IGIRIGI ỤTỤTỤ
Mbem Ncheta Ọmụmụ Iri Asatọ
Nke Ezinne Hannah Egwuime Azụonye,
Ada Igbo,[1] Igirigi Ụtụtụ, Osodiamamba, Nnekeeze,
Nkesinaka
Mbem Ncheta Ọmụmụ Iri Asatọ
Nke Ezinne Hannah Egwuime Azụonye,
Ada Igbo,[1] Igirigi Ụtụtụ, Osodiamamba, Nnekeeze,
Nkesinaka
CHUKWUMA AZỤONYE
My mother is great,
Greater than the world
—“Sweet Mother” (Prince Nico Mbarga)
I
Akpata[2]na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!
Igirigi ụtụtụ, nnekeeze[3]
Ọgaranya nwaanyị dị ebube,
Ada Igbo, ezi nne:
Ọdụm mere ihe ana-ebo agụ,
Felie fegharịa fegoro n’elu ọjị —
Ugo ọjị, nne m, eze chi nyere ude
Akpata na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!
Onye ije-eeee-oooo!...
Ala n’onwe ya,
Nne ukwu kwere ndụ,
Oloo loro ihe loro enyi,
Agadagidi!
Akpata na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!
Onye ije-eeee-oooo!...
Mama, zeruo, karuo,
Ị zeruole, Ị karuole!
Okooko ch na eke ji chọọ ụwa mma!
Oke nnekwu mụzụrụ mba ndị ọkachamara
Bilie ka ụwa lele mma chi ji ghụọ gị ahụ
Wụlie, wụgharịa, wụgoro n’elu apụ—
Apụ ugo, eze nne m eke ọma
Akpata na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!
Onye ije-eeee-oooo!...
Ebili mmiri hụrụ ikiri ụkwụ gị, sọlaa
Vom vom n’osimiri nụrụ olu gị, milaa
Eke-na-egwurugwu nụrụ ude gị, gwulaa,
Rigoro n’oche eze chi gị kwaara gị—
Akpata na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!
Zolite, bịa buru ụzọ n’ọgbọ egwu
Lee ka ndị ọgbọ gị na-erughari n’ọgbọ egwu
Mama ụwa, bilite bịa rie ohuru[4]
ụmụ na ụmụụmụ na umu umuumu
Nke eke iji pụta ụwa keenyere gị
Kapụta ya ebe ọ pụrụ ihiere n’akaraaka gị
Akpata na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!...
Ugbu a bụ oge ahụ chi gị kwadooro gị
Emewerele gị ya bụ ọnyima[5] ncheta ọmụmụ gị—
Ụwa dum na ihe dum ekere eke
Esoro ụmụ kwuru ụmụ na-emeere gị onyima
Akpata na-eje nwayọ
Akpata osi-ngedegwu mmamma!...
II
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Egwu ụwa ebirila ọkụ n’ama ndụ:
Nne m eze, ezi nne, ebube nwaanyị
Na-achara ụwa dum dịka anyanwụ,
Ojoojo[6] ụwa ebirila ọkụ, n’ama ndụ,
Egwu ụmụ agbọghọbịa dere uri, n’ama ndụ:
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Ada Igbo siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Maazị Anaadụ, dinta ma ọja egbu,
Biko jiri nwayọ, ọja gị emebiela anyị isi
Tịịị-rọ, tị-rọ
Egwu na-egba n’obodo agụ,
Tijam jam!
Ekei! Lekwenụ na ala amawala jijiji:
Ijimbiri, ijimbiri, ala amawala jijiji
Odenjinji, ala amawala jijiji
Nkwa ụmụ agbọghọ, ala amawala jijiji !
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Ezinne siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Maazị Anaadụ, a na m anụ ọja ị na-egbu,
Ojoojo, anụla m olu ụmụ agbọghọ dere uri
Agbaachaa-ekuru-nwa, anụla m olu ndị nne ọmugwọ,
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Ada Igbo siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Ezinne siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ugbu a, oke ụlọ-elu edetụla urukpu ọnụ
N’otu ntabi anya—n’ọnụụzọ eluigwe—
Oke ụlọ-elu, eji ụkwụ na aka ụmụokorobịa wuo
Oke ụlọ-elu, eji ara na ukwu ụmụagbọgbobịa rụọ:
Nke a ọ bụ naanị nkanaeegwu,
Ka a tịịrị ya ọgwụ?
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ndị Egwu Abaịna,[7] unu abịa te, ekelekwaa m unu!
Ndị Egwu Ojojo, na ngwanụ, ekelekwaa m unu!
Ndị Egwu Abiigbo,[8] unu abịanịna e, ekelekwaa m unu!
Ndị Eze-Igbo-Ezue, ndị oji-ọnụ-akpa-nkata
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Anyanwụ siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ọọ gịnị na-ahịọ n’ebe a?
Mma nwaanyị!
Mma nwaanyị!
Mma nwaanyị enwurule ọkụ ka okooko osisi
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ada Igbo siri maa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ezi nne m siri maa n’ụwa!
Ekei, ukwu na-achọ ịhịọpụkwa ụmụ nwaanyị
Ebe ha na-eri ohuru eze ka eze n’osimiri mma
‘A chi m nyere m oche sị m kpooruo
‘A chi m nyere m oche sị m kpooruo… !’
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ada Igbo siri maa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ezi nne m siri maa n’ụwa!
Ada Ígbó, biko jiri nwayọ, na edere dị ụtọ,
Ada Ìgbò, biko jiri nwayọ, reke reke bụ ụtọ egwu
Mama, ọọ nwa gị Chukwuma nụ a-etiku gị
Mama, ọọ Chukwuma nụ, ọọ mụnwa na-ebeku gị:
Edere dị utọ, ma chetakwa n’osimiri anyị nọ—
N’ọnyịma ncheta ọmụmụ gị nke iri asatọ!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ada Igbo siri maa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ezi nne m siri maa n’ụwa!
Odenjinji, ala amawala jijiji
Nne m Ala, n’ n’egwu ọnyịma ya,
Ala a mawala jijiji, nne nwe ala nwere igwe,
Eze nwaanyi ji egbe-igwe ekwu okwu,
Nne ka eze, ebube nwaanyị
Na-achara ụwa dum dịka anyanwụ,
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Ada Igbo siri chaa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị chaa dịka Ezi nne m siri chaa n’ụwa!
Oke nnekwu ọkụkọ na-echọkọ ụwa
N’okpuru oke nku gị ka anyị nọ
N’ebe a ka anyị nọ, zere nta zeere imo
Ozuzu ukwu na ozuzu nta dum dị n’ụwa
Ma ndị si n’elu ma ndị si n’ala,
Nkwọ na egbe, ọdụm na agụ, mmụọ na mmadụ,
Ọ dighi nke pụrụ ifebata ebe i zokoro anyi
Nkume mgbe ebighi ebi,
Ebe mgbakwasị ukwu anyị,
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ada Igbo siri maa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ezi nne m siri maa n’ụwa!
Ugonachamma nne m eze udo,
Oke anụnụ be n’elu ọjị
Ugo na ọjị, nne na eze
O lee nke aga-elele ghara ibe ya.
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ada Igbo siri maa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ezi nne m siri maa n’ụwa!
Ada Ígbó, Ada Ìgbò ka Ị bụ,
Ya ka ikporo dum ji na-etu gị igirigi:
Igirigi Ụtụtụ, mkpụrụ mma
Kwara akwụkwọ ndụ mma
Nke na-egbu ka imirikiti iyeri dayamọndụ
Nke na-egbu ka imirikiti okooko mmiri
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ada Igbo siri maa n’ụwa!
Ka-anyị maa dịka Ezi nne m siri maa n’ụwa!
III
Ada Ígbó, ọọ nwa gị Chukwuma nu a-etiku gị
Ada Ìgbò, ọọ Chukwuma nụ na-ebeku gị:
Ike gi, ike nne duziri m ụzọ
Eji m ogu eji ọfọ…
Ike gi, ike nne duziri m ụzọ
Ọjaadịlị, ejiri m mmụọ na mmadụ na mgba:
Jie azụeruala n’ebeteghete,
Jie ọzọdimgba n’ịkpa asaa,
Jie mmụọ isi asaa n’ala mmụọ
Ike gi, ike nne duziri m ụzọ
M wee zọlie mjem afọ agụtaaguta
Gafee ịkpa nansa
Gafee iyi nansa
Wee pịpụta mmiri na nkume,
Wee chọta ọla ezoro n’okpuru ala osimiri
N’afọ agadogwu bi n’ọchịchịrị imeala osimiri
Ike gi, ike nne duziri m ụzọ
Mama, olee otu m ga-esi kelee gị?
Mgbe m bụ nwata, Ị dọrọ m aka na ntị
Na ire-gụta-ọkụ-agba-awhụnwuoru-ya abụghị ihe ọma;
Ma na ugbu a, a chọrọ m ire-gụta-ọkụ-agba-awhụnwuoru-ya
Nke ga-eme ka ụwatọụwa dum dị n’ofe eluigwe
Hụ, n’ọkụ agba m na-awhụnwu,
Ebube izu gị kenyere n’akụkọ ndụ m
Ike gi, ike nne duziri m ụzọ
M ghọta mbụ, nda
Nne a pịwara raa, nda
M ghọta abọ, nda,
Nne a pịwara raa, nda
M sịkwa nne, nda
Na agha nọchiri ụzọ, nda
Nne asị m, nda
Mu lụgbuonu agha, nda
M buru okpiri, nda
Ya aghọọrọ m egbe, nda
M buru aghara, nda
Ya aghọọrọ m mma, nda
M sịkwa nne, nda
Na alụghuole m agha, nda
Nne a sị m, nda :
Nwa o mere ezi agha, nda
Nwa o mere ụmụ okoro, nda.
Neezie, ike nne duziri m ụzọ
Ike gị, izu nne duziri m ụzọ
Ada Igbo, ọọ ụna gị duziri m ụzọ
Ike gị, ike ọọ ụna gi duziri m ụzọ
Nne lee-e-e! Egbu’ m igoro
Egbu’ m igoro!
Nne lee-e-e! Egbu’ m igoro
Egbu’ m igoro!
Aka ji egbe egbughị igoro
Egbu’ m igoro!
Aka ji mma egbughi igoro
Egbu’ m igoro!
Ngo ngoro ngoro
Egbu’ m igoro!
Ngo ngoro ngoro
Egbu’ m igoro!
IV
Mama, I makwa na e jere m be Okeke Ana ọ waa m eze,
Ọ waa m eze ana ghara m eze enu.
Ọ sị m mụ gbakwa ama mụ agbana owere
Na owere wụ ezi mmụọ:
Ana m achọ onye n’ụzọ oke ekwukwe o!
Ana m achọ onye n’ụzọ oke akakwa o!
Ada Igbo, biko saghee ọnụ gwa m okwu:
Gwa m okwu, ichie ọgaranya nwaanyị
Biko nara mmaị dụa m olu
N’ụzọ kewara ngalaba naasaa
Zi m ụzọ, gbaara m oku,
N’ụzọ ka dị ogologo
Mama ụwa, lee ka ụmụ gị wụsa
N’ebe ụzọ kewara ngalaba asaa
Wụsara dịka ọkpọghọrọ egburu n’agha
Ọọ gịnị mere, nne m, eze dibịa,
Ọọ gịnị mere, ọkaaka ka nka
Mee ka maụsụ kọmputa m bụrụ
Opi-ọnwụ-na-ndụ, ka m fụtee ụmụ gị;
Opi ukwu opi nta
Biko futeere m
Umu nne m nansa n’ọmịiko
Ndọfụụro dọọ-dọọ-dọọ ndofụụrọ
Ji mmam ha erikwaghi
Ndọfụụro dọọ-dọọ-dọọ ndofụụrọ
Ede mmam ha erikwaghi
Ndọfụụro dọọ-dọọ-dọọ ndofụụrọ
V
Ụlọ anyị jiri igwe rụọ
Anụ ngere, anụ ngerere nge,
Anụ ukwu sị ya ga-ebi
Anụ ngere, anụ ngerere nge,
Anụ nta sị ya ga-ebi
Anụ ngere, anụ ngerere nge,
Anyị ga-ele ya na mgba
Anụ ngere, anụ ngerere nge,
Anụ ukwu tụtụtụ kugbuo
Anụ ngere, anụ ngerere nge,
Anụ nta tụtụtụ kugbuo
Anụ ngere, anụ ngerere nge…
Oriwowo ekojuole ụlọ nne m
Dịka agada-gbachiri-ụzọ
Ụgwọ-eji-afọ ebichiele usekwu nne m,
Dịka ngidingi
N’ime ụlọ nne m, ji na ụtara epuole nku
Na-achọ ụzo ha si efepu
Mama, lekwe na Afọ-eju-ala erichapụla
Ọba ji na ọba ede dum nke ụmụ gị,
Ọgbaaghara agbaasaala ụlọ nne m:
Mama, Ị hụkwara ihe na-eme?
Agadoogbu anọchiela ụzọ
Akaliogoli na efulefu aghọọla nze n’ụlọ nne m
Ndị ohi na ndị ama echiela eze n’ụlọ nne m
Ugbu a, lee ka Madame Oriwowo na-eri ihe a kụrụ n’ubi
Akwụkwo ndụ di n’osisi, o richaala ya;
Okporoosisi n’onwe ya, ọ taachapụla ya,
Egbeniye! Lekwanụ anya na ọ vọwakwala
Mgbọrọgwụ Abarike na Avụrụzọ,
Oke osisi naabọ ebe ndiichie dum nwe obodo
Si na-akpakwute anyi ọriri
Kamgbe ụwa gba ọtọ!
Mama, I makwa ma ahapụ Oriwowo
Ọ ga-eri ma ụlọ ma ngwa eji biri n’ụlọ
Mmadụ ọ ga-afọkwa ?
Mama, chetakwa na Ala ka ị bụ,
Biko siere Oriwowo tụụnyịm
Siere ya erichaa-echezọ ụwa,
Erikata agba awaa, tụụnyịm
Azị nza anaghị ericha ericha
Were ọnya erimeri jide Oriwowo
Ka ụmụ gi hụ ụzọ fepu felaa
Ebe mbọ udele enweghi ike irute ha.
Umụibe, bịanụ ka anyị soro Mama anyị chụlaa Oriwowo:
Ube ejie ube ejie, ube ejie n’ama ike
Onye di ike ga ghọrọ raa, ube ejie n’ama ike!
Ala gbaa mkpu, nne nwe ọchị nwere akwa, gbata gbata:
Ala biko bịa chụpụ Oriwowo n’usekwu nwa gị,
Alaka Oboghorita agbaala mgbọrọgwụ n’usekwu nwa gị,
Kpotara anyi Amadiọha, kpakeere anyi egbe igwe:
Amadiọha ọzụzụ, biko bịa chụpụ Oriwowo n’usekwu nwaala
Kụọ ya ajụ n’ala, chụpụga ya Odengụma
Ka nwaanyị bi na miri lee ya agwa
Alaa gbaa mkpu, nne nwe ọchi nwere akwa, biko gbata:
Ala biko bịa chekọta Ọcha Nwaanyị na ụmụ n’elu apụ,
Alaka obiọma gị, akatamkpo nnụnụ ebugoole ha n’elu apụ,
Biko mee ka awọ bi n’ime okporo apụ fụchie mpa onyike
Avụke, biko were mgbọ dị na imiriki ugbene gị
Gbusịsịa ọhadike mmụọ na-egburu Oboghorita apụ
Biko, kpọtee Ụlụagụ nwa gị, O lee ebe Ụlụagụ nọ?
Ụlụagụ lee, Ụlụagụ di m ọma,
Amụure ure, amụure !
Ụlụagụ lee, Ụlụagụ di m ọma,
Amụure ure, amụure !
Egbuole ha Oji Nwaanyị,
Amụure ure, amụure !
Achuwaala ha Ocha Nwaanyị,
Amụure ure, amụure !
Ụlụagụ lee, Ụlụagụ di m ọma,
Amụure ure, amụure !
VI
Ada Ígbó, ekelekwa m gị ọzọ
Ada Ìgbò, eke anyanwụ, odezuruigbò!
Ọọ nwa gị Chukwuma, eze nwa, nwanne gị, nụ a-etiku ị!
Nze Chukwuma, osụachara nwanne gị, ọọ mụ na-ebeku ị!:
Mama, a nụrụ m na ibegbuole onwe gị n’akwa maka m:
Mama, a nụrụ m na ibegbuole onwe gị n’akwa maka m:
Chukwuma nụ, Chukwuma nwa m,
E gbuorele m ha Chukwuma nụ:
Chukwuma nụ, ụwa m lee-eeee,
Gini mere iji chipụta m ụkwụ n’ama
Mmiri erughi eru amagbuele m
Chukwuma nwa m, Chukwuma nwa m,
Unu si na Chukwuma nwa m gara ebee ?
Mama, biko, akwazikwala akwa, lekwe m ! :
Ọọ nwa gị Chukwuma nụ na-ebeku gị
A ka nọkwa m ya, lekwe m n’ebe a!
Ebiliwo m n’ọnwụ
N’afọ neesi ka mụ na ọnwụ gbara mgba
O wee ruo afọ naasaa m wee jide ọnwụ
Kụọ ya isi n’ala, kụọ ya aja
Pịarịsie ya isi n’ala, nee ya ụkwụ n’isi
We bilie, guzokwa ka m si guzo
Mgbe ka bụ nwata, n’ọmaricha aka gị.
Mama, ebezikwala akwa na m ka nọ ya
A bụ m ọkụkọ ọcha kpuru ime ala—
Ejeruru m ejeru n’ọkpụala mmụọ—
Ugboro asaa ka mmụọ isi asaa buliri m elu
Kuọ m isi na nkume ọnwụ
Ugboro asaa ka chi m sọlara azụ
Chọọ ị gbaanahum
O wee cheta na eke m ezubeghị
Na m aka-emezubeghị eke m
Cheta na eke bụ ụdụ
Na eke bu ndụ…..
Mama ebezila akwa na m ka nọ ya
Ebilitewo m n’ọnwụ, a ka m nọ ya:
Aka emezubeghị m eke m
M wee zọlie n’akwa ọrịam
Rịghasịa anya, baara m chi mba:
Chi du m ọgụ, o gịnị na-eme gị?
Chi bụ uzọ ndụ m, gịnị mere iji ala azụ ?
Ọ kwa mụ na gị kwụ n’ihu Chukwu
Mgbe m keere eke ụwa m nke a
Mgbe m kere ọru dum m ga-arụ n’ụwa nke a
Ị cheefuole ike m keere
Ị chefuole ike m ketara
Ị chefuole eke Chukwu ji kenyere
Ka Ị kwadoro m n’ije ndụ nke a?
A sị na chi onye adịghị n’izu
Na ọnwụ adịghị egbu ya
Ị na-agbabido m izu
Gi na ndi iro, Ị ghọla onye iro
Gị onwe gị bụ chi kwesiri idu m ụzọ
Oke ihere wee mee chi m,
O wee cheta ihe dum ọ ma
Wee loghachị azụ n’akụkụ m
Mama ebezila akwa na m ka nọ ya
Ebilitewo m n’ọnwụ, a ka m nọkwa ya:
Aka emezubeghị m eke m
Ugbu a, aghọọla m mmụọ
Mmụo ka m bụ
Nwa osu agwụ
Onye ara Agwụ
Mmụọ ka m bu:
Anya m ji ahụ ndị mmụọ ibe m
Ka e ji ezipụtara ụwa eziokwu zoro ezo
Nka dibia m zitere n’aka ndị mmụọ
Ka e ji ekegharị na-amụgharikwa ụwa…
Ọ dịghị ihe nyịrị m…
A bụ m eze dibịa aja
Bụrụ eze dibịa amụma
Buru eze mmụọ yi awọrọ mmadụ
Na-ezi ụwa nsọ-ala,
Na-agwa ụmụ mmadụ mma ndụ,
Ma na olu m bụ olu mmụọ
Olu arụsi nke akọ kwadoro
Mama ebezila akwa na m ka nọ ya jee-je!
NKỌWA
[1] Ezinne Hannah Azuonye bụ Ada Pastor Albert Nwosu Igbo, onye Ndị Ụkwụ Arọndizụọgụ (1880-1968), Ụkọchukwu Methodist tụgharịrịOzi Ọma Dịka Luk Si Dee Ya nakwa ọtụtụ ekpere na abụ otuto Chineke n’asụsụ Igede, Benue, Naijiria.
[2] Umu ogaranya nwaanyi, ndi ha na Ada Igbo so gbaa egwu akporo Akpata n’afo 1952-1956.
[3] Otuto a gbara mkpị abụọ—nne ka eze ma ọ bụ nneke exe. N’asụsụ Isuikwuatọ, nneke pụtara ezigbo ma ọ bụ nke ụwa hụrụ kwe.
[4] Ihe ọma dum nne na-erite n’aka nwa ya.
[5] Ọnyịma bụ ememme nka-na-nzere ụmụụmụ na-emere nnenne ma ọ bụ nnanna ha, n’akụkụ ụfọuụ nke Imo na Abịa, iji gosi ọha na eze na ha nwere ịhụnaanya na nsọpụrụ ebe ya bụ nnenne ma ọ bụ nnanna ha ọ nọ.
[6] Egwu ọdịnaala nke ụmụ nwaanyị Arọndịizuọgụ.
[7] Egwu emume nke obodo dum na Mgbelu Ụmụnnekwu, Isuikwuatọ n’Abịa.
[8] Egwu ikpe ndiikom na Mbaise, Imo.
