Offa is a city in Kwara State and has a population of about 100,000. Offa is famous for weaving and dyeing with vegetable dyes made from indigo and other locally grown plants. Offa is also known for growing sweet potatoes and maize, which were a popular staple food of the city’s indigenous people. Offa is described as the home of sweet potatoes in one of his eulogies. Cattle, goats and sheep are also kept in the area.The main religions practiced in the city are Islam, Christianity and traditional religions. Below are the long and short versions of Offa’s “In Praise” (Offa’s poem).
Oriki Offa Short Version:
Iyeru-Okin, Omo Olofa Mojo, Omo Olalomi, Omo abisu Joruko , ijakadi loro toffa toffa, Ija kan ijakan ti won nja lofa lojosi, Olalomi oju talose, Osoju ebe lala, O si soju poro ninu oko, Ibasoju oloko, iba lawon, Omo ‘laare, Omo bu re, ikan o gbodo ju kan, Bi kan ba ju kan nile olofamojo ogun lon’da ni ile baba wan, Omo omaka, Omo osa oje ba mi ki anomo. Omo olalomi ni mori, Mo dasa lami lapa, Iyeru okin ni mori, Mo dasa lami lobe, Mi o pe e mo lami sugbon, E mo je ko jinle lapa mi, Ijakadi loro ofa.
Oriki Offa Long Version:
Ede okin olofa mojo, olofa omo ola nlomi ab’isu joko ijakadi loro Offa, ija peki abe owula, bi ko ba se oju ebe l’Offa, as óju poro l’oko, iba soju oloko iba la won, osoju agunmona l’Offa , O soju agbele yarara, o soju aporuba ka ‘ko, kinni se kagun-kakanrun ni ile oba, oka ni se kagun kankanrun, Agbado ni agun-mona l’Offa, Eree ni agbele yarara, isu ni aporubu ka ‘ko, omo odi meta mete meta me ti nbe l’Offa mojo, odi iwaju ti olusan, t’ehin ni se ti olumiran, t’arin gungun ni se ti olugbenise omo ayejin, omo odo meta meta ti ntun nbe l’Offa mojo, okan ni apa erinla boo un ki oun dókun, okan ni apa agbo boo un ki oun d’osa, okan ni ki apa akuko gagara boo un ki oun di agunloko l’Offa oba ni okookan Offa ti t’agbo ra, ododo won ti to erinla pa sugbon ni okan ba d’okun, ti okan ba d’osa nibo ni ako omo yebiye wonyisi.
Eyi ti won wapa akuko ganga boo a ni owa di agunloko l’Offa olofa omo la ki Offa kun tele, olalomi ede okin olofa mojo Olofa Omo laare ki o dogba, okan ko gbodo ju kan bi okan ba ju kan, oba ni ko won roro, oba ko wa ri ti awa d’iran peki mob a odofin dimu, mose ojomu Karin, mo fi ehin saawo ra’le l’Offa o m’aka Arijasoro, olalomi lo laare.
Offa o m’aka egun wole l’Offa to ju ti omo okuta meta nsese, okan ko mi lese okansemi pele, okan semi nrora, Okan n’gbati emi mona , kinni mo wade ilu ete okan n’gbati emi ko mona kinin mo wa de ilu ero Okan n’gbati emi mona , kinni mo wa de ilu awon-won ni ile olalomi ti omi ti won ti oju lo Ede Okin timo ri okin bamuiti mofi abata sin ese l’Offa ti mo wari abelenje boju mo la k’Offa okun keekee Aral ale, olalomi omo orubo nla ti osubu l’aro papa ni ohun bata, oki mi o nla mi, olalomi tani osehun ninu ara won ileyi ko gbaye, a ko lo si loffa nigbati iloffa o gba wa a ko lo s’Offa oro nigbati Offa oro o gba wa, a ko los’Offa irese nigbati Offa irese ko gba wa, ako losi igbolutu nigbati igbolutu ko gba wa mo, a tun pada si Offa Eesun nigbati Offa eesun o gbawa mo ni awa kowa si Offa Arinlolu olofa se pele o aro ko ya bumu, Ede olele aro ko ya buwe Ede olele aro ko ya buboju igun ni a rini a dasa geru, Akala nia rini a sasa l’edo olofa imole ni arin ni a wa dasa lami labe lapa se olofa lo ni omo , ko si Eku ti oju Offa o di oyo olofa ni oni omo gbengbeleku ni ara yoku nsan ni nwon ki olalomi iyeru okin.
