Wole Soyinka: His Satire Extended To Song

Wole Soyinka Featuring Tunji Oyelana & His Benders. “Unlimited Liability Company”. Album cover designed by Ajayi K. Mokwenyei.

Wole Soyinka, the acclaimed novelist and dramatist who during his life has played the role of social activist and political agitator, once took a leaf out of the book of his musician cousin Fela Kuti to compose a satirical song lamenting the condition of his country, Nigeria. As with Fela’s “International Thief Thief” (ITT) which had been released three years earlier in 1980, “Etike Revo Wetin?” (popularly known by the lyric “I Love My Country”), focused on the corruption of Nigeria’s political elite.

The song is performed by Tunji Oyelana and the Benders with Soyinka adding harmonies during one segment of the chorus. It was released in 1983 on Ewuro Records.

In 1996, Soyinka was charged with treason by the Nigerian military ruler, General Sani Abacha and fled into exile, while Oyelana, who had been involved in the production of Soyinka’s play “The Beatification of Area Boy: A Lagosian Kaleidoscope”, was forced to remain in exile in England where he was serving as both musical director and actor (acting in the role of a minstrel). The play focused on the character of Sanda, the leader of a protection racket in Lagos, and explored themes related to the post-oil boom era of Nigeria including the corruption which thrived under military rule. It earned the ire of Abacha.

Lyrics:

I love my country I no go lie,na in side am I go live and die, I know my country I no go lie na him and me go yap till I die.

I wan begin with history that war we fight in recent memory wey music wey come from barrel of gun.

I get cancer for me eye that's the reason why, cause when I look na two I see make I explain I think you go ‘gree.

I love my country I no go lie na inside am I go live and die, when e turn me so I twist am so, e push me I push am I no go go

Make you no worry both nations be friends, even when they fight they soon make amends when one back dey itch am, the other go scratch, when one lay egg the other go hatch, eggs na eggs but some are rotten, but make I tell you some are golden. I tell you my country no be one, I mean not to yesterday I born.

I love my country I no go lie na in side am I go live and die, I know my country I no go lie na him and me go yap till I die.

One go proud the other so meek, one go hide, the other go seek, one country go slap, the other go turn cheek, and assume dey are playing hide and seek. The lovely twins of whom I speak, Mr. Country hide and his brother seek. Country hide 2.8B he tell country seek, brother carry on, seek from Turkey to China sea, the more you look, the less you see.

You thief one Kobo dey put you for prison, you thief 10M na patriotism, dem go give you chieftaincy and national honour, you thief even bigger den go say na rumour. Monkey dey work baboon dey chop sweet-pounded yam, someday e go stop.

I love my country I no go lie na inside am I go live and die, when e turn me so I twist am so, e push me I push am I no go go.

One time we stack groundnut so high, like pyramid nearly reach the sky, palm oil dey flow from here to London. Cassava, plantain our fruits be champion, our cocoa compete with that of Ghana, mouth dey water to do the banana ... yam wey big like wrestler's thighs.

Which rice get fame like Tappa rice, but now to eat na half my budget, food dey cost like golden nugget, the rain wey flow from open sky e only float presidential rice.

...Where all this food disappear; my belly dey rumble abi you no hear…

I love my country I no go lie na in side am I go live and die, I know my country I no go lie na him and me go yap till I die.

The day dey bring green revolution, country seek say e get salvation. It give out shout, e think at last with green revolution e go end him fast. Education is good for me and you, so let's give praise where praise is due.

Green revolution was most educative and coincidentally most lucrative, education alone chop one quarter of the budget to teach the farmer what e never forget, posters left, and right and centre. Green revolution by government printer.

I love my country I no go lie na inside am I go live and die, when e turn me so I twist am so, e push me I push am I no go go.

But that was nothing but chicken feed; a nation in need is my friend indeed. Summon the chief chemical analyzer to tell us the magic of fertiliser. Country seek hear, I no be miser, billions dey hide for fertiliser.

I love my country I no go lie na inside am I go live and die, I know my country I no go lie na him and me go yap till I die.

© Wole Soyinka 1983.

Adeyinka Makinde is a writer based in London, England.