Izonebi Alfred's Musical Discourse on Amaseikumor Festival 2 - Ekanpou

By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

The drums of the Amaseikumor festival have begun to be beaten.
This is the festival in Ijaw every son and daughter of Ijaw should always go to;
People who journey there to celebrate this festival always go home healed and blessed in different ways.
The barren go home blessed with children
Women without husbands go home blessed with new husbands.
People with no money go home blessed with prodigious wealth.
People afflicted with hand pains go home healed of their pains.
May all the comers to Amaseikumor Festival go home with all their desires granted after the festival;
May all those who dance in the festival go home blessed after the festival;
Prayers of benedictions are invoked upon all the comers to Amaseikumor Festival.
It is the prayer of Kariowei, Prince Omon, Government Ekpemupolo, Chief Jacob Otiki, Ekomienyefa, Oduboh, Felix Edoko, Ebolomoboere, Julius Pondi, Kestin Pondi, Dennis Otuaro, Veronica, Tony Ayebibode, Ebipade Kari, MacDonald Igbadiwei, Chief Gabriel Ariowei, Chief Isaiah, Julius B, Chief Ebike, Ebi Tebela, Victoria, Government, Chief Romina, Izonebi, Enaibo and  Chief Otiki are praying for all the comers to Amaseikumor Festival  to be abundantly blessed by Amaseikumor.
Some people need husbands; some people need wives; some people need children; some people need money.
May Amaseikumor grant all their hear desires so that they can always come to grace the festival happily whenever the Amaseikumor Festival is at hand.

Amaseikumor is a festival worthy of celebration because the wishes of the comers are always granted by Amaseikumor

Dear Amaseikumor, may Izonebi and Allen be blessed with a new song when they go home after the festival. 
Ekanpou is in the festival too; may Ekanpou be blessed with a new book after the festival when he is home.
Izonebi is a musician singing in the festival and may he have all his desires granted after the festival.
May Jacob Otiki and Prince Omon have all their wishes granted after the festival.
Vero is in the festival dancing; may her wishes be granted when she goes home after the festival.
May all  men and women in the festival have their wishes granted.
Dennis Otuaro could be sighted spraying money on Amaseikumor; may the purse of Dennis Otuaro be replenished when he goes home after the festival.

I am poised to enter the music boat; may Amaseikumor stand both in my back and front.
May all those who spend money during the festival, spraying, have their pockets multiplied.

Amaseikumor, may you bless all the people who have come to grace your festival.
Prince Omon and Tompolo are engaged in prayers for all the comers to be blessed by Amaseikumor.
Shower blessings on Izonebi, Allen and Freeborn Egere who are all in the festival.
Bless all so that we can come to thank you en masse in the next festival.
Bless all as you bless Kestin Pondi. 
All the Ijaws are praying and appealing to you for your intervention in their lives.
Do for us all so we can always come to thank you.
That you bless everybody in your festival is the fervent prayer of Tompolo, Ekomienyefa and Jacob Otiki.

Amaseikumor, all the Ijaw people are crying;
You are the one with all-seeing eyes.
You have eyes that see everywhere; you can't say you you cannot see us;
Do for Izonebi as you did for Kestin Pondi.
Izonebi is crying.
All Ijaws are crying.
We are in a world where death equally waits for everybody by the corner, lurking to swoop on people.
Amaseikumor, we are all waiting for your blessings.
Pere, Abraham, Izonebi and Allen  are waiting for you.
Ekanpou is here too; Enaibo is in your festival too; bless all as you blessed Dennis Otuaro, Kestin Pondi and Pudi.

Amaseikumor, you have eyes that see the front and back, so bless all the people who are in your festival.
Bless all as you did for Julius Pondi .
Ekanpou the writer is in your festival; can't you see him? Would you say you can't see Ekanpou when you have all-seeing eyes?
Bless Ekanpou so that he can always grace your festival.

There is death in this world.
Izonebi is waiting too.
Must you say you can't see me when you have all-seeing eyes?
Eniye, Abraham and Allen are waiting for you too.
Enaibo is saying you do for him as you usually do for others.
Amaseikumor, do for everybody;
Do for Tantita;
Do for black and black.
Do for Izonebi so that he will always be strengthened to come for your annual festival.

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