African Before The Cities · English / Pidgin / Ibibio / Efik / Igbo / Yorùbá
Festival of Yam
A harvest celebration where the earth is thanked in drums, dances, and first fruits.
Lyrics
(Intro — Spoken Elder Voice)
Before the feast…
Before the drums…
We honor the land…
We honor the hands that planted…
And we thank the Creator for the harvest…
[Soft flute rises]
[Women ululating]
[Drums slowly enter]
(Chorus — Call & Response)
Lead: Yam festival! We dance tonight!
Choir: Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead: Harvest blessings shining bright!
Choir: Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead: From the village to city light!
Choir: Africa rise! Africa shine!
(Verse 1)
Morning sun on the red earth ground
Children laughing all around
Mama cooking by the fire flame
Ancient songs calling our names
Palm wine flowing, drums awake
Every heartbeat make the floor shake
Grandfather smiles with lifted hand
Blessings falling on the land
Ibibio:
'Uyai Abasi ọfuk nnyin'
(God's beauty surrounds us)
Efik:
'Edidem ọwọrọ ke Ubong'
(The king appears in glory)
(Pre-Chorus)
The yam is life
The yam is strength
The sweat of the farmer
The pride of the village
Raise your hands to the sky tonight!
(Chorus — Bigger Choir)
Lead: Yam festival! We dance tonight!
Choir: Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead: Ancestors bless the firelight!
Choir: Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead: Drums of Africa burning bright!
Choir: Africa rise! Africa shine!
(Verse 2)
Masquerade spinning dust in air
Colors flying everywhere
Talking drums begin to speak
Calling strong and calling weak
Young men dancing shoulder high
Moonlight glowing in the sky
Mothers singing ancient praise
Thankful for abundant days
Igbo:
'Ji ọhụrụ abiala!'
(The new yam has arrived!)
Yoruba:
'Ire gbogbo wa de!'
(All blessings have come!)
(Bridge — Spiritual Breakdown)
[Drums reduce]
[Flute solo]
Spoken Voice:
The earth remembers…
The ancestors are watching…
Every seed planted in hope…
Returns with joy…
Choir softly:
Eh-heh…
Eh-heh…
(Dance Break)
[Heavy Afrobeat percussion]
Talking drums solo
Crowd chants
Women ululating
Festival whistles
Call-and-response vocals
Lead: Who bring the harvest?
Choir: The land!
Lead: Who bless the people?
Choir: The Most High!
Lead: Who keep tradition alive?
Choir: WE DO!
(Final Chorus — Huge Festival Energy)
Lead: Yam festival! Raise your hands!
Choir: Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead: Unity across the lands!
Choir: Eh-heh! Eh-heh!
Lead: From Lagos down to Calabar sands!
Choir: Africa rise! Africa shine!
(Outro)
[Drums slowly fading]
Elder Voice:
As long as the drum still speaks…
The people will never forget…
[Flute fades into night ambience]
Video embed coming soon.
The official video and karaoke timing will be wired in via the CMS.