Izonebi Alfred Musical Discourse on 'Enjoyment' - Ekanpou

By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Be always happy in this life.
When you think your situation is the worst, there are far many others whose situation is worse than yours.
Yours is not the worst;
There are people worse off than you.
Be happy when you know this.
Through your struggles in life, God has elevated you to the level you can owe debt and pay later.
Why are you  still sad when you have the capacity to owe people and pay much later when the month ends?

My eyes have seen many things, Boro Opudu.
I did not come to this world to be battered by thinking and sorrow.
I am indebted to enjoyment; 
I shall pay when I have money, Ozigizaga.
I shall pay when I have money, Lucky Yobogha.
I am only indebted to enjoyment and will pay when I have money.

Izonebi's music story is here, Boro Opudu.
Izonebi's music story is here, Ozigizaga.
I have no idea what will happen tomorrow.
Blind to what will unfold tomorrow, must one keep money one has got for one's children?
My brother Sinkumoh, the Adeleke of Bayelsa State, in this dark world, must one keep for his own children money laboured for both day and night without enjoyment?
Bestman Doupere says life is chiefly about eating and drinking.
For Bestman Doupere he seeks nothing in this life beyond eating and drinking because this life is empty.
I shall always enjoy life until death grips me.
When I die without paying the debt, Timiebi will pay the debt owed with his dance;
When I die without paying the debt, Kelvin will pay the debt owed with his dance;
Izonebi will pay the debt with his singing;
Give me  one shot; give me two shot;
Ozigizaga will pay the debt.
I  will not think and be full of sorrow in this life because I am only indebted to enjoyment.

Musical remembrance of the late Ijaw music legends is what pains some people.
I shall always remember the late music legends in my songs  however the pains it gives them.
Unknown to these pathological critics, there are forces that inspire and push me to remember these late Ijaw music legends in my songs.
I say give me one shot; give me two shot;
Ozigizaga will pay.
The habit of thinking and sorrowing kills people.

My brother Okemienye-asiyai, be happy; eat, drink and enjoy this life because enjoyment is a debt.
Promise Lawuru, be happy; eat, drink and enjoy your life because enjoyment is the only debtor.
Lucky Yobogha, be happy; eat, drink and enjoy your life because there is nothing in this life.
We are only indebted to enjoyment.

High Chief Blackson Osomukimi, the Angiribiyo I , enjoy yourself.
I shall always eat and drink until death comes because life is all about eating and drinking.
Enjoyment is not only limited to rich people.
Do anything that gives you joy.
Money, come to me so I can enjoy my life.
God, give me sufficient money so I can enjoy life to the fullest.

Izonebi labours to have money; Ozigizaga labours to have  money; Sinkumoh, the Otota, is working hard to have money.
In the search for money through hard work, the money lost through spending on people is more than the money that securely goes into the hand.
The money for which we labour both day and night, the money spent is much more than the money saved.
Women,men , girlfriends and wives differently claim parts of this money laboured for both day and night.

May sufficient money come to me so I can sleep well at night.
You this person take this money; you that person take this money.
Everybody has taken the money; the money is finished.
Drinks, wives and girlfriends are all over the place waiting to claim their own share of the money.
The amount of money spent on people is higher than the amount of money saved.

Lucky Yobogha labours for money day and night;
Sinkumoh labours for money day and night;
Ozigizaga labours for money day and night;
Izonebi labours for money day and night.
Statistically speaking in all, the amount of money lost through spending on people is more than the amount of money saved.

We labour for money both day and night;
In all our labours the money lost through spending is more than the money saved.
Let sufficient  money come to me and let me have a good sleep at night.
Let sufficient amount of money come to me so that I can disappear into the world, buried in enjoyment.
There is nothing in this world; I only owe enjoyment a debt.
Enjoyment is the ultimate goal.
One has to enjoy until death strikes one because there is nothing in this world beyond eating and drinking.
The moment death strikes, everything is finished.
I only need sufficient money to enjoy my life until death visits because I am only indebted to enjoyment in this life and I shall pay when money comes.
There is nothing in this life.
Everything ends when the breath goes.

Dr. Ekanpou translates and writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State.