Work is the antidote for poverty

I find this piece hard to keep to myself alone. Please bear with me if you can’t read Yoruba well but the English interpretations should do you a big deal.

For some of us who recognize it, this was a poem we all learned by heart while in elementary school and I believe it is one of the driving forces in our lives as we grow. It reflects on the yoruba deep philosophy of the real value of life and element of real success. It seems all these values have eluded us with time. For those of us who appreciate the beauty of yoruba composition, we can not but feel touched once again with these lines of poem.


This was translated to English for teaching some Yoruba children

Enjoy it….

YORUBA


ENGLISH TRANSLATION

ISÉ NI ÒÒGÙN ÌSÉ


Work is the antidote for poverty.

MÚRA SÍ ISÉ RE, ÒRÉÈ MI


Work hard, my friend.

ISÉ NI A FI Í DI ENI GIGA


work is used to elevate one in respect and importance (Aspiring to higher height is fully dependent on hard work).

BÍ A KÒ BÁ RÉNI FÈYÌN TÌ, BÍ ÒLE LÀ Á RÍ


if we do not have anyone to lean on, we appear indolent.

BÍ A KO RÉNI GBÉKÈLÉ


if we do not have anyone to trust (we can depend on).

À A TERA MÓ ISÉ ENI


we simply work harder.

ÌYÁ RE LÈ LÓWÓ LÓWÓ


your mother may be wealthy.

BÀBÁ SÌ LÈ LÉSIN LÉÈKÀN


your father may have a ranch full of horses.

BÍ O BÁ GBÓJÚ LÉ WON


if you depend on their riches alone.

O TÉ TÁN NI MO SO FÚN O


you may end up in disgrace, I tell you.

OHUN TÍ A KÒ BA JÌYÀ FÚN


whatever gain one does not work hard to earn.

KÌ Í LÈ TÓJÓ


usually does not last.

OHUN TÍ A BÁ FARA SISÉ FÚN


whatever gain one works hard to earn.

NÍ Í PÉ LÓWÓ ENI


is the one that lasts in one's hands (while in ones possession).

APÁ LARÁ


the arm is a relative

ÌGÙNPÁ NÌYEKAN


the elbow is a sibling.

BÍ AYÉ N FÉ O LÓNÌÍ


you may be loved by all today.

BÍ O BÁ LÓWÓ LÓWÓ


it is when you have money.

NI WON Á MÁA FÉ O LÓLA


that they will love you tomorrow.

TÀBÍ TÍ O BÁ WÀ NÍ IPÒ ÀTÀTÀ


or when you are in a high position.

AYÉ Á YÉ O SÍ TÈRÍN-TÈRÍN


all will honor you with cheers and smiles.

JÉ KÍ O DI ENI N RÁÁGÓ


wait till you become poor or are struggling to get by.

KÍ O RÍ BÁYÉ TI Í SÍMÚ SÍ O


and you will see how all grimace at you as they pass you by.

ÈKÓ SÌ TÚN N SONI Í DÒGÁ


education also elevates one in position.

MÚRA KÍ O KÓ O DÁRADÁRA


work hard to acquire good education.

BÍ O SÌ RÍ ÒPÒ ÈNÌYÀN


and if you see a lot of people.

TÍ WÓN N FI ÈKÓ SE ÈRÍN RÍN


making education a laughing stock.

DÁKUN MÁ SE FARA WÉ WON


please do not emulate or keep their company.

ÌYÀ N BÒ FÓMO TÍ KÒ GBÓN


suffering is lying in wait for an unserious kid.

EKÚN N BE FÓMO TÓ N SÁ KIRI


sorrow is in the reserve for a truant kid.

MÁ FÒWÚRÒ SERÉ, ÒRÉÈ MI


do not play with your early years, my friend.

MÚRA SÍSÉ, OJÓ N LO


work harder; time and tide wait for no one.

Let’s pass it on to our children.

May God delight our hearts