Kororom! Kokokorom!! Korokorokom!!!
The gong went off, disturbing the peace of the hamlet
A strange silence descends as the rhythm died down
The evening was cold, sweet breeze from the big river
Made the hamlet cozy and sometimes snores rent the air
Stubborn children turn good
For their parents had threatened
To report them to the messenger
The inn filled with the days laborers
And men who sought refuge in wine
Grow quiet like the graveyard
For the messenger has come
And everyone has to listen!
Kroooromkom! Korokorokom!!
From the long distance a baby wailed
One could hear the mother singing to calm it
The old man with his big radio was even quiet
It seemed everyone desired the news the messenger brought!
Smell of cooking come from the bamboo huts;
Egusi soup and stockfish, the hamlets favorite
Lovers under the Oil bean tree seat aghast
Wondering why the messenger visited that night
Even the trees and her inhabitants
Stood in great silence
For the messenger has come
So everyone must pay great attention!
***
Commentary:
In the rural parts of Igboland the easiest way to disperse a message or information to the people was through the towncrier which translates to the messenger in this piece. They are usually armed with wooden or metallic gongs which they beat out to draw the peoples attention.
Krokorom…: The sound made from the messengers gong.
Egusi soup: A delicacy popular in the South of Nigeria. Normally prepared from the seeds of a typical melon fruit/vegetable grown in West Africa.
