African refugees that escaped slavery in the Americas and formed independent settlements were called Maroons. The term can also be applied to their descendants. The same root word also gives us the English verb "to maroon". When runaway slaves banded together and subsisted independently they were called Maroons. On the Caribbean islands, runaway slaves formed bands and on some islands formed armed camps. Maroon communities faced great odds to survive against oppressive attackers, obtain food for subsistence living, and to reproduce and increase their numbers. There is much variety among Maroon cultural groups because of differences in history, geography, African nationality, and the culture of indigenous people throughout the Western hemisphere. Maroon settlements sometimes developed Creole languages by mixing European tongues with their original African languages. Other times the Maroons would adopt the local European language as a common tongue, for members of the community frequently spoke a variety of Mother Tongues. What you are about to hear is A Families journey to reacquire their Mother Tongue through song. Their goal is to reacquire that which was lost in the Middle Passage. Let this music, Maroon Music; serve as their testament to freedom in a world that has nothing but contempt for the self liberated.”

English Translation: (for Yoruba scroll down) Hello African Family, I learned that I have Yoruba blood Fulani, Fula and Balanta as well I want to introduce myself And my children in my Mother Tongue Although this is my goal I will make mistakes in this Orik I ask for your forgiveness My birth name is Hanief but my Yoruba name is Adebowale Adetokunbo I love the African Family! I love my kids very much God is the Father of my Family We are The Adetokunbos We love the African Family! My first Son is Hanief but his Yoruba name is Adewale Adetokunbo I love the African Family! Serenity is my Daughter but her Yoruba name is Omotunde Adetokunbo She loves the African Family! Hello African Family I have returned speaking Yoruba I have joy because I can introduce myself and my family in my Mother Tongue Although this is my goal I will make mistakes in this Oriki for this I ask for your forgiveness I was born in America California is the state I am from Children of Odogbolu in America embraced me….Beautiful Love The King of Odogbolu gave me my very powerful name Omega Psi Phi is my brotherhood Fraternity at the university My friends forever God is forever my Father If we don't see the truth We will be slaves to man We should never submit to racists We must fight for freedom I do not need a gun for the wicked but to kill the thoughts of the enemy I was born in America California is the state I am from Children of Odogbolu in America embraced me….Beautiful Love The King of Odogbolu gave me my very powerful name Omega Psi Phi is my brotherhood Fraternity at the university My friends forever God is forever my Father If we don't see the truth We will be slaves to man We should never submit to racists We must fight for freedom I do not need a gun for the wicked but to kill the thoughts of the enemy Yoruba : Bawo ni Idile Ọmọ Africa Mo kọ pe mo ni oje Yoruba Fulani ati Fula si Balanta Mo fe fi ara mi han Ati omo mi ni ede abinibi mi Botilejepe idi-pataki mi niyi Maa se aṣiṣe ni Oriki yi Mo beere ki o pe nidariji mi Oruko abiso mi ni Hanief Sugbon oruko Yoruba mi ni Adebowale Adetokunbo Mo nife idile Adulawo Mo nife pupo awon omo mi Olorun ni Baba ebi mi A wa ni Adetokunbo A ife idile Adulawo Omokurin akoko mi ni Hanief Sugbon oruko Yoruba o ni Adewale Adetokunbo Mo ife idile Adulawo Omobinrin mi ni Serenity Sugbon oruko Yoruba o ni Omotunde Adetokunbo A ife idile Adulawo Jihad ni Omokurin ikeji mi Sugbon oruko Yoruba o ni Adebola Adetokunbo Mo nife idile Adulawo Bawo ni idile Ọmọ Africa Mo ti pada nsoro ede Yoruba Mon layo nitorina Mo le fi ara mi han Ati ebi mi ni ede abinibi mi Botilejepe idi-pataki mi niyi Maa se aṣiṣe ni Oriki yi Mo beere ki o pe nidariji mi Mo bibi ni America California steeti ni mo ti wa Omo Odogbolu ni America ṣo mi daṣa ife lewa Alaye ni Odogbulo fun mi Gbora pupo l’oruko mi Omega Psi Phi l’egbe awon okunrin mi Fraternity mi ni si yunifasity Ore mi titi lailai Olorun Baba mi titi lai lai Bi mo ko ri l’otito wa Maa se o l’eru fun eniyan A ko nii teba t’afawoberaga Agbodo ija fun ominira Mon ko ni ibon fun oṣika Sugbon pa a’moran ku ni ota Mo bibi ni America California steeti ni mo ti wa Omo Odogbolu ni America ṣo mi daṣa ife lewa Alaye ni Odogbulo fun mi Gbora pupo l’oruko mi Omega Psi Phi l’egbe awon okunrin mi Fraternity mi ni si yunifasity Ore mi titi lailai Olorun Baba mi titi lai lai Bi mo ko ri l’otito wa Maa se o l’eru fun eniyan A ko nii teba t’afawoberaga Agbodo ija fun ominira Mon ko ni ibon fun oṣika Sugbon pa a’moran ku ni ota

Algeria, Angola, Benin, and Botswana Ethiopia, Sudan, Niger, and Ghana Central African Republic, Chad and Uganda Malawi, Mauritius, Mali, and Rwanda Tanzania, Guinea Bissau, Togo and Congo Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Egypt, and Morocco Seychelles, Somalia, Libya, and Nigeria Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Liberia The Guinea, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Zambia South Africa, Namibia, Gabon and Gambia Cameroon, Comoros and Djibouti Madagascar, Lesotho and Burundi Swaziland, Senegal and Sao Tome’ Kenya, DRC, Ivory Coast and Principe Sierra Leone, Western Sahara and Tunisia Cape Verde, and Equatorial Guinea I see ya So if you see me when I’m out and about Without a doubt AFRICA'S IN THE HOUSE!

“Please count your blessings with me!” We give thanks to God! We give thanks Amen! God has brought us happiness so we give thanks (I am counting my blessings) 1. Okan 2. Eji 3. Eta 4. Erin 5. Arun 6. Efa 7. Eje 8. Ejo 9. Esan 10. Ewa We give thanks Amen! Since I have this voice I will use it to show God’s glory! I am counting my blessings!

Olodumare (Mighty God) Mo juba re (I revere/worship you) Mo juba re Olodumare (Mighty God) Olodumare (Mighty God) Oba ti aye (King of the World) Oba ti aye Olodumare (Mighty God) Olodumare (Mighty God) Mo iranse re (I serve you) Mo iranse re Ti ti aye (Immutable/unchainging) Ti ti aye Chorus ( from “I Believe” by John P. Kee) “I’ll have my mansion now I believe (x3) I’ll do all things through Christ I believe (x3) I believe just what he said” (Verse 2) Mo emi ni re (My Soul is yours) Mo emi ni re Olodumare (Mighty God) Olodumare (Mighty God) Alaidibaje (Invinsible) Alaidibaje Mo nise re (I work for you) Mo nise re E fun mi irele (You give me peace) E fun mi irele (Verse 3) Mo juba re (I revere/worship you) Mo emi ni re (My Soul is yours) Olodumare (Mighty God) Olodumare (Mighty God) Oba ti aye (King of the World) Alaidibaje (Invinsible) Mo iranse re (I serve you) Mo nise re (I work for you) Ti ti aye (Immutable/unchainging) E fun mi irele (You give me peace) Chorus