Obiero
Ayub Ogada Lyrics


Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye

Oooh mam' uwinja
Koth biro
Keluru dhok e dala
Oooh mam' uwinja
Koth biro
Keluru dhok e dala
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye

Oooh mam' uwinja
Koth biro
Keluru dhok e dala
Oooh mam' uwinja
Koth biro
Keluru dhok e dala

Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye

Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye (Yaye nyithindogi
Un koro un utimoru nade? Koth biro keluru dhok e dala)
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye (Yaye nyithindogi
Un koro un utimoru nade? Koth biro keluru dhok e dala)

Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye

Oooh mam' (yaye nyithindogi) uwinja (un koro un utimoru nade?)
Koth biro, Keluru dhok e dala (koth biro keluru dhok e dala)
Oooh mam' (yaye nyithindogi) uwinja (un koro un utimoru nade?)
Koth biro, Keluru dhok e dala (koth biro keluru dhok e dala)

Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye
Aaaah haye haye haye haye haye haye

Writer(s): Ayub Ogada

Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Collins A.

Lailelei lai lala weuwee baba weweee [a chant]
Lolololololoooo baba weweee [a chant]
Obiero into in mwaywagoi e dalawa [Obiero you are the one we mourn for in our home]
Obiero wanto wan ne waywagoi e dala, babaaa [Obiero we are the ones mourning for you in our home, father]
Nyithindo neni gweng', baba ero rembgi to chwer [Children were in the village, but their blood was bleeding]
Obila to oluwi ga bunde to ok idewo, babaee [Police followed you with guns, but you really didn't care]
Ondiegi aboro ero oluwo ni ndara, ero nene rabet, mamawee [Eight hyenas followed you on the road, have a look at him, this great/big man!]
A wuoi babaweee, a wuoi Mamaweee [Oh strong man! - in Luo wuoi is boy but can be used to refer to strong man]
Ayubu yaye omwana [..moyo...mixed with some Luhya language]



Pirwoth Art

A unique version of this enchanting song, from the album
Plus From Us (Real World Studios, 1993) ~ http://youtu.be/B0eNAjHE2Ts

En Mane Kuoyo (Just Sand) [album version] ~ https://youtu.be/cF1cLgq922w
African Angels [compilation version] ~ https://youtu.be/qMyKA5mUhHc
Live version [with Nederlands Blazers Ensemble] ~ https://youtu.be/p6PHuZ8cvCI

LYRICS and EXPLANATION ~ courtesy of John Lawrence

[KENYAN]

Lai lala lai lai Mamaa weueeeee lololololoooo loloeee
Lai lala lai lai Mamaa weueeeee lololololoooo loloeee

Obiero wa yuagoi e dala baba
Obiero wanto wan wayuogoi e dala e babaee
Nyithindo onego ni gwen yaye rembgi to chwer
Nyithindo onego ni gwen baba ero rembgi to chwer

Obila to luwi ga gi bunde to ok-idew
Obila luwi ga gi bunde to ok-idew baba

Ondiegi aboro ero oluwo ni ndara nene rabet baba
Ondiege aboro ero oluwo ni ndara nene rabet mama ooyee baba hoyeee ahuoyeee baba hoyeee

[ENGLISH]

We here at home mourn you Obiero
The Children have slaughtered chicken in your respect

The Armed Police Officers came after you but you did not care
A total of eight hyenas came on the same route as you the brave one


EXPLANATION:

"When I interviewed Ayub last year he told me that he composed 'Obiero' in respect to his brother who was murdered by cops in South B estate, Nairobi during their childhood. Obiero, his brother, was a heavily built brave young man (rabet) who had no fear for anyone or anything. Many a time heavily armed cops hunted him down after he refused to bribe them."

"Ayub narrated that his brother used to run a Matatu (PSV) business in Nairobi but he was murdered in cold blood by cowards who were simply after the departed's wealth."


BIO:

Ayub Ogada is a musician, and one of the Luo people of Western Kenya. He was born in Mombasa. He performs on the traditional east African stringed lyre, the nyatiti, and is a highly accomplished djembe player.

Ogada was approached and asked to play at Peter Gabriel's WOMAD festival. In 1993, he was invited to Gabriel's Real World Studios, where he recorded his first album, En Mane Kuoyo (Just Sand). He continues to tour extensively with WOMAD.

Ogada co-founded the African Heritage Band in 1979 and played kit drums, bass and percussion for many years before departing for London, England, where he initially occasionally busked London streets, singing accompanied by nyatiti and leg rattle or ankle bells.

~ ~ ~

THE OPUS MARCUS PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...



All comments from YouTube:

Tim Chambers

Ayub was such a unique talent. I saw him live at Peter Gabriel's World of Music and Dance (WOMAD) in the early 1990's. He was such a soft soul and you can tell here how much commitment he puts into performing. Totally focused in his musical expression. There is a short performance/ interview piece on YouTube where he says that when he performs he meditates deep into his soul, so his music is a gift from himself to the listener. I believe it. You are remembered Ayub sir. You live on in your recordings. 🎢❀

Talloolah Moon

@Fernando Costoya would love to read it. Would you be able to share the link πŸ™πŸ»

Talloolah Moon

❀️🌍

Fernando Costoya

Hello there! I'm writing an article dedicated to Ayub Ogada. I would like to send you an email with a few questions referred to that set. Will it be possible? Thanks

Sunny S

Only just learned of his passing. Tears in my eyes; this song truly warms my soul.
Even though I do not understand the language, the universal sound and feelings come through. Goodbye, Ayub.

Fak3guru

​@BookNexus any idea about the lyrics?

Antoinette Halberstadt

oh nooooooo! But hia gift continues to flow

Boadicea

I don’t know what your beliefs are, however we will see Ayub again. The essence of a person does not dieβ€”just the body. And Im sure he is still playing his beautiful music.

BookNexus

That's "Luo dialect" spoken by the Luo tribe of Kenya (Obama senior included). A very rich and diverse language.

honaldo08

Rest in peace, Ayub Ogada. May the vibrations of your tunes and voice spread across the cosmos... for they bring harmony.

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