*As State Rests Flag, “State of Osun”
By Halimah Olamide
The Osun anthem on Monday escaped the hammer of the state House of Assembly as the state finally rested the use of the flag and “State of Osun” with its “State of the Virtuous” appellation.
NPO Reports that the anthem was inaugurated in 2011 by the administration of then Governor Rauf Aregbesola who said the anthem was not original to his government but an adoption of the old Western Region anthem under the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The state had used the anthem in schools, state functions and in some cases, outside the state where state functions held. The anthem was part of the comprehensive rebranding of the state which the then governor said was to give Osun a unique identity that could promote the values and ethos of Yoruba. Aregbesola had argued then also that the lyrics of the anthem was an inspirational call to action by citizens in the state and the entire Yoruba to realise their potential. The Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, while speaking, said Osun State shall no longer be regarded as the ‘State of Osun’, just like the ‘State of the Virtuous’ slogan of the state has been replaced with the ‘State of the Living Spring.’
The Speaker said the law recognises the state’s anthem and hence, it is mandatory for people by law to render the anthem alongside the national anthem in public and official functions. Read The Anthem Below: Ise wa fun ile wa
Fun Ile Ibi Wa
Ka gbee ga
Ka gbee ga
Ka gbee ga fun aye ri
Igbagbo wa ni pe
Bati beru la bomo
Ka sise
Ka sise
Ka sise ka jo la
Isokan ati ominira
Ni ke je ka maa lepa
Tesiwaju f opo ire
Ati ohun to dara
Omo Oodua dide
Bo si ipo eto re
Iwo ni imole
Gbogbo Adulawo Read the English Version Below: on
There is work for us to do
For our motherland
Let’s uplift it, let’s uplift it
Uplift it for the world to see
Our belief is that;
The way a child was born, so was a slave
Let’s work, let’s labour
Let’s work, so we can together prosper
Unity and freedom
Should be our pursuit
March on for plenty success
And all that is good
The child of Oodua arise
Take your rightful place
For you are the light
Of the black race