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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Mojisola Alaso Ofi

A piece dedicated to
Ibukun ‘Mojisola’ Olawoye
Whose name inspired the story.

Just like another beautiful day in the land of a thousand people where mojisola alaso ofi lives in a palace.

The talking drum beats the call to bid her rise from her bed of a thousand peacock’s feathers
“ Mojisola alaso ofi o.. nle o…Ojire bi….omo eleni ateika… omo ajifojogbogbo dara bi egbin..gberanle odideo…. Okan to wuyi larin arewa obirin…o dara bi egbin….o sewa bi okin… dide nle o… a o rojo muso lokun o…dide.”
So Mojisola’s day begins in the land of a thousand people.

The call from the talking drum is usually the sound that breaks the silence of the approaching dawn even before the sun parts open the thick curtain of darkness that drew down on the faded beauty of the day before.


The chants of Mojisola Alaso Ofi’s praises from the talking drum would fill the air that even the cocks would often forget their duty of proclaiming the wake of the day with their usual crowing as Mojisola Alao Ofi’s praises drown all, and this would often rouse the people of the land of a thousand people out of their slumber.


Mojisola rises from her bed of a thousand peacock’s feather and steps into the courtyard of her beautiful palace where her subjects would wait on her..
“Ma rora Ibadi aran…ma rora gbese ni ikookan…Omo Ajilala Osho…Omo Ajifojogbogbodara “

The praises of Mojisola Alaso Ofi rings through the palace while the land of a thousand people prepares for the big day ahead…






The day of the big market fair has arrived, where the best of which the land could yield avail in plenty for all to purchase and admire. The land of a thousand people receives many on this day as people would come from even as far as the far away lands beyond the hills and from lands across the great river.


Often you would wonder, why so many would choose to come into the land of a thousand people on this big market fair day, perhaps to make more from their goods or perhaps to see the famous night dance at the village square? Or to be more precise, to catch a glimpse of the famous “MOJISOLA ALASO OFI” for such has become of her fame that no one would deny the fact of not having heard of the name.


The big market fair is usually a day to look forward to, a day when all beings meet at the market square that lies behind the palace of the great king of the land of a thousand people. 


The market has come alive with the air filled with sounds that could only be heard from the market only and if you had visited on such a day, I am sure you would have been confused at what to buy as all on display would attract the deepest senses of appreciation.

Now let’s retrace our steps back to the palace of Mojisola Alaso Ofi, the princess of the land of a thousand people.
Mojisola now is dressed and decked as the royalty she is, magnificent and alluring in the sight of those that could catch a glimpse of her majesty.
“Mojisola Alaso Ofi, Omo Oba setan ati geshin woja”


Mojisola is set to ride her horse into the market square, and yes, the big fair day has just begun
Her subjects walk ahead leading the horse on which she rides while the talking drum trails behind rendering the most beautiful lyrics to proclaim her entry.
“Mojisola Alaso ofi nbo o
Mojisola alaso ofi, omo oba nbo o
Ero ona a yago lona….Ero oja e fona le..kolona le koja 
Atabga atomode ewa wo omo oba
Mojisola Alaso Ofi , Omo Oba tin geshin woja mbo o”

Mojisola’s entry into the market square is being proclaimed loudly, those who have heard had to call on those who might not have heard for no one would miss catching a glimpse of the passing princess, as such was the magnificence of Mojsola Alaso Ofi.


There she comes, on her decked horse, trotting gracefully into the market, beaming with smiles so full like the full moon and her eyes so hypnotizing such that an innocent bystander wouldn’t know when he would follow the procession and become like her subjects only to come back to his senses when he reaches mojisola’s palace. Mojisola Alaso Ofi’s entry transfixed all in the market square, once, a woman gave all she had on her stock to a stranger while mojisola passed by, only for her to realize she had lost all when mojisola left. One could say mojisola Alaso Ofi is the reason for the big market fair.


Mojisola Alaso Ofi leaves the market as gracefully as she‘d made her entry. Retiring for the day as she awaits her many suitors who would usually bring gifts to her at the end of the market day.

While so many seeks her hand in marriage Mojisola Alaso Ofi only awaits the fair faced young man she sees often in her dreams. Often the fair faced one would call to her like he was so far away and too many times she had reached out to touch the fair faced one but often she usually awoke from such dreams.


The dreams, so real that she knew the fair faced one would come some day
While so many may come bearing gifts of extraordinary values , mojisola would never giver her heart out as she awaits till she sets her eyes on the fair faced one whom she alone knows

The strong, the mighty, the bravest and even the fairest had come and yet many would still come, mojisola Alaso ofi would rather choose to wait till the day her prince would arrive.
Mojisola Alaso Ofi is humble and her kindness surpasses even her famed beauty.

Mojisola Alaso Ofi, the glowing flame of the land of a thousand people. She loves her people and you could see how much they have come to love their princess and would only wish the fair faced hero of her dreams comes in earnest.

Mojisola Alaso Ofi retires to her bed of a thousand peacock’s feathers even as she goes into the land where all is made real and in time to behold yet the face of the fair one she awaits.
The talking drum chants her praises till it all grew still in the land of a thousand people.
“Mojisola Alaso Ofi, orekelewa….afinju omo oba tin fi jo gbogbgo dara…Asunji o

To be continued …..




Mojisola Olawoye

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