Flavour - Umuigbo Lyrics
Lyrics
Anywhere you go o
Anywhere you go o
If you no see Igbo man
Nwanne gi gbo cha
Ayammama
Gba cha pu oso
Na Ebe a fu lelele
Ayammama
Lacha pu oso
Ebe a fu tinye ti
Ayammama
Obodo sili ike na ndi Igbo (?)
A banye e ba fu e buli ike weputa
Ugochukwu nyelu anyi ya wa ka anyi ji na ga nu
Ayammama
Umuigbo nile
Umuigbo nile
Let’s come together
Na anyi ncha bu ofu
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Yanwa ka anyi ji aga
Kam naba na ala igbo
Ebe afa a mulum o (ayammama)
Ile’m anyi na uku ifem yi bu Aba (ayammama)
Innoson (?) motor ka ona nu zi (ayammama)
Made in Nnewi
Yanwa kam na acho nu (ayammama)
Abakaliki rice, yanwa kam na e rizi (ayammama)
Akulu na manu e be osi bido
Maka na
Anywhere you go o
Anywhere you go o
If you no see Igbo man
Nwanne gi gbo cha
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Yanwa ka anyi ji aga
Ogini di mere
Na anyi di a meh nwanne
Ogini di mere
Asusu anyi gi aga
Onye Igbo muta nwa
Osubalu ya oyibo
Oyibo amaka ma na oburu asusu anyi o
Ijele ba anyi o
Ya ka ina eme o
Biggie nwannem
Igbo bi ibo anyi kunie
Umuigbo nile
Umuigbo nile
Let’s come together
Na anyi ncha bu ofu
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Yanwa ka anyi ji aga
Alili eligbom
Nbi banyi bulu nara (ayammama)
Akpata onyi na awum
Ya kam ji ebe zi (ayammama)
They rape our women o
Ya kam ji e ti zi
They starve our children
Ya kam ji e be zi (ayammama)
Nnamdi Kanu nwanne ji si ike (ayammama)
(?) Uchechukwu ga eme lili
Umuigbo nile
Umuigbo nile
Let’s come together
Na anyi ncha bu ofu
Anywhere you go o
Anywhere you go o
If you no see Igbo man
Nwanne gi go cha
Gba cha pu oso
Na Ebe a fu lelele
Ayammama
Lacha pu oso
Ebe a fu tinye ti
Umuigbo na agba mbo
Ya ka anyi na ekwu (ayammama)
(?)Ijele nwannem Chukwu ka anyi ji aga
Ayammama
Maka na
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Chukwu bu ike anyi o
Yanwa ka anyi ji aga
Genevieve nwa
Na ndi Igbo gi aba (Ada Mbaise)
Ijele nwanne na ndi Igbo gi aba
(?) a ndi Igbo gi aba
Chimamanda Adichie na ndi Igbo gi aba
Video
Flavour - Umu Igbo (feat. Biggie Igba)
Meaning & Inspiration
Flavour's "Umuigbo," released on January 18, 2021, is a powerful anthem of pride, resilience, and unity for the Igbo people, imbued with a spirit that resonates deeply with foundational principles found throughout Scripture. The song doesn't just celebrate ethnic identity; it extols the enduring spirit of a people who, despite facing adversity, draw strength from their heritage and their faith. This narrative of perseverance mirrors the trials and triumphs of the Israelites, as chronicled in the Bible. Flavour extols the Igbo's industriousness, referencing achievements like Innoson Motors and Abakaliki rice, echoing the biblical emphasis on diligence and the rewards that come from dedicated work. The repeated declaration that "Chukwu bu ike anyi o" – "God is our strength" – is the song's spiritual bedrock, directly aligning with numerous biblical passages that affirm God's power and sufficiency as the ultimate source of strength. This sentiment is powerfully captured in verses like Isaiah 41:10, which assures, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." The song's call for unity, "Umuigbo nile, Let's come together, Na anyi ncha bu ofu" ("All Igbo people, let's come together, for we are all one"), speaks to a brotherhood and sisterhood that finds its divine parallel in the Christian injunction for believers to be united in love and purpose, as exemplified in John 17:21, where Jesus prays that "they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us." Flavour's lyrical journey through ancestral lands and the acknowledgment of Igbo identity ("Kam naba na ala igbo, Ebe afa a mulum o" – "Let me return to the land of Igbo, where I was born") is a profound recognition of roots, a sentiment that can be understood in the context of God's covenant with Abraham and the importance of lineage and belonging. The poignant lines addressing hardship, such as "They rape our women o, Ya kam ji e ti zi, They starve our children, Ya kam ji e be zi" ("They rape our women, that's why I cry. They starve our children, that's why I cry"), while deeply personal and culturally specific, evoke the biblical cries of injustice and suffering, such as those found in the Psalms, where individuals poured out their pain and sought divine intervention. The song's uplifting conclusion, reinforcing "Chukwu bu ike anyi o," serves as a testament to faith in the face of affliction, much like the prophet Jeremiah’s affirmation in Lamentations 3:21-23, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." "Umuigbo" ultimately offers a message of hope rooted in identity and divine empowerment, encouraging its listeners to draw strength from their shared heritage and the unwavering power of God, a message that resonates with the enduring truths of Scripture.