Let the drums begin to play
And make space for Arẹwa
Let her dance to the ancient Bata
Play us the afro beats, highlife and reggae
With each beat of the drums,
Let the seeds on our farms germinate
With each stomp of her feet,
Let the soil yield up its best yet
With each twist of her waist,
Let the pregnant mothers deliver safely
With each move of her arms,
Let our men be strong like warriors
With each turn of her legs,
Let our children flourish and grow strong
Like the iroko tree
May our ancestors and past heroes
Witness this very day
May the loving arms of Eledumare
Bless this very day
As we join Arewa in dancing
The flames of the night fire
Add to the heat of the moment
Our sweats make our skins glisten
Glisten like black pearls
The fire flames join us in dancing
As our beads jiggle along with our tambourines
Let us dance with vigour and life!
Let us dance for the mere sake of being alive.
© warrior queen, 2024
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