Examples Of Yoruba Songs Praising Oluwa (God)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: August 15, 2018

This post showcases seven Yoruba (Nigeria, West Africa) songs praising Oluwa. The English translation for the Yoruba word "Oluwa" is "Lord" (God).

A bonus sound file of the South African/American song "(Oluwa) Many Rains Ago" is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, inspirational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
(These songs are featured in the order of their posting date with the oldest dates presented first).

Example #1: NIGERIAN MUSIC BABA ARA-OLUWA OSE



AYO PRAISE, Uploaded on Jan 1, 2009

YORUBA PRAISESONG

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Example #2: C&S (AYO NI O)- TI OLUWA NI ILE (FULL ALBUM)



walizono2002, Uploaded on Dec 31, 2010

THE CHORISTERS BAND OF CHERUBIM & SERAPHIM MOVEMENT

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Example #3: Benita- Oluwa



Danmarughu, Uploaded on May 31, 2011
-snip-
Here's the lyrics to this song that were posted on this video's viewer comment thread in 2012 by AbiAdegboye (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0hd_G6lLI

God is working...He is working, you don't know.
God is working...He is working, you don't suspect (repeats both lines)

Stand up, stand up, I say stand up from sadness
Stand up, stand up, I say stand up from worry

stand up from unbelief; stand up from weariness
It's time; your time...
That the Lord will fix your problem....
(song repeats)

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Example #4: Solomon Ilori And His Afro-Drum Ensemble - Ise Oluwa (God's Work Is Indestructible)



Antonio Lucente AbeokutA MusiC
Published on Apr 30, 2017
From "Solomon Ilori And His Afro-Drum Ensemble - African High Life"

Blue Note - BST 84136 (LP) - US , 1963

Written by Solomon Ilori -- Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder on April 25, 1963 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Vocals, Talking Drum, Guitar, Penny Whistle – Solomon Ilori
Sakara Drum, Cowbell – Josiah Ilori
Congas – Chief Bey , Montego Joe
Congas, Shekere, Cowbell – Robert Crowder
Congas, Xylophone, Cowbell – Garvin Masseaux
Alto Sax, Flute – Hosea Taylor
Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Directed by Coleridge Perkinson

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Example #5: Commander Ebenezer Obey - Gbebe Mi Oluwa [Call Me Lord]



Ebenezer Obey - Topic, Published on Jan 9, 2015

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises

Gbebe Mi Oluwa · Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey

Evergreen Songs Original 1

℗ 2010 Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi (MFR)

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Example #6: Sonnie Badu - ESE OLUWA - Colours of Africa (Recorded Live in London)



Deliciouswinfred, Uploaded on Feb 7, 2012
-snip-
Here are lyrics to this song as posted in 2012 by Justina Ashietey & xgenera on this video's viewer comment thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl99EWwtw4E

Ese Oluwa, Ese Baba O,
Ese Oluwa,
Ao adokpe Baba

You gave me shelter when i have no other
You pave a way, where there is no way
You turn my darkness into light,
Ao adokpe Baaba....

You put food on my table daddy....
You comfort me when i was lost...
Who can be compared unto you....
Ao adopke Baaba
… [chorus] Eshe Oluwa Eshe baba o Eshe Oluwa Awadupe baba
[verse]
He gave me shelter when I have no other
He made a way when there'as no way
He turn my darkness into light
Awadupe baba
You put food on my table daddy
You comfort me when I was lost
Who can be compared unto you
Awadupe baba
[bridge] Baba way Baba way
dey for heaven now
oh We go praise you now
Eee We go praise you baba
-snip-
Here's another comment from that same viewer comment thread that was posted by shalom peace, 2013
“eshe (thank) Oluwa (God). Thank you God! Awadupe means we are grateful.”

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Example #7: TOPE ALABI - OLUWA O TOBI [Lord You Are Great]



Tope Alabi, Published on Jun 26, 2017

'TOPE ALABI's 'OLUWA O TOBI' is currently the most popular indigenously composed worship song in Nigeria that has been done in Yoruba.
The lyrics are essentially deep and graced with condensed metaphors, similes, personification and metonymy, in description of the might and greatness of God.

The song was released in 2012 in an ALBUM titled ALAGBARA.
-snip-
English translation for these Yoruba words are given as captions in this YouTube video..

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BONUS SOUND FILE: LETTA MBULU MANY RAINS AGO [OLUWA]



SuperXavier30Uploaded on Oct 24, 2009

Deeply Emotive Song From Letta Mbulu,Who Perfomed This In Both English & In The Native Nigerian Language,Yoruba.
-snip-
Here's some information about (Oluwa) "Many Rains Ago" from http://soulsafari.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/play-of-the-day-letta-mbulu-kilimanjaro-1981/
"‘Oluwa (Many Rains Ago)’ was originally written by Caiphus Semenya years before it was included as the African theme in the soundtrack for the TV movie ‘Roots’ (1977), composed and arranged by Quincy Jones."
-snip-
From http://www.discogs.com/artist/Caiphus+Semenya
"South African composer, musician, and husband of singer Letta Mbulu.

In the late sixties, he settled in Los Angeles on account of the apartheid policies back home and teamed up with people like Harry Belafonte and Quincy Jones as well as compatriots Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Jonas Gwangwa."

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RELATED LINKS
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/various-interpretations-of-ise-oluwa.html Various Interpretations Of Ise Oluwa

http://www.jollynotes.com/gods-names-in-yoruba/
The Names of God in Yoruba Language, along with their meanings in English

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