack? If a child determines to die, the mother will determine to bury him/her, the problem shall be fixed). Gbogbo ẹmi buruku, mo gbe yin de lorukọ Jesu! (All evil spirits I bind you in Jesus name!)

Everyone said amen!

Jagun massaged his wife’s back as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Then I softly stated, “Jibafẹ, kindly watch your confession, use clean Yoruba proverbs. Stay away from speaking death and the like.”

Jibafẹ paused for a second and muttered; “Oh, thanks. I cancel the power of any unwholesome words I have spoken, I declare that only God’s promises come to pass in my life.”

Damari: I just love the way you pray. I’m learning a lot.

Aṣabi: Me too.

I refused to eat dessert and Igbala teased me: “So you’re watching your height?”

I indulged her and replied “It’s my hands I’m watching, they’ve been fat lately” Jibafẹ then chipped in, “My hands are a little swollen too, what’s going on with me?”

Jagun: You’re working too hard sweetie. You need to rest.

Igbala suddenly looked at Jibafẹ, smiled, and returned to eating her dessert. Next thing she asked; “How many grandchildren do you have?”

Jagun: Three.

Jibafẹ: Ages seven, four and one.

Igbala smiled again and continued, I have two, one is four years and the other is two! They wear me out.

Jibafẹ: I love having them around; my sons don’t bring them over as much as they should.

Igbala: Mine bring them over too often.

Feyi’s voice was heard over the public announcement system. She was going ahead with the program. She called on Mama Ẹriokan’s children who took turns to tell the wonders of their mother. As Feyi received the microphone, Oluwatogbẹkẹle remarked “The woman’s children are hefty. Both of them are heavily built, yet the woman is small. God is awesome.”

Damari: That sounds like me. My siblings and I are very big but our parents are small, something about recessive genes.

I spoke with Jibafẹ about Igbala’s request to meet Mama Ẹriọkan and both of them worked out a plan. The program progressed and then the time came for me to minister. Iyinayọ and I proceeded to the platform. I gave a small introduction then began to minister. Okiki started the background chorus;

Iba Yin, Yeṣua o (Your honor, Yeshua)

Iba Yin Ọmọ Ọlọrun (Your honor, Son of God)

Ẹlẹruniyin mo juba Yin Ẹ ma ṣeun ṣeun (Fearful in praises, I give You honor, thank You)

We sang that twice and I could see that some members of the audience joined us. I encouraged them to participate and worship the Lord for His goodness, then I proceeded with the ewi;

Iba Yin, Ọga ogo (We give You honor, Master of glory)

Alade wura, Ọmọ Ọlorun, ọmo Maria, ọmo enia (The One with the golden crown, the Son of God, the son of Mary, the son of man)

Iba Yin, Adẹda, Aṣeda, Adaye at’ọrun (We give You honor, Creator of humans, Maker of mankind, Creator of heaven and earth)

Ẹyin nikan logo yẹ, Eyin nikan niyin yẹ (You alone deserve the glory, You alone deserve the praise)

Ẹyin nikan lo to sin, Eyin nikan lo to yin (You alone are worthy of worship, You alone are worthy of praise)

Alagbawi ẹda, Eleti gbaroye (The Great attorney for man, the Great Divine Shrink)

Mo wariri, mo dupẹ, mo t’ọpẹ da (I am in awe, I am grateful, I give You thanks)

Mo yin Yin, Mo gbe Yin ga (I give You praise, I exalt You)

Mo gbe Yin larugẹ, Mo tẹriba (I esteem You, I submit to You).

Mo kunlẹ, oṣuba yin re (I am on my knees, I present You with my honor sign).

(At this point, I knelt down, held my hands together and raised them up towards heaven). Okiki continued to sing the chorus softly in the background and Oluwatogbẹkẹle beat the chorus keys on the gangan drum. When I got up from the ground I noticed that a little group had formed close to the platform lifting up their hands to praise the Lord. Madam Ẹriokan was on her knees with her eyes closed and tears streaming down her cheeks. I continued;

Ẹyin l’Ọba toun gbadura (You are the King that answers prayers)

Ẹyin l’Ọba toun dariji ni (You are the King that forgives sin)

Ẹyin l’Ọrẹ toun duro tini (You are the Friend that stands with one in trouble)

Ẹyin l’Oludande awọn tan so mọlẹ (You are the Deliverer of those who are bound)

Ẹyin lẹja ṣẹkẹṣẹkẹ ẹṣẹ, aye ati Satani kuro laye wa (You broke the chains of sin, the world and Satan from our lives)

Ẹyin lẹ feran wa to bẹ gẹ, tẹ fa ye Yin silẹ fun wa lori igi agbelebu (You are the One that so loved us that You gave Your life for us on the cross)

Ẹyin l’Ọgbagba tiun gbẹlẹṣẹ la (You are the mighty Deliverer for the sinner)

Ẹyin lẹyọ abiamo lojo iponju, (You deliver pregnant women from child labor)

Ẹyin lẹdi Baba f’alai ni baba (You are the Father to the fatherless)

Ẹyin lẹd’Iya f’alai ni mama (You are the Mother to the motherless)

Ẹyin lẹd’Ọko fun opo (You are the husband to the widow)

Ẹyin lẹd’Ọre f’alai lọre (You are the Friend to the lonely)

Ẹyin loun gbani lọwọ lala (You are the Saviour from poverty)

Ẹyin loun fun wa ni jijẹ ati mimu (You are the Supplier of our food and drink)

Okiki raised the chorus again. By this time, I saw a couple of women on their knees with their hands lifted up in worship to God. One man was on his feet swaying from side to side with his agbada*. Oluwatogbekele’s drum beats were making majestic sounds, I was just warming up. I continued to chant praises to the most high God;

Kabiyesi, (a term of honor used to address kings)

Ọlọrun agbaye (The God of the whole world)

Elohim (the Hebrew word for the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

Ti awọn Heberu npe ni Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh (that the Jews call Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh)

Ọpẹ Yin lawa ṣe (We came to give You praise)

Iyin Yin lawa ke (We’ve come to declare Your honor)

Igbala Yin lawa polongo (We’re here to promote Your salvation)

Ifẹ Yin lawa tọkasi (We testify of Your love)

Ẹmi Mimọ (Holy Spirit)

To gbe Yeṣua ti awọn pupọ mọ si Jesu Kristi dide ninu oku (that rose Yeshua Whom many know as Jesus Christ from the dead)

Ẹyin la fun laaye lati gbe orukọ Yeṣua ga (You are the One we give the permission to lift up the name of Yeshua).

Jibafẹ came and postrated on the floor, some others joined her. I continued;

Ninu iwe Bereṣeti ti wọn pe ni genesisi, iwe ibẹrẹ, Baba mi lọrun, Ẹyin ni Oludaye ati ọrun (In the book of B’resheet which is also called Genesis, the book of the beginning, my heavenly Father, You are the Creator of heaven and earth).

Ninu iwe ṣmoti, ti wọn pe ni Ẹksodu, Ẹyin ni Emi ni tiun jẹ Emi ni (In the book of Sh’mot also called Exodus, You are The I AM that I AM)

Ninu iwe Wayikira ti wọn pe ni Lefitiku, Ẹyin ni Oluwa, Ọlọrun mi (In the book of Vayikra also called Leviticus, You are The Lord, my God).

Ninu iwe Bimidibari tọn pe ni Numeri, Ẹyin ni Ọlọrun ti ki i purọ ti ko si ni lati ronupiwada. Ẹ ma ṣeun tẹ ba sọ, Ẹ yio ṣe dada oun te ba wi (In the book of B’midbar also called Numbers, You are the God that does not lie or need to repent, You do what You say and make good what You have spoken).

Ninu iwe Diwarimi tọn pe ni Deutẹronomi Ẹyin ni Ọlọrun olotọ tiun pa majemu anu mọ (In the book of D’varim called Deuteronomy, You are the faithful God that keeps the covenant of mercy)

Ninu iwe Yihoṣua tọn pe ni Joṣua, Ẹyin l’Oluwa tiun mu ṣẹ gbogbo ohun rere tẹ ti sọ nipa wa (In the book of Y’hoshua called Joshua, You are the Lord that brings to pass all the good things You have spoken concerning us).

Ninu iwe Ṣofitim tọn pe ni Awọn Onidajọ, Ẹyin ni Oluwa tin dari ẹṣẹ jini lera lera (In the book of Shof’tim called Judges, You are the Lord that pardons sin over and over again.

Ninu iwe Rut tọn pe ni Rutu, Ẹyin ni Oluwa tin fun oku atalaye ni iwarẹlẹ (In the book of Rut called Ruth, You are the Lord that gives kindness to the living and the dead).

Ninu iwe Ṣmueli alef tọn pe ni Samueli kini, Ẹyin ni Ọlọrun amoye tin wọn aṣesi (In the book of Sh’mu’el Alef called 1 Samuel, You are the God of knowledge that weighs actions).

Ninu iwe Ṣmueli bet tọn pe ni Samueli keji, Ẹyin ni Oluwa Ọlọrun, Ẹtobi, ko sisi ẹlomiran bi yin, ko si Ọlọrun lẹgbẹ Yin (In the book of Sh’mu’el Bet called 2 Samuel, You are the Lord God, You are great and there is none like You and no other God beside You)

Ninu iwe Milakhim Alef tọn pe ni Awọn Ọba kini, Ẹyin ni Oluwa Israeli tin pa majẹmu ati anu mọ (In the book of M’lakhim Alef called 1 Kings You are the Lord of Israel, Who keeps the covenant and mercy).

Ninu iwe Milakhim Bet tọn pe ni Awọn Ọba keji, Ẹyin ni Ẹni tin gbe larin awọn Kerubu, Ẹyin nikan ni Ọlọrun, ka kiri gbogbo ijọba aye, Ẹyin lẹda ọrun ataye. (In the book of M’lakhim Bet called 2 Kings, You are the One that dwells among the cherubims, You are the God, You alone, of all kingdoms of the earth, You have made heaven and earth).

Ninu iwe Divrei-HaYamin Alef tọn pe ni Kronika kini, Ẹyin tobi Ẹsi ni iyin to tobi, Ẹyin ni kia ma bẹru ju awọn oriṣa lọ. (In the book of Divrei-HaYamin Alef called 1 Chronicles, You are great, and greatly to be praised, You are to be feared above all gods).

Ninu iwe Divrei-HaYamin Bet tọn pe ni Kronika keji, Ẹyin ni Ọlọrun tonbẹ ni ọrun tin jọba lori awọn alaigbagbọ, ninu ọwọ Yinni agbara ati okun, kosi ẹni to le bayin fa! (In the book of Divrei-HaYamin Bet called 2 Chronicles, You are the God in heaven that rules over the heathen, in Your hand is power and might so that none can withstand You)

Ninu iwe Esra, Eyin dara, anu Yin si duro lai lai (In the book of Ezra, You are good and Your mercies endure forever).

Ninu iwe Nekemya tọn pe ni Nehemiah, Eyin ni Ọlọrun ti o setan lati dariji, Ẹyin kun fun oju rere ati anu, Ẹyin lọra lati binu Ẹsi ni iwarẹlẹ to pọ. (In the book of Nechemyah called Nehemiah, You are the God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness).

Ninu iwe Ẹsta tọn pe ni Ẹsteri, Ẹyin ni Olupamọ awọn to gbẹkẹle agbara Yin (In the book of Ester known as Esther, You are the protector of those who trust in Your strength).

Concluded in part 3

* Agbada is a Yoruba style usually worn by men.

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 | 16.04.2009 01:52

Jibafẹ: Asasi kọ, iranu ni. B’ọmọde ba jawọ kiku, Iya ẹ a jawọ sinsin. Oun to bama gba la ma fun! (What spiritual attack? If a child determines to die, the mother will determine to bury him/her, the problem shall be fixed). Gbogbo ẹmi buruku, mo gbe yin de lorukọ Jesu! (All evil spirits I bind you in Jesus name!) Everyone said amen! Jagun massaged his wife’s back as she rested her head on his shoulder. Then I softly stated, “Jibafẹ, kindly watch your confession, use clean Yoruba proverbs. Stay away from speaking death and the like.” Jibafẹ paused for a second and muttered; “Oh, thanks. I cancel the power of any unwholesome words I have spoken, I declare that only God’s promises come to pass in my life.” Damari: I just love the way you pray. I’m learning a lot. Aṣabi: Me too. I refused to eat dessert and Igbala teased me: ...Read the full article.