The Iku

The Iku

The Iku: what do they say about them?

They say the body is dead- but they keep living.

They say the body is gone - back to the earth,

But the spirit just keeps moving.

Iba Yeye, iba Baba t’orun. Mojuba Egungun, mojuba Egun.

As surely as Oya makes the wind to blow

And as surely as the storms bring change

All life cycles must transform, all things must rearrange.

As surely as the ocean, we say the ocean runs deep

The Iku- they walk again - we say the Dead do not sleep.

If you don’t take care of the Ancestors,

Exactly how do you expect them to take care of you?

Then you are out there in the madness of the world

And then just exactly what are you going to do?

Iba Yeye, iba Baba t’orun. Mojuba Egungun, mojuba Egun.

Now we can go to our Gods, the Orisa,

All of that is necessary - all of that is cool

But don’t forget about the Ancestors

Lest you become like a damned fool.

Its just like my Iyaloosa says - you are an ancestor come back to walk again

So when you go to the Ancestors my sister, it’s with yourself that you begin.

Now I think that that is deep- I think that is truly profound

And there’s no time left for nonsense- no time to fool around.

They say we are closest to the Ancestors- they want us to succeed

So I break to my knees in a heartbeat to ask for what I need.

So we fall down to the ground and we revere and honor the Dead, yes it’s true

We say Yeye Tobi, Baba Tobi- just what do you want me to do?

Iba Yeye, iba Baba t’orun. Mojuba Egungun, mojuba Egun.

They say honor and respect the Ancestors

All of those that have come before

They say build the Dead a house and open up the door.

They say honor and respect the Ancestors

All of those that never left the shores of home

They say honor those that survived the middle passage and their souls were left to roam.

They say honor and respect the Ancestors - starting with you

Starting with me - starting with all those you cannot see

Who pray on our behalf deep down in the middle of the night

Elevate all those strong spirits that never once gave up the fight.

Iba Yeye, iba Baba t’orun. Mojuba Egungun, mojuba Egun.

So we build the Dead a house and we dress and bless the shrine

We invite our people to the earth to commune

And then we open up our minds.

We light a candle for our Mother’s people, our Father’s people too

Then we feed the Dead faithfully - that’s what we have to do.

We pray for iwa pele each and every single day

Then we sit down, be quiet and listen when they say what they have to say.

When the time comes we make a mask and robe with juju and beautiful cloth

We invite the Dead to walk the streets in Egungun masquerade

Oh, when the Iku walk again - what a magnificent parade!

Iba Yeye, iba Baba t’orun. Mojuba Egungun, mojuba Egun.

Efunyale Akinloye