One unending line, one line unending —
The wonders of a prime engraver —
Ajífòjédárà, sculptor of great vessels.
Went beyond carving and made a face of brass.
 
Beauty like this is so rare —
Begins like prints on a thumb,
And swirls into a vortex, showing off his craft.
Calm down, come and behold the wisdom of the snail,
Grab a seat and admire this magician of brass.
 
One facet of delight, one facet of affection,
Together forms the face that so loved the world,
The face men adorned with thorns —
Afàìfọ̀tápè should be his appellation
If the creator were angry, it would be revealed.
 
One facet blood, one facet covenant,
The face of the one who bore humanity’s pain
And yet stands as an advocate!
 
Who else has seen where engravings like this are made?
Where brass is made into statutes
Not in this Land? Not in the great Ife?
Where craftsmen wrought wonders —
Where the possibilities of metal were embraced
Where they made wonders out of art?
 
There’s a great land of honour in France —
Where this artist’s palms found its mark,
Where he crafted his works of genius —
 
Rise and be recognised
Claude, son of Mellan, come forth
Nothing rewards like the new,
What was carved yesterday is history,
What will be carved tomorrow is a tale
Wonders must never end, far be it!
 
All these are predestined for the one whose work perseveres
Forever, till the sun ceases to rise
We shall continually praise this miracle worker.

Translated from the Yoruba by IfeOluwa Nihinlola

♦♦♦♦♦

Ìlà kan láíláí, ilà kan làìlàì –
Ara àrà àrẹ̀mọ olúkọlà tó ṣèyí –
Ajífòjédárà, olùkọlà tíí fín’gbá ire.
Ó fín’gbá, ó fín’gbà, ó ṣe tán ó tún fín ojú idẹ.

Ẹwà tààrà bí èyí ṣọ̀wọ́n –  
Ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ bí ojú àtànpàkò táa fií júwe ọ̀ọ́kán,
Ó wáá ń yí bíríkótó, ó fi ń gbé’ṣẹ́ afínjú yọ.
Ẹ f’ara balẹ̀, ẹ wáá w’ọgbọ́n ìgbín,
Ẹ f’ìdí àpótí kalẹ̀, kí ẹ wá wo’ṣẹ́ ọwọ́ apidan idẹ.

Ojú kan ẹ̀dùn, ojú kan ìfẹ́,
Wọ́n parapọ̀ wọ́n d’ojú ẹní f'áráyé dénú,
Wọ́n d’ojú ẹni aráyé dé l’adé ooju –
Afàìfọ̀tápè lorúkọ t’áàbá pè yí
B’ádaniwaye bá bínú ni, kò ní ṣàìhàn.

Ojú kan ẹ̀jẹ̀, ojú kàn ẹ̀jẹ́,
Ojú ẹni tó f’ara gb’ọgbẹ́ ẹni
Tó tún dúró ti’ni!

Ta ló tún rí’bi wọ́n gbé ń fín ojú idẹ bí èyí?
Ibi wọ́n gbé ń fi irin bàbà ṣe ire
Láì ṣe ilẹ̀ yi? láì ṣe Ifẹ̀ Oòyè?
Ibi àwọn alárà tíì gbọ̀nà àrà yọ –  
Ibi wọ́n tíí f’ojú irin mọ́ra
Ibi wọ́n tíí f’ojú ọnà dá’ràǹbarà?

*

Ilẹ̀ ọ̀wọ̀ kan wà ní Faransé –
Ibi alárà yí ti b’álà rẹ̀ l'átẹlẹwọ́,
Ibi ọwọ́ oníṣẹ́ idẹ gbé ń ṣiṣẹ́ ọpọlọ –

Ǹjẹ́ alárà yí gbéra ńlẹ̀ ó dìde
Kìlọ́ọ̀dì, ọmọ Mẹ́lánì nàró, ó dìde
Ó ní ohun tuntun níí gbe ni,
Èyí táa fín lánàá ti d’ìtàn,
Èyí táa fín lọ́la ni ó dète
Àrà ò gbọdọ̀ tán nílé alárà ó ṣèèwọ̀!

Èyí ló d’Ífá f’ádáríhurun tíí d'árà tí kìí tí
Títí láíláí, àfàìlà oòrùn
L’a ó máa f'ìjúbà f’óníṣẹ́ ìyanu.