Ife Egwu anyi efugo - "Our Toy is lost" (Igbo Children's play song from Southeast of Nigeria)
Language: Igbo
The lullaby translates to
Ife egwu anyi efugo // Our toy is lost
ayi enwegh ike ichota ya // We cannot find it
Ekene bia k'i choba ya // Ekene (or any other name) come and find it O
gaba a-iyo // Let the search begin
This song and its accompanying activities are meant to sharpen children's ability to search out hidden objects. While the song is being performed, one of the participating children (whose name is being mentioned in the song) is expected to find which of their peers has the (hidden) toy. Once the toy has been found, the child who has the toy begins the search (his/her name replaces that of the previous searcher), and the game continues. This song is usually performed by children between the ages of 8 and 13 years.
Igbo text is translated from into English by Chidi Obijiaku
Mr Chidi Obijiaku transcribed this song in 2020 for Jiwe Music