An Igbo Morning Prayer (Done While Offering Kola Nut)
“A kpopu uzo, a kpopu onu
The dawning of a new day marks the beginning of a routine struggling for the means of human and other beings existence
Ubosi kpatalu nu nya likalie
The day that fetches more benefits than others deserves to have more of those items of benefit
Uchu adi agba mma ekwu
The pen knife routinely deployed for splitting of kolanuts because of the nature of its assignment is always assured of early morning breakfast
O bu n’igwe, O bu n’ana, chedo anyi
God who lives in heaven and on earth, please protect our interest
Omebia, Odokwaa
God you destroy and regenerate lives
O sibe, O dika a ma elisi
God bestows gifts as though these benevolence would remain endless
E lisie, o dika a ma eweta ozo
He allows or rescinds these gifts as he considers appropriate or expedient
Taa oji a n’otu ka anyi taa ya n’ibe n’ibe
Almighty God, take this kolanut in whole, while we take it in cotyledons
Oru mmuo na nnu mmo bianu taa oji
All classes of spirit/elementals, especially the good ones, please have your own share of this nut
Ichie ukwu na ichie nta
Title and non-titled ancestors join us in this exercise
Ndi mvu na ndi egede
The primordial and other ancestors of the spirit world also join
A nalu nwata ife o ji ama mma mma ya aluru
When a child is deprived of what he loves he subsequently is made miserable
Ana, ndi afulu anya na ndi afuro anya, nke na enwero okpa ibe ya kwota ya n’azu
This land, indigines dead and alive; among the dead; the deformed and the crippled helped by others also invited to join
Unu ekwena ka oji dalue ana, ma o bu ka nwa-ngwele gbaa aji
(Almighty God) do not allow this kolanut to drop from my hand or subject us to any misfortune today
Ofo nna m nyiba m alo, e welu m aka abo bulu ya
I will at all costs endeavor to protect all the heritages handed over to me by my father
Mmuo na anoro ya, mmadu ebulu oche ya
If an oracle vacate its seat, a human being takes over
Izuzugbe nzugbe, anunu gbe
All (spirits/ancestors) are enjoined to rally and then fully participate in these early morning prayers
O sii nwata, jide nkakwu, ya ga-ekunye mmili o ga-eji kwo aka
Anyone who makes a child commit a crime will have to bear the consequences of his action
Oso chuka nwata, o gbanaa ikwu nne ya
A child who has a serious disagreement with his fraternal household may op to move over and settle with his maternal relatives
Nee ubosi taata dozie ya ka o di ka ibe ya
God bless today as you did with other days
Ndi ilo ezuana anyi n’uzo
We earnestly pray we do not fall prey to the evil plans of our enemies
O bialu egbu anyi gbue onwe ya
Wicked plans designed to harm innocent are to have boomerang effect
Ile oma ka ejuna ji agan’ogwu
We achieve much progress by being good, kind and gentle
Ife anyi ga-eli bia, nke ga eli anyi abiana
We pray for the good things of life and abhor evil tendencies
Izu gbajulugwo o kaalu nti
Secrets and malevolent plans at some point in time may they be revealed
Ututu tutaufa ife
May today be blessed with lots of good luck
Onye welu ututu tutuba otutujue akpa
If you start early enough to toil, you will achieve a lot by the end of the day.”
Source: Traditional Igbo Beliefs and Practices by IK Ogbukagu.
