Ibadan.
Ibadan, where Oluyole was born
The third largest city in Africa
Known for its ancient civilization
As peaceful as anyone could describe
As quiet as the people would like it
I think of Ibadan, I think of tranquility in a city
I think of Ibadan, I think of country life and city life, same time

Ibadan, the city of great warriors,
Ibadan, the town of Ogunmola, Ibikunle, Ajayi and Ojo
The legendary Efunsetan
The kind woman whom by nature’s occurrence turned wicked
A true mother, rich in every way
A woman with the confidence of a man
The great loss turned the tide in her history of good deeds

Ibadan, the home of Latoosa
Hmn, “Are Latoosa” “Are Ona Kakanfo”
The great field mashal
Who travail in the face of war.
Latoosa, the great warrior, valiant in battle and astute in leadership
Can the history of the Kiriji War be complete without Latoosa?
Ija ‘gboro ni’ja Ibadan!

Ibadan that glories in the victories and losses of her valiant ones
Ibadan that learns from the misdeeds of her elders
Bee ba gbo iku Gaa, ki e dawo ibi duro
(If you know the end of Gaa, you will desist from evil)
Ibadan that stands against that which is bad.

Ibadan, with the unique language
Do I hear someone say “shiken” for Chicken?
“Shair,” in the place of Chair, “Sow” for Show
They never meant to bastardize another man’s language
They are simply the Ibadan that they are.

Adugbo bee re bee, Ibadan bee ree bee
(Large land area, many compound houses makes Ibadan)
From Agodi to Dugbe; Beere to Beyeruka;
Mapo down to Gate; Oke Are, Oke Paadi
Ososami, Oke Ado, Orita-merin, Orita mefa
Ogunpa Oyo, Yemetu Aladorin, Challenge
Molete, Oluyole, Bodija, Ashi, Basorun, Eleyele,
Apata-Ganga, Omi-adio, Bako, Bakatari
Owode, Orisunbare, Aleshiloye, Odo-Ona
Ibadan, the town for all

Ibadan to gb’ole, to gb’ole
(Ibadan where both thieves and the lazy dwell happily)
Ibi ole ti n gbe jare ol’oun
(Where the thief is favoured)
Ibadan mesi ogo!

Ebaami ki oke Ibadan o
(I salute the Ibadan hill)
The hiding place of warriors
The deliverer of the warrior of old
No wonder they worship you as a deity
Even as you breed other hills
Oke Are, Oke mapo, Oke Mokola, Olorunkole, Bako…

Ibadan, where civilization crawled in.
The premiere university -University of Ibadan
The first television station in Africa- NTA Ibadan
The first sky-scrapper- Cocoa House
Eba odan (Where bats dwell), the home of innovation.

Ibadan, Ile Aje
(Ibadan the home of merchandise)
I think of Ojoo market, where the fruits are at a give-away price
Hmn, Ogunpa Oyo, where fashion is called home
Agbeni, the place for provisions
Aleshinloye, the market for the upper class
Dugbe, indeed the centre of merchandise

I choose not to offend the traders at Bodija market
Bola Ige International market (Gbagi titun)
Omi- Adio market, orita-merin, Beere, Akilapa
Ibadan, yes I call you again, IBADAN.

Will these lines ever be complete without my ever great Alma Mata?
Queen’s School Apata Ibadan
Indeed the school of charming girls
Do I hear some ladies respond to the
Blue and White! Call
Hmn, Up QSI!!

How can I ever leave out our kings?
The GCI boys, I salute o
The Alma Mata of the living legend, the WS of our time
Many more to the land of Ibadan
The Ibadan Grammar school, the Loyola College
The St Anne’s’ College, St Theresa’s College, Our Lady of the Apostle, Fatima,
Ibadan Boys’ High School, Wesley College of Science,
These are ever green names.

Ibadan, ar’egun jangan
(Ibadan, the home of masquerades)
The town where masquerades are highly esteemed
Ologbojo, ar’egun jangan
(Ologbojo, that rejoices in masquerades)
To the front of the Ologbojo, I see the masquerade’s calabash
To the left of Ologbojo, I see the many masquerades
To the right of Ologbojo, I see many masquerades
Behind Ologbojo, I see many masquerades

Lole b’egun sere o
Lole b’egun sere
A f’omo a bi loje
Lo le b’egun sere
(Only the child born in the Oje’s compound can play with masquerades)

Ibadan, the home of politics
Ibadan will never forget the man at Molete
The confusing personae
Some call him the kind hearted
Others call him the cruel
The great politician cum area boy that controls rulers
The man with the governor’s portfolio

Ibadan gives equal opportunity to all
Just show the will, Ibadan is behind you
Ibadan dislikes cheating and lying
Ibadan, omo ajoro sun

Ibadan, where the corrugated roofing sheets sings ancient civilization
Where the unplanned terrain says, your great- grand parents lived or passed here
Ibadan where the town head is more popular than some chieftain
Ibadan, we can only be proud of our IBADAN