It Is Our Tradition

Bring the Nzu and Kola nut Take it to the stranger among us, Let him kiss it and be bless. Let him rub the Nzu on his arms then his fore head. It is our tradition here not to neglect A humble stranger in our land. We kiss suffering on the lips, it harm us not. We measure our joy with dance and laughter. pour the oil in the calabash Roast the yam and break the kolanut, Let the youngest among us break and share it. Pour the dry gin on the ground and bless the gods Our forefathers must drink before we taste ours Angry will they be if they taste not the gin. It is our tradition here in Nkporoland. The maiden must not touch the raging masquerade Keep them afar off from the here, let them smell not of it. All the young men must be present at the Iza Afa festival and then the young women must not be excluded from the Igboto Nma festival in the village square. When is the initiation into the masks spirit taken place? Warn all the young men to partake, it is our tradition Never allow the she goat deliver in pain, Go call the elders to look after its delivering. The snake must never be in group like the beads It is an abomination not among the tradition. Gather the cowries and the white chalk and assemble the youth in the shrine Lets pour the goat blood for the sacrifices The gos will hear us this time after We went astray from it in foolishness. Call on the widow among us, i heard there was one. Her hair must be Barbe thoroughly She must bath and drink the water used on Her deceased husband bath. The Umu Ada must be there It is the tradition here. Let the Umu Ada check the maidens Of their virginity before they dance Let them deep their hands into the hole One after the other to check the fruits. It is part of the traditions. The king must not set his eyes on a rotten Shining meals which are set for the vultures. Let not a child whistles in the day Let not a girl child come out to the Agbala naked Under the initiation in festival of virginity. We all must set the tradition going It is our right and liberty to excel. Neglect not the wisdom of the elders In his wisdom exist pure and holy. Our fore fathers must be happy and free when we all observe the traditions Of Nkporoland in its pure heart.