INTRO: The Invocation]

INTRO: The Invocation] (Atmosphere: Sound of flowing water. A slow, rattling shake of the Shekere.) Lead (Spoken/Chant): Pẹ̀lú ìbùkún Olódùmarè... mo yin Ìyá àwọn Ìyá. (Kpeh-loo ee-boo-koon Oh-loh-doo-mah-reh... moh yin Ee-yah ah-won Ee-yah) "With the blessing of the Creator... I praise the Mother of Mothers." Choir (Harmonized Whisper): Ọ̀ṣun... Ọ̀ṣun... (Aw-shoon... Aw-shoon...) [VERSE 1: The Praise] (Beat: The 'Iyá Ilú' or Mother Drum begins a slow, conversation-like heartbeat.) Lead: Ọ̀ṣun, Ẹ̀mí Odò! Olùgbé inú Ìlù Ahun! (Aw-shoon, Eh-mee Oh-doh! Oh-loo-gbeh ee-noo Ee-loo Ah-hoon!) "Oshun, Spirit of the River! Inhabitant of the Turtle Drum!" Lead: Agbára ìbùkún rẹ ń ṣí àwọn ọ̀nà... (Ah-gbah-rah ee-boo-koon reh n-shee ah-won aw-nah...) "Your blessed energy opens the paths..." Choir (Response): ...tí ó kún fún oge àti ẹwà! (...tee oh koon foon oh-geh ah-tee eh-wah!) "...full of charm and beauty!" [PRE-CHORUS: The Petition] (Tempo accelerates. Shakers double-time. The energy lifts.) Lead: Ìwọ ni ọrọ̀! (Ee-woh nee aw-raw!) "You are wealth!" Choir: Ìwọ ni ìmọ́lẹ̀! (Ee-woh nee ee-moh-leh!) "You are light!" Lead: Ìyá Omi Dídùn, mo kí ọ! (Ee-yah Oh-mee Dee-doon, moh kee aw!)"Mother of Fresh Water, I salute you!" [CHORUS: The Drop] (Full Percussion / Afro-House Bassline kicks in. High energy dance rhythm.) All (Power Vocals): Kò sí èèdì! Kò sí àjẹ́! (Koh see eh-eh-dee! Koh see ah-jeh!) "No spell! No witchcraft!" Tí ó lè gbilẹ̀ lórí mi! (Tee oh leh gbee-leh loh-ree mee!) "Can prosper over me!" All: Òrìṣà ilẹ̀ tí ń rìn ní òmìnira! (Oh-ree-shah ee-leh tee n-rin nee oh-mee-nee-rah!) "Goddess of the land who roams free!" Ayé mi kún fún ìmọ́lẹ̀, !(Ah-yeh mee koon foon ee-moh-leh!) "My life is filled with brightness!" [BRIDGE: The Manifestation] (Music strips back to just the Shekere and a melodic piano line. Building steadily.) Lead: A óò pọ̀ ní ọmọ... (Ah oh-oh kpoh nee aw-moh...) "We will be abundant in children..." Choir: Àṣẹ! (Ah-sheh!) Lead: A óò rí ìfẹ́ òtítọ́... (Ah oh-oh ree ee-feh oh-tee-toh...) "We will find true love..." Choir: Àṣẹ! Lead: Àlàáfíà yóò jọba... (Ah-lah-ah-fee-ah yoh-oh jaw-bah...) "Peace will reign..." Choir: Àṣẹ! Àṣẹ! Àṣẹ! [OUTRO: The Seal] (Drums crescendo to a frenzy, then sudden silence.) Lead (Softly): Nígbà gbogbo àti títí láé... (Nee-gbah gboh-gboh ah-tee tee-tee lah-eh...) "Always and forever..." All (Unison): Àṣẹ. (Ah-sheh) "So be it."