By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – A folktale song sang by the legendary Nigerian Igbo musician, Mike Ejeagha (Gentleman), in 1983 with the title “Onye Ori Utaba the made the album’s hit of the ‘Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche’ with a chant “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo was used by a skit maker Brain Jotter in July 5th 2024.
Brain Jotter who only used the Chant Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo as soundtrack has made the forgotten song gain widespread popularity.
Many people, however, are enjoying the dance drama as introduced by the skit maker without knowing the meaning of the song.
The dance drama has become a global dance challenge.
Here is an overview of the meaning as sung in Igbo language.
The song from Mike Ejeagha is a folktale narrated as thus: “The king had previously informed all the animals in his kingdom that anyone who could bring a big animal such as elephant or cow in tether to a feast he is organizing would marry his daughter.
“Now none of the animals could bring the elephant to the feast in rope. But the tortoise had a different idea. He went to the elephant and informed him that through his (turtle) effort, the king had approved him (the elephant) to chair the occasion and that he would like to go with him to the ceremony.
“On their way, the tortoise informed the elephant that he couldn’t walk because he was frail and old. So the elephant suggested the tortoise climb on his back so he could hitch-hike him to the occasion.
“In the course of the journey, the tortoise suggested to the elephant that he needed a rope on the neck of the elephant so that he won’t fall down from the top, a request which the elephant obliged.
“On the approach to the feast the tortoise climbed down from the back of the elephant and handed the tethered animal to the king and then the king in fulfillment of his promise gave out his daughter to the tortoise.
The folktale theme is an attempt by the storyteller (Mike Ejiagha) to elevate intellectual capacity or quality over muscular capacity or quantity.
The chant ‘Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo’ however means that the muscular power of the elephant is nothing but only makes a noisy shake that sounds like ‘Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo’.
Our correspondent reports that The 41-year-old song has taken social media by storm, thanks to the creative use of the track by popular comedian and skitmaker Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie, known as Brain Jotter.
