Izonebi Alfred's Musical Discourse on 'Responsibility' - Ekanpou

By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Responsibility.
I can hear it.
Responsibility was what my father Enai thrust upon me at death.
When my father was about to die, he gave me the responsibility to take care of his children and belongings.

Enai my father gave me the responsibility to take care of all his children and belongings.
Enai told Dogboere to take care of all his belongings and children.
Responsibility must not be evaded when given because it will still wait for you in future if  you don't  take it.
Always claim responsibility when given to one. 
At the time of departure to the underworld, Enai told his daughter thus: Dogboere my daughter, I am gone. Gone now, I leave all my children and belongings in your hand.
Do take good care of my children and my belongings.
Dogboere claimed this responsibility without failing . She nurtured all the children to great men and women.
The children having grown up through dedicated nurturing, Dogboere speaks to the children, calling on them to celebrate with her: if Yamuke, Dode, Faith, Rueben,Tetere, Kemeapagha, Kakake, Agbe-ere, Mutane, Sapele, Tandiya, Ebikeniye, College, Podoki, Living, Ekiye, Otiki Gbodo my son, Lokomu, Gbogbo,  Charity, Christopher, Omuere, Egiren, Konboyo, Jonah, Ebisokoye, Moses, Tupelebi, Edward, Ebikapaye, Akpos White, Kalanama, Gbologbegha and Perezide are in this town, come out and embrace me.
This is Dogboere calling on Enai's children to have her embraced since they have all become grown-up people.
Dogboere has nurtured Enai's children to great men and women
So she is passionately calling on them to have her embraced heartily one by one.
Come out and have Dogboere heartily embraced one by one if you are in this town.

I have gone spiritual.
On the spiritual path singing, you know nothing if you are not on the spiritual path.
Whatever that happens in this visible world has already featured in the spiritual world.
Happenings in the spiritual world always precede happenings in the physical world.

I am majorly in the spirit when singing.
Ayama, I have gone spiritual.
You know nothing if you are not in the spiritual world.
Don't talk recklessly if you are not in the spiritual world.
Don't utter rubbish if you are not in the spirit.
Let the music spirit of King Robert Ebizimor descend on me so that I can tell your stories;
Let the music spirit of Sk, Birifou, Echo, Binta, Ball-ere, Kaiza, Lawson, Osundu, Belemu, Doupere and Agbeotu touch me so that I can tell their stories.

Let the storytelling spirit of Timiebi Maika descend on me so I can tell her stories because the entire Oyangbene is waiting for you.
Let the storytelling spirit of Timiebi Maika descend on me so that I can tell her stories because the entire Akparemo is waiting for you.
Timiebi, Ijeomah is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Timiebi, Rebecca is right on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Lucky-ere is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Ekanpou is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Fullpower is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Augustine is on the dancing arena waiting for you;
Vick is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Margaret is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Queen is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Arekumo is on the dancing arena, waiting for you.

Let the storytelling spirit of Timiebi Maika descend on me so that I can tell your stories.
Timiebi, Alapala is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Asupa is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Moses is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Paul Bebenimibo is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;
Julius Pondi is on the dancing arena, waiting for you;

Let the storytelling spirit of Timiebi Maika possess me so that I can tell her stories;
Let Ekanpou writing spirit descend on me so that I can tell her stories;
Let the storytelling spirit of Timiebi touch me so that I can tell her stories;
I don't know what to do again.
I am compelled to walk this way and walk that way, highly troubled, worried and confused.
Let the storytelling spirit of Timiebi possess me so that I can tell her stories;
The entire Ijaws are gathered in Oyangbene, waiting for you.
I am now walking everywhere, perturbed and confused, dead to knowledge of what to do exactly.
My entire body is 'manamana manamana kemiye' because I am in the physical realm.

Varying views and notions always spring up about me whenever I am on the music stage.
For some King Robert Ebizimor is the force behind my inspiration;
Yet for others the sacred Ndorobou Forest is the force behind my inspiration.
The champion is behind.
Anybody that defeats Robert is the champion.
King Ebizimor is the champion of the nine nations who can never be defeated.
Nobody knows when Robby can be defeated.
King Ebizimor was the music champion while he was alive on earth; he is still the music champion in the underworld .
Who will actually challenge King Ebizimor musically?
Is it Pereama, Barrister Smooth, Allen or Abraham Young you want to bring to challenge him?
Don't even try it because they will all be crushed.
None of them can get close to King Ebizimor in wrestling, musically.
Even in the songs of Izonebi, King Ebizimor  is still the compositional template for Izonebi.
Is it Suoye, Apa or Ariri that could be engaged to challenge King Ebizimor in wrestling?
Don't attempt that because they shall all be crushed.
All the Ijaws are still drawing from the music reservoir of King Ebizimor.
Is it Agbeotu, Bestman, Osundu or Birifou who can challenge King Ebizimor?
I say don't go there at all because they shall all be crushed.
Is it Freborn who will challenge King Ebizimor?
No way because Freborn cannot face King Ebizimor.
King Ebizimor is the wrestling champion in the nine nations of Ijaw.
Nobody knows when King Ebizimor will be defeated.

I have sung and played for a very long time...
So it is time to stop.
I have stopped.
Bye bye to everyone!

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