This is an Orisa song for the god of iron and war. It combines traditional rhythms for Ogun played on the bata and Saki's praise singing (oriki) of the god with an English lyric describing a key narrative of Ogun, in which he massacres a village of people for failing to show him due respect. Ogun is the patron of all metal workers, drivers, hunters and warriors and is renowned for the ferocity of his justice. The opening sound of the anvil pays tribute to one of his manifestations as the powerful blacksmith.
lyrics
OGUN
He came to this place
They’d forgotten all the rules
They didn’t greet strangers
Didn’t greet even themselves
They’d forgotten his face
Ogun god of iron and war
He didn’t get a drink
There was nothing fit to drink
Nothing decent to drink
They’d forgotten his face
Ogun
'Ogun onire oko mi'
When a god feels disgraced
By his own people
He’ll have something in store
God of iron and war
His shock his grief
For what he’d done
He knew it would follow
Before he’d even begun
He didn’t discriminate
Men women and children
All treated the same
They were all to blame
'Ogun onire oko mi'
credits
from Voices,
released August 22, 2021
Saki Ayandokun - vocals
Peter Wilkinson - vocals, piano
Rabiu Ayandokun - bata, talking drum
Andy Boothman - bass guitar, congas, percussion
Rick Burrows - trumpet
Yinka Akintayo - vocals
Tim Chatterton - trombone
written by Wilkinson / Boothman
engineered and produced by Andy Boothman
(c) & (p) 2021 Point of Presence
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