What Ozumba Mbadiwe means {Reekado Banks’ Song}

What does “Ozumba Mbadiwe” mean? {This post was adapted from our original post on Reekado Banks’ “Ozumba Mbadiwe“

If you have been a fan of Reekado Banks, or the remix of his hit single “Ozumba Mbadiwe” and you have been wondering what it means, you are not asking the wrong question

Reekado Banks is out with the remix of his hit song “Ozumba Mbadiwe” featuring Fireboy Dml, and it is a noteworthy collaboration

Ozumba Mbadiwe is named after an expressway in Lagos that leads to Lekki Toll gate where EndSars protesters were shot and killed. “Ozumba Mbadiwe” himself is a reference to a Nigerian nationalist and politician.

So by saying he is on “Ozumba Mbadiwe”, Reekado Banks implies that it may seem like he is far from where the struggles and pains are, but he can assure us that his decision is intentional.

It may seem like he doesn’t care about the struggles, or that he is not as nationalistic as he should be, but he has to look out for himself first because Lagos is a city that eats you up. He says:

“I no come lagos come sleep for highway”

This also implies that he will always be ready to obey nationalistic calls even though it seems like he is far away. So yes, “Ozumba Mbadiwe” is a patrotic song.

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Fireboy exalts “Ozumba Mbadiwe” by showing that there no excuses for trying to make money and be successful in Lagos. He says:

“Cause na monеy i dey find (na money i dey find)
E no еasy for Iagos
Do me a favour
Pay me on time (eh eh eh)”

If anything, “Ozumba Mbadiwe” has to be one of the best collaboration there is, well apart from Peru remix featuring Fireboy.

The amazing thing is that “Peru” and “Ozumba Mbadiwe” have a similar song theme. In “Ozumba Mbadiwe”, it’s about Reekado Banks hiding, and in “Peru” too, they are looking for Fireboy DML.

So, the collaboration only makes sense.

In “Ozumba Mbadiwe”, Fireboy exalts the song by adding so much interesting lyricism to his verse. He claims he came to lagos for money, hence, people should forgive him if there are inclinations of his selfishness.

Normally, “Ozumba Mbadiwe” is a hit, but the way Fireboy tweaks the song to make it sound even more deep makes it genuinely sound like “Ozumba Mbadiwe” is a reason-inspired song.

The Symphony between both Reekado Banks and Foreboy DML on “Ozumba Mbadiwe” remix is awesome! You get a good feeling that they are discussing the same theme in similar but alternative words, which is what any remix should focus on.

Unfortunately, collaborations now just seem to focus on how big the artist is and how they can improve the song streams. This should be a focus to, but it beats the purpose of making good music.

This is why Reekado Banks remix of Ozumba Mbadiwe with Fireboy is such a classic!

Realism

The level of realism on “Ozumba Mbadiwe” remix is noteworthy. Fireboy and Reekado Banks take out time to explain to their listeners that while it is good to be loyal to their nation, their nation does not look out for them in terms of financial and social well-being.

Which is why they should take care of themselves first, before going on to defend their nation. Without this, what you have is a frustrated person who curses his country every morning or hopes for good governance.

“Ozumba Mbadiwe” remix shows that hope is good, but it is not a grain of sand, you can’t touch it. This is why Reekado Banks says:

Don’t make me move dat way
Me I no wan sleep for highway
‘Fore you cross ,gaz look your sideways
Me I no come Lagos for child’s play

You don’t want to end up dead while trying to help yourself, “look sideways” first before plunging yourself deep into political affairs that are very complicated and are handled by people who don’t care about those they lead.

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So wanna take some advice from Reekado Banks and Fireboy DML?

Be on “Ozumba Mbadiwe”.

That it what it means to be Nigerian.

On “Ozumba Mbadiwe” remix, Fireboy highlights that there is no point trying to sound defensive if you are trying to make it in a crazy city like Lagos.

Everyone looks out for themselves, and as much as patriotism is important to the development of a nation, it takes a number of passionate people to be patriotic, and passion is sometimes driven by an assurance of resources- which Fireboy and Reekado Banks are trying to chase.

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“Ozumba Mbadiwe” remix lyrics

[Verse 1]
I no dey move dat way
Don’t make me move dat way
Me I no wan sleep for highway
‘Fore you cross ,gaz look your sideways
Me I no come Lagos for child’s play

[Pre-Chorus]
So I hear say dem dey find me
(won wami won ni won wa mi)
For the long time I been silent
(won wa mi won ni won wa mii)
I dey run am I be sterling
But dey think say I’m in hiding
Cos dey don’t know how to find me

[Chorus]
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
Coming to you
Coming to you

{Percussions}

[Verse 2: Fireboy]
Won I’oIowo Io n s’ore olowo
1 milli for my head oh (ewe)
You better follow who know road
Since 2019 when i don blow
I been on a roll, if you don’t know
And i no get time for your convo

Cause na monеy i dey find (na money i dey find)
E no еasy for Iagos
Do me a favour
Pay me on time (eh eh eh)
If i owe you a favour
Make you no vex
If you see me online (eh eh eh)
Woni won wa mi
Wetin concern me?

I’m in san francisco jamming
Sho’ngbo mi ?
Oya oya oya send me my money
Oya oya oya wire my raba
Owo Io Ie gbe mi wa Ie
Owo Io Ie gbe me wa Ie
And in case the money enter
I go dey oriental
For ozumba mbadiwe

Chorus]
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
I’ll be on Ozumba Mbadiwe
Coming to you
Coming to you

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