The Eagle and the Sun is a story poem by Niyi Osundare. The poem follows the usual traditional storytelling method adopted by the Yorubas. During this session, the narrator starts with a famous chorus (Oruka tindi tindi tindi as used in this poem), which is reciprocated by the audience.
Enjoy The Eagle and the Sun (Oruka tindi tindi tindi) by Niyi Osundare
Storyteller: Oruka tindi tindi tindi
Audience: Oruka tindi tindi tindi
Once upon a time
There was an Eagle
Known for his strength
All over the earth
He was big and brave and very boastful
His feathers stood out on his arms
His claws were as strong as iron
His beak was so hard
He thought he could split a rock
Everywhere he flew
The wind bowed beneath his wings
The big birds avoided his path
The small ones he killed for his daily snacks
His boast was loud and long
He said he had deeper indigo than agbe (a bird with an indigo colour found in the Southern part of Nigeria)
That he commanded a quarry of chalk
Whiter than the egret’s
He said he had more honey in his voice
Than the bee ever had in its hive
That he was more eloquent than the parrot
He said he has more wisdom than the owl
That he could beat the weaverbird
In the intricate art of weaving
His boast was loud and long
Oruka tindi tindi tindi
One day
Towards the end of the seventh moon
He summoned all the birds
To a clearing in the forest
And when all were gathered and wondering why
He proclaimed his harsh command:
“You have been too long now
Without a king
And that’s not proper
For our noble tribe
Give me your noble crown
Make me your king
Since I can fly higher
Than anyone here
I have the power
I have the reach”
“But we have never had a king”, replied Aiyekoto**,
The one with the bold and eloquent voice,
“And we see no need now for us to change our rule”
The other birds agreed and they
Flapped their wings in loud applause
Oruka tindi tindi tindi
“If seeing is the problem”,
Shouted the Eagle,
“I know how to clear your eyes”,
He nodded his head and a crew of crows,
Armed and very frightening,
Descended from a tree,
A golden crown in their hands
They put the crown in
The centre of the gathering
And the eagle said to the birds:
“Place the crown on my head!”
Angry, very angry
The birds laid their heads together
And chose a vulture for the crowning act
With the crown on his head,
Eagle swore and swayed and staggered,
Seeing himself now as the lord of all
That flew beneath the skies
His boast was loud and long
Oruka tindi tindi tindi
Day mounted day
Week mounted week
Many moons came and went
Eagle liked his place
As the king of the Heights
He took what he wanted
No, just what he wanted
Not just what he needed
Nothing moved in the forest
Without his knowing,
His crows spread fear
In the community of birds
His spies had a nest on every tree
He saw nothing now beyond his mighty doing
His boast was loud and loud
Oruka tindi tindi tindi
Then, one day,
Between drink and dream,
He summoned the birds to another meeting
“I want to challenge the sun”,
He proclaimed to the baffled gathering,
“I have the strength
I have the reach
My very muscle twitches
From the abundance of power
I have flown above the grass
I have surged above the trees
The highest tower shrinks beneath my sweep
I have scratched the moon’s face
I have glided over the surface of the ocean
Now it’s time to CONQUER the sun
And bring it to earth
Between my powerful claws
I will then go on to rule the world…”
His boast was loud and long
Oruka tindi tindi tindi
A long deep hush there was among the birds
Many agitated glances and ruffled feathers;
The Woodcock spoke the gathering’s mind:
“It’s too hot up there.
Even for one in a suit of iron;
Leave the sun alone.
For many, many seasons now,
The sun has lived in its house in the sky
And we have lived in ours below the clouds
It sends us warmth in the cold season
It sends the rays that ripen our fruits
It sends the light that brighten our way.
It’s too hot up there
Leave the sun alone
We play with the Moon
We romp with the Stars
We sometimes caress the waters of the Ocean;
But says the Sun:
Never touch me, even with the longest pole
The Sun is no plaything
And none of us has a need for such a toy
It’s too hot up there
Leave the Sun alone”
Oruku tindi tindi tindi
His claws twitching, his beak furious,
Eagle took one look at the other birds
And spoke with copious disdain:
“You straw-feathered, rubber-beaked,
Worm-eating, flight-frightened cowards,
How dare you mock me my noble ambition!
You sat down here and feed
Your base hunger with roadside berries
I honour my stomach with the best
On the tallest trees;
You can stay down here
And choke on your fear;
The Sun and I have a score to settle;
I who rule the birds
Will rule the world”
His boast was loud and long
Oruku tindi tindi tindi
So saying, Eagle leapt towards the sky
He flew and flew and flew
He flew till his glittering crown
Vanished behind the clouds…”
Seven days later,
His ashes lay surprised on the roadside grass.
Oruku tindi tindi tindi
Oruku tindi tindi tindi
