YORUBA LYRICS ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Chris Ajilo Ft. Banky W & Korede Sax- Eko (ENGLISH TRANSLATION, MEANING, AND LYRICS)




Okay! Welcome to this post; it is the English translation and meaning to the Remix of the 1956 song titled Eko, released in 2016 by the veteran Jazz musician; in collaboration with EME-Music boss- Banky W alongside a talented Jazz-man- Korede Sax. The intro to the song tells about the inspiration that led to the original song, back in 1956. Enjoy it! 




NOTE: The word Eko is an overpopular Yoruba word that means quite a lot of things. As far as most people in Lagos are concerned, everywhere Lagos Island (Idumota, Lagos Island, and their environs) is Eko; as far as the Yorubas in the Western states (Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and wherever the people are), everywhere Lagos state is Eko; and name anywhere in Nigeria and the world, everybody in Lagos state (the tribe don’t matter; Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba; as long as you’re sharp and looking smart) is Omo-Eko, meaning Lagos-Person; and Eko is used in various ways to differentiate between a smart and dull individuals. By the way, a very talented upcoming Artiste that goes with the name AQOREEN, also has a very nice song about our same darling Lagos, he titled it EKO (you might wanna check out the song song here). 

 [LYRICS ENGLISH TRANSLATION]: Chris Ajilo Ft. Banky W & Korede Sax- Eko

(PRELUDE- CHRIS AJILO)

[Tell us the story, please] Well; know, when I was

 small, my mother never flogged me; [Really?]; 

but she always tell me- very careful. Ma a koja aye o.

[Okay; Okay]; You know [yeah]. 

So, when I came back from Europe in 1955; she

said- now that you’re back; Eko o gba gbere o.

O yato si t’o wa tele. Tori na, mo ‘won ara e o.

A lot of people come to Lagos, they want to make it.

You have to be very careful; there is an easy way to 

make it, and there is a tougher way to make it.

(HOOK- BANKY W)

Yeye mi pe mi, so fun mi tele tele
: my mother called me, told me from the get-go

Eko Akete; Ilu Ogbon; [eh] 

: Lagos Stands-Out; State of Wisdom

T’o ba duro, k’o so’ra, [ye, ye] fun oniyangi
: if you’re standing, be vigilant, for ‘ice cream sellers’ [old]

Eko o gba gbere rara o

: Lagos tolerates no dulling 

Te’ti k’o gbo; ehh
: listen to hear

(CHORUS)

Eko o gba gbere [Eko o] 
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere [Eko o]
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere rara o

: Lagos tolerates no dulling

Eko o gba gbere rara o, oh, ohh; ehh
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere [Eko o]
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere [Eko o]
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere rara o [Rara o]
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

(VERSE 1- CHRIS AJILO)

Eko ti wa fun gbogbo eniyan; l’omode, at’agba
: Lagos has been for everyone; the young, and old

So’ra k’o to gbe’se, k’o ma yo gere.

: be careful before taking a step, don’t slip

Ibere ohun tuntun t’o dara; Eko baje ti
: beginning of new good things; Lagos cannot spoil 

Eko Ile, ti wa a ju u; Ilu Ogbon; Eko Ile
: Lagos the Home, is so set; Wisdom City; Lagos Home

(HOOK- BANKY W)

Yeye mi pe mi, so fun mi tele tele [tele tele]
: my mother called me, told me from the get-go [long ago]

Eko Akete; Ilu Ogbon 

: Lagos Stands-Out; State of Wisdom

T’o ba duro k’o so’ra, fun oniyangi
: if you’re standing, be vigilant, for ‘ice cream sellers’ [old]

Eko o gba gbere rara o
: Lagos tolerates no dulling 

Te’ti k’o gbo; ehh
: listen to hear

(CHORUS)

Eko o gba gbere [Eko o] 
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere [Eko o]
: Lagos tolerates no dulling [Lagos]

Eko o gba gbere rara o

: Lagos tolerates no dulling

(VERSE 2- BANKY W)

So’ra e; ma a suegbe, k’o la’ju kale
: watch yourself; don’t be sluggish, do open wide your eyes

Ma a nogere, ma a f’oju si’le
: don’t slack, don’t tolerates nonsense

Rora se, k’o f’ara ba’le

: be careful, be attentive

Mo ni, so’ra e; ma a suegbe, k’o la’ju kale
: I said, watch yourself; don’t be sluggish, do open wide your eyes

Ma a nogere, ma a f’oju si’le
: don’t slack, don’t tolerates nonsense

Rora se, k’o f’ara ba’le

: be careful, be attentive

L’okunrin, l’obirin- e gbera n’le
: both male, and female- do rise up

E dide, ma a s’ole- k’ojo to pe

: do stand, don’t be lazy- before it’s late

Eko o ni gba-gba-ku-gba [laelae]
: Lagos will take no nonsense [naver]

Eko ti o le di ‘baje
: Lagos that cannot spoil

(VERSE 3 / HOOK- CHRIS AJILO)

Eyin omo, e gbo ohun ti obi n so
: you children, listen to what parents are saying

O se pataki

: it’s important

Yeye mi pe mi, so fun mi tele tele 
: my mother called me, told me from the get-go 

Eko Akete; Ilu Ogbon 
: Lagos Stands-Out; State of Wisdom

T’o ba duro k’o so’ra, fun oniyangi
: if you’re standing, be vigilant, for ‘ice cream sellers’ [old]

Eko o gba gbere rara o
: Lagos tolerates no dulling 

Rara o
: not at all

(CHORUS)

Eko o gba gbere [RARA] 
: Lagos tolerates no dulling  [at all]

Eko o gba gbere [RARA]

: Lagos tolerates no dulling  [at all]

Eko o gba gbere RARA o
: Lagos tolerates no dulling  at all

(FINALE- BANKY W)

I actually have a Lagos song called- Lagos Party

that we did a few years ago. So, when they now

said, ohh; you know; they want me to jump on this song.

I, it was such an honour. Because, I feel like it’s different

generation, but we’ still celebrating, and telling the 

people about Lagos. So, it’s a big deal for me and ‘am sure,

for you too’. [Yes, of course]. So, thank you very much Sir.

[LYRICS ENGLISH TRANSLATION]: Chris Ajilo Ft. Banky W & Korede Sax- Eko

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