African Before The Cities · English / Yorùbá
Name of Destiny
The name a child carries is a prophecy whispered by the elders before the first cry.
Lyrics
INTRO (Spoken Elder Voice)
Child of the soil…
Child of the ancestors…
Today we call your name before heaven and earth…
May your path be blessed…
[Talking drums begin softly]
Women ululating in the distance…
CHORUS (Call & Response)
Lead:
We call your name tonight!
Choir:
Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead:
Destiny shining bright!
Choir:
Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead:
From the village to the city light!
Choir:
Africa rise! Africa shine!
VERSE 1
Mama carry baby for the morning sun
Papa thank God for the precious one
Grandma dancing with the talking drum
Whole village singing, "The child has come!"
Water for truth and honesty
Honey for joy and prosperity
Kola nut for peace and unity
Ancestors bless this family
PRE-CHORUS
Every child is a story
Every name carries glory
From the old ways to tomorrow
We remember where we come from
CHORUS
Lead:
We call your name tonight!
Choir:
Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead:
Destiny shining bright!
Choir:
Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead:
Blessings falling from the sky!
Choir:
Africa rise! Africa shine!
VERSE 2 (Ibibio + English)
Lead:
Abasi ọwọd ke ndụñ fo
(God write goodness in your life)
Mfon iso ke usung imọ
(Peace and goodness follow you)
Ayen ado ọmọ imọ
(The world welcomes this child)
Choir:
Sosongo! Sosongo!
Lead:
The elders pray around the fire
Speaking words that lift us higher
Every heartbeat tells the story
Of the land and all its glory
BRIDGE (Igbo Section)
Lead:
Nwa oma, i bu ngozi
(Good child, you are a blessing)
Chukwu ga-edu uzo gi
(God will guide your path)
Aha gi ga-adị ndụ
(Your name will live forever)
Choir:
Eh-eh! Eh-eh!
Lead:
From the rivers to the mountains
Ancient voices still surround us
Generations standing with us
In the rhythm of the drum
DANCE BREAK
[Heavy percussion • log drums • flute solo • crowd chants]
Crowd Chant:
Aiyeee!
Aiyeee!
Celebrate the child!
Celebrate the name!
VERSE 3 (Yoruba Section)
Lead:
Omo yi ni imọlẹ aye
(This child is the light of the world)
Ayo wọ ile wa
(Joy has entered our home)
Oruko rere la fi n pe ọmọ
(A child is called with a good name)
Choir:
Kabiyesi ooo!
Lead:
From Lagos down to Calabar
From Enugu to Ibadan
One people under many languages
One heartbeat across the land
FINAL CHORUS (Big Choir Explosion)
Lead:
We call your name tonight!
Choir:
Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead:
Child of glory, child of light!
Choir:
Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead:
May your future rise and shine!
Choir:
Africa rise! Africa shine!
OUTRO (Spoken)
May your feet walk in wisdom…
May your hands build greatness…
May your name never be forgotten…
[Soft flute fades into distant drums]
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