ÒYÍGÍYIGÌ ỌTA OMI

UNDYING STONE POTENT WATER

Toyin Adepoju
Noyo Edem

Òyígíyigì ọta omi o, òyígíyigì ọta omi

The unyielding
The untwistable
The twisting
The yielding
I am that and yet not that

The unbending stone in the enveloping water

The immobile rock in the living water

What do the potent forces of mountain and water have in common?

One is static and seemingly immobile

the other is a liquid- full of life and elasticity, ever flowing in its natural state.
The water must flow, because the natural course for water is to flow through objects.
The mountain may be sorrounded and the water eventually flows through it.

The ultimate authority that emanates from the Creator ensures a fulfillment for each species
in accordance with its overall cosmic purpose.

Any attempt to prevent the natural flow of water through the mountain
down to the valley
and into the river
will cause the water to burst loose like an avalanche.

What can contend with the powerful force of water?

Not even the mountain-water will gradually exert pressure on the mountain and erode the
mighty mountain into tiny rocks.

Yes, this is the true force of water: silent, yet powerful.

I bear witness to the true force of water.

I salute you, serene and awesome one.

òyígíyigì a ò mọ o. Òyígíyigì ọta omi.

We are dissolved into grains of sand by the irrestible flow, and yet we do not die.

The sand that was once mountain now carpets the sea bed.

Nothing in existence ever ceases to exist.

I was sand before I became mountain.

I was then dissolved from mountain to sand across eons of time.

Formation,transformation,
Eternal Mind's eternal re-creation

Ike di na awaja na awaja: Power flows in many channels

Image credit

“Diamond Fuji” by MAS (nmsmm)

on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/no13_fotologue/4309230032/

Accessed 28/12/2010

This photo was taken on 27th Jan. 2010 with the following photographic and camera
specifications: D300S + SIGMA 30mm F1.4 EX DC /HSM

MAS on this image:

In Japan we call this phenomena "Diamond Fuji"[with] the sun setting…into the top of
…Mt.Fuji…the very last moment of the sun setting into the back of the mountain. At this
moment, the sun shines like a diamond, hence this is called "Diamond" Fuji. This shot was
taken from the lakeside of Yamanakako (山中湖). Speechless beauty of nature.

Text credits

Yoruba lines in the first and fifteenth stansas kindly provided by Elegbe. Personal
communication.

Igbo text in the last line from “The Igbo World and its Art” by Chinua Achebe in Hopes and
Impediments, Igbo Arts: Community and Cosmos and African Phiolosophy: An Anthology by
Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze.

Stanza one : adaptation of Pastor AIO:

“I thought Oyigiyigi was the name of the stone. Especially when it says [ òyígíyigì a ò
mọ o.] 'We have become Oyigiyigi, we will live forever.' I didn't imagine it was being
referred to as an adjective.

I've heard it explained as something that will not yield or cannot be turned or twisted (hence -
yi- in yoruba) while the -gi- sound expresses it's hardness or resilience. Like Igi in wood.

Then again it is a combination of yielding and unyielding (yi and gi). A marriage of opposite
characteristics”

from "The Yoruba Names of God" thread on the social network Nairaland at
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-238418.0.html . Accessed 28/12/2010.

Stanzas five to six and eight to thirteen by Noyo Edem posted to Edo-
nationality@yahoogroups.com and Edo_Global@yahoogroups.com under the thread
“Òyígíyigì Ọta Omi : The SunkenDepth of the Peak of the Great Mountain”,on
28 Dec,2010.Slightly edited.

Stanzas four inspired by Noyo Edem. posted to Edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com and

Edo_Global@yahoogroups.com under the thread “Òyígíyigì Ọta Omi : The SunkenDepth of
the Peak of the Great Mountain”,on 28 Dec,2010.

Stanza seven from Mazisi Kunene Anthem of the Decades : A Zulu Epic Dedicated to the
Women of Africa.London: Heinemann,1981.xvii.

Stanzas twenty one from Faust Part 2, Act I, scene 5 by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
translated by George Madison Priest from The Alchemy Website at
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/faust25.html.Accessed 29/12.2010.

The total progresion of meaning in the poem is assisted by translations of Yoruba text by
Awo Falokun Fatumnbi from "Awo Training Part 1" at Scribd at
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7135229/Awo-Training-PART-1 and Bolaji Idowu Olodumare:
God in Yoruba Belief and "The Yoruba Names of God" thread on the social network
Nairaland at http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-238418.0.html . Accessed 28/12/2010.