ÌWÀ (CHARACTER)

To’ju iwa re, ore mi,

Ola a ma si lo n’ile eni,

Ewa a si ma si l’ara enia.

Olowo oni ‘nd’olosi b’o d’ola,

Okun l’ola, okun n’igbi oro,

Gbogbo won l’o nsi lo n’ile eni;

Sugbon iwa ni m’ba ni de sare’e,

Owo ko je nkan fun ni.

Iwa l’ewa omo enia,

Bi o l’owo bi o ko ni’wa nko?

Tani je f’inu tan e ba s’ohun rere?

Tabi ki o je obirin rogbodo,

Ti o ba jina si’wa ti eda nfe,

Tani je fe o s’ile bi aya?

Tabi ki o je onijibiti enia,

Bi o tile mo iwe amodaju;

Tani je gbe’se aje fun o se?

Toju Iwa re, ore mi,

Iwa ko si, eko d’egbe;

Gbogbo aiye ni ‘nfe ‘ni t’o je rere.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Enhance your character, my friend,

Prosperity could depart from one’s home,

And beauty could retreat from people’s bodies.

Today’s rich could become poor tomorrow,

Opulence is like ocean’s surfs; it is like ocean’s waves,

They come and go from one’s home as they please;

But, only good character follows one to the grave.

Money is not everything to anyone,

Good character is the beauty of a mortal,

What if you are wealthy without good character?

Who would trust you with something serious?

Perhaps, you are a gorgeous woman,

If you are far from societal norms,

Who would marry you as a wife?

Or you are a fraudulent person,

May be you are well educated;

Who would transact business with you?

Enhance your character, my friend,

In the absence of character, education is a waste;

The whole world appreciates a well-mannered person.

•Poetry by the late Chief J.F. Odunjo, renowned Yoruba playwright, poet, politician, and statesman – from one of his popular Alawiye series.