Awolowo By Fido: A Far Cry From The Title Meaning

by Andrew Simire

The song Awolowo is sung by fast rising Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Fido. Currently sitting at Number 2 on the Apple Naija 100 – a post it has held for a number of weeks. Awolowo is hot on the airwaves and on social media with posts using the song running into hundreds of thousands.

The Real Message Behind The Song Awolowo By Fido

As good as the song sounds to people that love it, it is actually a far cry from what many think the title means.

Many at first glance, tag the song to be a kind of tribute to the legendary Nigerian Nationalist and statesman, the Great Obafemi Awolowo, who struggled with the other greats to gain Nigeria’s independence from Great Britain. He is forever entrenched in the annals of Nigerian History by being printed on the N100 (one hundred Naira) note. Even the album cover goes on to sell that ideology.

But when one gets exposed to the song, one finds out that it has nothing to do with Nigerian nationhood, patriotism or even politics. It is a song for the intoxicated. Starkly a song for the weed smokers. And this brings some form of disappointment to the deep thinker, feeling like he was lured by a click – or in this case a “hear bait”.

Like said earlier,, the song Awolowo by Fido is a song for the intoxicated. The weed smokers. The “Awolowo” there properly explained within as a play on words bordering on the Nigerian, Yoruba word: “Awo lo” Meaning “our comrade has gone”. The feeling you get when you have been far gone into the intoxication of smoking weed.

Basically, the song is one for people who want to get high, putting themselves into that state of induced euphoria. Seeking a release or respite from reality. Going up into cloud nine, where all thoughts, sorrows and issues are irrelevant, kept in hibernation until later.

A Breakdown Of The Lyrics Of Awolowo By Lyrics

The song starts on a melancholic tone. No instruments, but vocals. An ode to the effectiveness of; and solace found from weed, Marijuana, Ganja, Igbo…whatever you may call it. The opening lyrics says it all:

“I go smoke that ganja until I go blind

You go know say I take ganja all the time

Pass me the ganja give me brown rizzler

Pass me the ganja light me up so high”

He further tells of the effects of the weed, bringing him to a state of euphoria where he is one with the most high. Making people wonder if he is mad (a characteristic found in those who abuse the psychedelic drug)

“Take me over, over, I dey cloud so high

Fly me up oh up so high

Till I find myself talking with most high

Some, some think say me I don mad”

The weed further makes him find it easy to pour out the content of his mind, baring his mind.

“As I dey let them know wetin dey my mind

Some dem take me for a fool yeah”

The chorus paints a picture of how hooked he is to the weed:

Awolọ (Oh) Awolọwọ (Yeah-yeah) [our comrade has gone, comradeship is good]

A n fa’gbo lọ (Ahn) lọwọ lọwọ (Lọwọ, lọwọ) [we are smoking right now]

Aye n lọ (Ate n lọ) bẹbẹ n lọ (Bẹbẹ n lọ) [we are enjoying life, flexing life]

Wọn ba mi sọ (Wọn ba mi sọ) [They tried to talk me out of it]

Mo ti koti kun siwon [I got deadly with them]

Me I no mind wetin dem go talk [I do not mind what they say]

Ewe at’egbo, na the only thing I know [Weed and roots are the only things I know]

Aye n lọ (Ahn) bẹbẹ n lọ (Oh oh) [we are enjoying life, flexing life]

Wọn ba mi sọ (Wọn ba mi sọ) [they tried totalk me out of it]

Mo ti koti kun siwon [I got deadly with them]

In the second verse, he thanks God for the blessing of marijuana, saying how it takes all his pains away. He cares for no weed from the others, but the one he rolls himself.

Thank you Jah for giving us rain

Abundant blessings mi a Jah fi rain

Blessings from a plant, eat ganja all day

Puff one, two, take off my pa-pains away

Oh away, yeah yeah

Emi o ma le mu’gbo t’Olu ba we [I won’t be able to take the weed Olu rolls]

Rara oh, I go roll my spliff my way [No way, I’ll roll my spliff my way]

My way no be your way (Yeah-yeah) [My way isnt your way]

The Bad Side Of The Weed Matter In Awolowo By Fido

We can understand that he is more of less addicted to the substance, showing his love for it. 

Without a doubt, weed is frowned upon by many countries in the world including Nigeria. As a psychedelic drug that can impair one’s judgement and cause hallucinations and aggression; the plant has become a banned substance; though many continue to take it, citing its health benefits as better than tobacco which is legal to smoke in except in public places.

The Blessing Of Weed

Looking at the other side, we can see why weed is such a goodie-goodie. We can understand that some countries in the world like the United States of America, Uruguay, Malta and Canada have fully legalized the drug. Others like Australia, Israel and Thailand have legalized weed for medicinal use.

Weed and its active nutrients help with managing chronic pain. It also comes in handy in alleviating nausea and vomiting, especially for people undergoing chemotherapy.

Cannabis can stimulate appetite, which can be beneficial for people with conditions like AIDS or eating disorders. Some people also find that cannabis can help reduce anxiety and stress.

Final Words

Even with these health benefits, it is important to understand that  smoking cannabis is harmful to your lungs, and there are safer methods of consumption, such as vaping or edibles.

It’s also important to note that these benefits are still being researched, and the risks often outweigh the potential rewards.

It is best that songs like Awolowo by Fido should focus on what is acceptable in the Nigerian, encouraging good behaviour and habits. This is better than just singing of your bad habits and what you like.

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