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III. Oral Tradition

III.  The following is a song mother's of twins would sing because they believed that giving birth to twins was "a gift from God." In this song the twins are said to be born from edun. This is important because in the Yoruba poem that honors the edun the ibeji are incorporated into the tale (1)

Oluwa [our Lord] has decreed it/ It is God's will.

Akanbe has given birth to twins/ Akanbe has given birth to twins.

Born of twin monkey [edun], I am holding your letter/ Twins, it is a part of my destiny to have you.

Twin was not made of chief/ Our Lord puts a crown on his head./ Twins do not need earthly titles/ They are crowned by God.

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