Akwa Eke Orima

Yesterday, March 10 was Mother's Sunday in Nigeria. Mother's Sunday is usually a big deal for mothers all over, just as Mother's day in May, is a big deal here in the United States. I had shared this for Mother's Day 2010. This is for Mother's Sunday, in Nigeria. A popular Igbo folksong---- Akwa eke orima tells it all about mothers, young and old. Introduction in English, just for Mother's day. (Folklore)


 A mother Eke (python) laid a cluster of eggs and hid them in a nest well covered for protection in a cocoyam barn. Then she crawled to the market to buy family needs. Upon her return, one of her eggs had vanished. She knew exactly how many eggs she had laid. It happened that the a pregnant woman was craving boiled eggs. Ordinarily, women did not eat eggs (***) (Nwanyi anaghi eri akwa) She came upon the eggs neatly hidden in her nkwu-ede.(cocoyam barn, usually shaded and cool) She grabbed one and tried to cook it but the water refused to boil, she tried to crack the egg in a motar with a pestle, no dice. Frustrated, she dipped it in okra soup and swallowed it whole. Then she went about her business. Later that night, after she went to bed, the owner of the egg came calling-- singing the song Akwa eke orima--- calling out to her egg. The baby in the egg responded to her mother, causing a bad belly ache for the pregnant woman. She felt nauseated. She ran outside. Nausea again, at this stage, she thought. She had to throw up and---- Bingo!!! The egg.
 The owner grabbed it and went home happy that her lost egg was found, and the women felt better and went back to bed. This is one version of the story behind the folksong ----Akwa Eke Orima. Mothers are unique when it comes to their babies and children. Enjoy, and Happy Mother's day to All Mothers and mother figures.
 *** In some communities, umu-nwanyi anaghi eri akwa *** I am not sure how widespread it was and why.

 The Song: Akwa-eke-Orima. Nne--eke, na achoghari akwa ya, bido egwu---- " Akwa eke orima, akwa eke orima. Doo- rima-rima, doo rima Akwa eke orima, akwa eke orima Doo-rima-rima, doo -rima. Akwa eke m debere n'onwa---- ( ebe a) Na o zurozi, doo-rima-rima, doo-rima. Akwa eke m dembere n'onwa----- e zurozi, doo rima-rima,doo rima." Nne-eke mechie onu, gee nti. Nwa-eke, nu olu nne ya, bido egwu--- Nne anokwa m n'onwa-o-o-o ( ebe a oooo) Mbom-bom-tim bo-ro-ro- m, N'onwa-o-o-o, Mbom-bom,tim bo-ro-ro-m Nwa nwanyi di ime Sibe o kwero ya esi ooo Sube o kwero ya esu, Taba, o kwero ya ata O fialu okwuru, noo m -ooo Akwa-eke oooo, akwa-eke ooo Mbom-bom-tim bo-ro-ro m. Nne-eke, jiri nwayo gee nti ebe egwu nwa ya si abia. O gaa nso ebe ahu, welite olu ozo, dotia egwu adotia. "Akwa---- eke--- orima----, akwa-eke-- orima Doo-----rima----rima, doo-rima. Akwa-----eke----orima----, akwa-eke--orima, Doo-----rima----rima---doo--rima Akwa-- eke-- m-- debere-- n'onwa-- ezurozi. Doo----rima---rima, doo--rima Akwa--- eke-- m-- debere-- n'onwa-- ezurozi Doo-rima--rima---rima--, doo--- rima. Nwa-eke noo n'ime akwa, di n'afo nwanyi di ime, Jiri oke olu dara uda, n'ihi na nne ya anorola nso-- Nne anokwa m n'onwa ooooooooo Mbom-bom tim-bo ro-ro-rom, N'onwa oo-oo-oo-o Mbom- bom-tim-bo ro-rom Nwa nwanyi di ime, Sibe o kwero ya esi, Sube o kwero ya esu, taba o kwero ya a ta O fialu okwuro, noo m ooo Akwa eke oo-oo, akwa eke oo-oo--- Mbom-bom, tim bo ro-ro-rom. Mgbe ahu nne ya amarala nwanyi di ime loro akwa ya. O gawa n'ulo nwanyi ahu ngwa-ngwa. Mgbe o na eru ebe ahu, lee kwa ka nwanyi si n'ime ulo tiputa, jide afo ya aka. Mgbe nwa noo n'ime akwa o loro na aza nne ya oku, afo gbaghria nwanyi. O si n'elu akwa ya rida, na aga n'ezi. Ndi ulo ya amarala na nwanyi ime na apukari ezi n'abali. Mgbe o puru n'ezi, O bido gbowa. Akwa eke o loro maputa kwa o tu odi mgbe o loro ya. Gbam!! Nne eke kpuru akwa ya laa gaa tinye ya ebe umu nne ya noo.

 Ha biri ndu ha na anuri. ( Lived happily ever after) Akuko a gosiri na ihe jikoro nne na nwa di omimi nke ukwu. Nne gaa ebe ana ekusa umu aka amuru ohuru na ulo ogwu, O ga ama olu nwa ya. Akpoo oku n'ahia,----"Maa, Mom, Mommy" Lee kwa ka ndi nne na eneghari anya, Ma ndi umu ha tocharala, biri nke ha, Aha ha nile bu ofu ihe----Mama, mom, mommy, Maa. Ndia bu aha ndi nne, ma nnukwu, ma ntakiri, ma ocha, ma oji. Ha nile bu Mama. Nke na egosi olu oma Chukwu N'ebe umu madu na ihe nile O kere eke no. Nne bu Nne. Ekene diri Chineke maka ndi nne nile, na ndi nile na alu olu ndi nne. Udo diri ha.

 Nwada Chinwe Enemchukwu Sorrento, Florida