Pete Pete is exactly what I imagined a 9ice and Asa collaboration to sound like. And no. They did not disappoint.

Before I say anything else, if you do not understand the Yoruba language, try to get someone to interpret the song to you. Not just anyone, but someone that does understand the Yoruba language well enough to interpret, dissect, and demystify the rich proverbs, idioms, and sayings used in this song.

All these years after I first heard the song, the meaning of some phrases used still hit me unexpectedly occasionally. This has only endeared me even more to the song. Making me go back to listen through 9ice’s Tradition album all over again.

My love for Asa can never be overstated. Her collaborations are a collector’s item. The best part of it is the fact that she never disappoints. Hype her a thousand times ahead of hearing it, she’ll still live up to your expectation. And then some more.

Asa’s albums are even better. Hers is the original No Bad Songs. Kiss Daniel’s album did live up to the name, but Asa has been the Queen of N.B.S before No Bad Song was a thing.

Pete Pete talks about Nigeria travails. With an aura of hope at Independence quickly deteriorating due to corruption and ineptitude on the side of the leaders, and apathy and greed on the part of the citizens.

Pete Pete Lyrics

Verse 1 (9ice):
Ojo re bi ana ta gb’ominira, 1960
N’igba yen tis easy gege bo se wi
Ta rugbo, t’omidan lon dunu pa ti d’ominira
Ominira indeed abi, ewo naira wa

Ilu polukurumusu
T’ewe t’agba lon j’eyan won nisu
Abe ori, ewe eri, sugbon e ofewi

Abe ori, agba eri atenuje lofe p’ayin
Petepete t’ana ni popa
Eni bataba, kolo mofe ni

Chorus (9ice)
Sebe l’ema sun
Teba sope ‘omo nkankan
Eyin aro lema waa (sebe la ma)
Mewa n’sele o

Sebe l’ema sun (sebe lema sun)
Bi eni wo’seju akan o
Eyin aro lema wa a (mewa nsele o)

Verse 2: (Asa)
Kini suuru ti o l’ere?
Kini seti ko s’ere?
Won sa l’eyan ti o l’oruko
Okuku sise, ode’n rere e

Ah! ede s’ope a siwa l’omode
Nkan sa l’eye je k’agbado t’ode

9ice oro gidi l’oso
Oro to o ni’lari l’oso
An’lati fi laka yesi
K’asoro sibi t’orowa

Chorus (Asa)
Sebe l’ema sun
Teba sope ‘omo nkankan
Eyin aro lema waa (sebe la ma)
Mewa n’sele o

Sebe l’ema sun (sebe lema sun)
Bi eni wo’seju akan o
Eyin aro lema wa a (mewa nsele o)

9ice:
Boda siko ‘bo yen
Won a wa s’adugbo
Won a’somo jeje
Eje kan wole tan gbogbo eje tan je da w’oke ise

Toba tun se were, la siko ibo
Won ani k’odo tolo bere
Won a senu mere, kalokalo gbe nkan mi senu wuye

Afira aditu ti iwole, talo dibo fun?
Pasan ta fi na ‘yale
onbe lori aja fun.

Odo elo tunramu, ema je an’pagbon ni funfun
Fun yin, mowi temi

Asa:
Asegbe kan kosi o
Asepamo lowa
Ase sile labo waba

Emi oti ku,
mo s’ile s’ise
Mo sile f’owo r’ewo
Mo sile tule mise

Chorus (Both)
Sebe l’ema sun
Teba sope ‘omo nkankan
Eyin aro lema waa (sebe la ma)
Mewa n’sele o

Sebe l’ema sun (sebe lema sun)
Bi eni wo’seju akan o
Eyin aro lema wa a (mewa nsele o)