Author: Oke Iroegbu

Story: Be there for someone

An old man once told me the story of how as a young man, his mother used to ask him: “What is the most important part of your body?” Through the years, he would take a guess at what he thought was the correct answer. First time, his answer was: “The ears.” The mother replied:… Continue reading Story: Be there for someone

Rate this:

Mechanics of Savings: a Christian perspective

Mechanics of Savings and Financial Intermediation Savings as described by financial analysts are the portion of income which are not used for consumption expenditures. They are referred to as investments, because huge portions of such savings in financial institutions constitute the capital extended to businesses, governments, individuals and other entities as loans. This is done… Continue reading Mechanics of Savings: a Christian perspective

Rate this:

8 August: Birthday Wish

Birthdays are rare They come once in a year Unique Birthday: A set of Eights! Ah, it’s today. 8th day of 8th month of the year 2020. I usually write poems or stories to celebrate but this year’s birthday is unique. So instead of a poem I’ll muse about the actual numbers that made my… Continue reading 8 August: Birthday Wish

Rate this:

Muse: Nature’s Circus

1 When you call, your sound rent through the wind Whispers, songs of the wild, emissary of mother Nature You send birds, they ‘caw-caw‘, they fly the blue clouds Making the skies their tuft, and you: their leisure 2 Green trees, red flowers, purple feathers, all in perfect unison You call to your own, you… Continue reading Muse: Nature’s Circus

Rate this:

Tradition: Storytelling

The African Storytelling Tradition When I, the storyteller, say: Ifochakpii! You, the audience, will reply, Waa!! (Pronounced as ‘War!’) This is the Igbo people’s storytelling tradition. There are different ways of introducing a story to the audience. To the Igbo people, it starts with a chant-like ranting that tries to capture all present attention. So… Continue reading Tradition: Storytelling

Rate this:

Shadows – Poetry

When shadows are seen around It shows gathering or dispersing, Dancing or wrestling, singing or talking. Shadows clone for good or evil As a hefty hoe till the soft soil Her shadow strikes things dead Under the moon’s watchful eyes on this land, Shadows of branches on the ground Were green trees during the noon… Continue reading Shadows – Poetry

Rate this:

Happy Belated Friendship Day

– Friends are family we chose for ourselves. Didn’t forget I didn’t forget about the World Friends Day. I do write about friendship because it’s dear to me. I was extremely busy with personal and family errands. I also volunteer online for a company based in North America, and so had little time to pen… Continue reading Happy Belated Friendship Day

Rate this:

Igbo Language Alphabet

This is to respond to your requests for a clearer, easy to read Igbo Alphabet, and we’ve come up with this, which we believe is simplified. It’s important to take your attention to the alphabet structure because it’s the key to unlock your understanding of this beautiful language. Twenty-seven distinct letters are contained in this… Continue reading Igbo Language Alphabet

Rate this:

Four Quotes on Humility

Perfection is impossible without humility. Why should I strive for perfection, if I am already good enough? Leo Tolstoy. Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose. Bill Gates. True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of… Continue reading Four Quotes on Humility

Rate this:

Poets Corner: What is Love?

Love As a growing Sunday School kid I learned a lot about love. Love can be defined when we explore it’s qualities or characteristics. Yet love is complex in every angle you chose to view it from. It is a mix of emotions, behaviours, and beliefs associated with strong feelings of affection, protectiveness, warmth, and… Continue reading Poets Corner: What is Love?

Rate this:

Flight to Summer – Poetry

There’s a symphony of joy, See it roar up bright skies! Emissaries of the aging day Graceful flights over Africa! * It float above the countryside Leaving to fresh, green fields, Above those endless forests Where hope still lived ahead * Each journey is to an unknown promise, Somewhere between joy and pain But fly… Continue reading Flight to Summer – Poetry

Rate this:

Courage

The breadth of earth lay wet But the sun rise from the east, From vague sights and mists The dark jungles, hot and serene Yet lions stride through the green Fearing neither man or faun A shriek up the skies… Eagles soar high; many miles Hopes high, they seeth thru’ times The wind surfs wild… Continue reading Courage

Rate this:

Sunset in Ovim

I stand by these rocks and hills, ancient To enjoy again a beautiful moment of sunset I’ve a new song to sing each time I behold the sun set A song sang by my father and his father’s father A song that echo through the hills, Like smoke dispersing from mills, Ancient like mud where… Continue reading Sunset in Ovim

Rate this:

Reflection: Power in Unity

Grandma’s Cooking Stove Grandma was a good cook. I always enjoyed her meals as a little boy. School holidays was fun for me as I had to travel home to her. She contributed immensely to those happy times. (God rest her soul.) Whenever she made her delicious soup I usually sit by her traditional stove.… Continue reading Reflection: Power in Unity

Rate this:

Rain drops on the Glass

I love the sound of rain when it hit my windowsWhen multitude of rain drops descend from the sky, Splattering, crushing the Earth’s crust, moulding her clay, Throwing up sweet scents, one unaccustomed to man The beats create a regular rhythm that may turn to a song, Caressing window panes, pushing mild airs upon them,… Continue reading Rain drops on the Glass

Rate this:

Amuse: A Letter to the Squirrels Living in my Roof

New landlords Okay guys, I traveled to my country home or just say my village. I was welcomed by squirrels racing on the rooftop. I thought it was a cat at first but cats don’t fly on tree branches. I finally saw one skinny squirrel holding his chin. It wouldn’t wait for me to get… Continue reading Amuse: A Letter to the Squirrels Living in my Roof

Rate this:

Another Tale from the Wild Woods

There’s a land behind those ancient hills Hidden in the thick greened forest, One of mighty foliage, brushes & roots Dark green shrubs gather by the riverside Ripe fruits plunge into the quiet waters And fish schools scatter in excitement Brown and black crabs meet to get drunk Squirrels watch them, amused from treetops The… Continue reading Another Tale from the Wild Woods

Rate this:

To my childhood…

I like to watch the sun rise, to wait while she cast her beauty on earth, So I wake early to fly my kite, to gather the stray bugs, worms and locust, The fields are my playground, a partner to hides and seek, I watch the sun, her golden smile, and light it brought to… Continue reading To my childhood…

Rate this:

Poetale: The Nomad

When twilight came I took a walk, for some air And down the roadside I went. There a young man stood Bearded heavily unlike myself Throwing corn seeds into his mouth And grinding them with such relish That his brown teeth showed off He stood a little close to my fence And I decided to… Continue reading Poetale: The Nomad

Rate this:

eSwatini, Kingdom of (with images)

eSwatini: meaningThere’s an African country with a name that sounds similar to Switzerland. Swaziland now eSwatini has its name changed to celebrate its 50 years of independence from Great Britain. eSwatini means land of the Swazis or a place for the Swazi. In April 2018, King Mswati, the third announced the change. eSwatini is sandwiched… Continue reading eSwatini, Kingdom of (with images)

Rate this:

The Traveling Musicians

Gather around the fire and read this story with me. It’s a long bedtime tale. An honest farmer had once a donkey that had been a faithful servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work. His master therefore was tired of keeping… Continue reading The Traveling Musicians

Rate this:

Winter Love by Robin Bliss

Looking at the plum tree. Seeing the dark bare, Skeleton like branches, Black against the dreary clouds. Stripped by Winters cold, Of its blanket of leaves. The ashen, dingy clouds. Are dripping raindrops. This fine misty rainfall. Is moved forwards by a, Languid, lethargic breeze, Coming strait from Antarctica. This bitterly cold midwinter day. But!… Continue reading Winter Love by Robin Bliss

Rate this:

Hope a poem by Ashok Gupta

If winter comes can spring be far behind? Without hope, patience is not worth a dime! All that seems wise has already been said A hundred times. Let it stand alone Without the need of a guise. Evaluate it then within the recesses of your own mind. All thoughts need some context to be meaningful… Continue reading Hope a poem by Ashok Gupta

Rate this:

Divine Grace by Rajan Varghese

Embracing beauty and power Musical melodies of divine excellence Grace and smile composed By the finest artist in brilliance Destiny follows you like God’s will Man often ordained as master of his own work and destiny to receive honour And power! As the divine grace granting new life with a new name and blessings! Like… Continue reading Divine Grace by Rajan Varghese

Rate this:

African Zebra

An extraordinary land Africa is a land of diversity and extreme beauty. From the rising golden sun to swift flowing rivers and peaceful, grazing black wildebeest spread across the brown and green savannah, one can always have a glimpse of nature’s beautiful paradise. And nature has a way of healing everything… If you ever had… Continue reading African Zebra

Rate this:

Legacy: Larry or Harry?

Legacy Life is dynamic. It changes each time we look at it from different perspectives. This is a story you might know. It tells of two opposites: selfishness and generosity, greed and contentment. Larry and Harry Larry and Harry, two homeless men were given a chance to travel to a third world country on an… Continue reading Legacy: Larry or Harry?

Rate this:

Love Poem: Let’s Dream Away

Your voice wakes the wild nature in me When you sing the lyrics gladden my soul I adore those moments you look over your shoulder To catch my happy stare; as you dance away, laughing *** You dress like tulips that grow on the farmyard Fresh, delicate pink, lively as green bean pods Scenting the… Continue reading Love Poem: Let’s Dream Away

Rate this:

Art of Divine Poetry By Bhagirath Choudhary (Translated to Italian, Filipino, Albanian, French, Romanian, Spanish, Serbian)

Art of Divine Poetry Poetic imagination Praises beauty of creation Giving words and voice To every human nation Poet feels the pulse By his poetic impulse Bard’s heart resonates With loving sonnets. Loving poetic spell When rises well The ordinary mortal Becomes divine poetry portal. With sacred passions Poets dress up naked nations Bards like… Continue reading Art of Divine Poetry By Bhagirath Choudhary (Translated to Italian, Filipino, Albanian, French, Romanian, Spanish, Serbian)

Rate this:

Abraham Lincoln’s Story

Abraham’s Humble Story When Abraham Lincoln became the president of America, his father was a shoemaker. Naturally, egoistic people were very much offended that a shoemaker’s son should become the president. On the first day, as Abraham entered to give his inaugural address, just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a very… Continue reading Abraham Lincoln’s Story

Rate this:

Cranky Old Man: Anonymous Poet

A brief intro When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later when nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies… Continue reading Cranky Old Man: Anonymous Poet

Rate this:

Poets Corner: What have you gained writing Poetry?

Poetry Poetry is a composition in verse or language, exhibiting conscious attention to patterns. The bolded are crucial to understanding the true nature of poems. Poetry has been in existence for centuries. As an art that survived centuries, I was curious to find out why lyrics are written for so long. And to those who… Continue reading Poets Corner: What have you gained writing Poetry?

Rate this:

Tale of Wild Woods: Summer Arrives

 When summer finally came, a lot had changed The last snow melted and the sad land woke Grasses started growing, covering the outer earth So those who burrow scrambled out from the dust Soft airs and tidings surround the mountainside Sending sweet emissaries around the valley below Vines, myrrh, mistletoes and pines sprout happily… Continue reading Tale of Wild Woods: Summer Arrives

Rate this:

Self Confidence

When you believe in yourself anything is possible. Why not? If you are lucky enough to find your passion, then how could giving up be an option? Giving up means accepting a lifetime of wondering what could have happened if you just believed in yourself enough to follow through. It doesn’t matter how fast or… Continue reading Self Confidence

Rate this:

July Wishes

Dear Friends, I’m grateful that we made it to July 2020. You’ll agree that the year has been a stressful one. I hope you’re well and keeping safe. Don’t be anxious, things will make sense soon and we’ll live to testify. Few hours before new year, I made a wish that I wanted to see… Continue reading July Wishes

Rate this:

Igbo (African) Proverbs

Hello there! This is a post on selected Igbo proverbs. I wrote in the Igbo language, translated into English, and then gave its meaning. I did a blog post on sayings used in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe sometime ago. You can access it here. Have a great day! 1. Igbo: Nwaanyi… Continue reading Igbo (African) Proverbs

Rate this:

Gilded Rays by Robin Bliss

The slender gilded rays Of Winter sunshine, Brightens up this room. Where I sit writing. Hitting glassy surfaces, Of bottles,glistening. Feeling the warmth pleasantly, Warming my arms and legs. Your love my dearest, Is just as these beams. For your sweet tenderness has, Lightened up my dullness, And the warmth of your, Gentleness has captivated… Continue reading Gilded Rays by Robin Bliss

Rate this:

Modern Scramble for Africa

A Bitter Pill What comes to your mind when you hear about Africa? Savages. Poverty. War ravaged. Disease. Uneducated? Let’s face it, Africa is what it is today because ‘the world’ contributed in keeping it so. We’re only poor by the world’s standard. This is a bitter pill. Another Scramble for Africa? The economic hustle… Continue reading Modern Scramble for Africa

Rate this:

Writing a Poem by David Thane Cornell

Writing a poem is like picking flowers in a minefield. Lay down your life spread-eagled, so that the grass, sharp as syllables, won’t cut you. Let your fingers test the soil. Don’t tug at the roots. Seize adjectives for hostages, negotiable at the border between war and peace, leading you all the way back to… Continue reading Writing a Poem by David Thane Cornell

Rate this:

Path to Harvest – Poem

Joy is fruit blossomed in the heart of farmers Their smiles are meshed with toil and sweat, Patch of earth print upon their faces And on shoulders they carry huge baskets Marching towards the fields, when it is harvest… Fields are ripe, and trees are heavy with fruit Birds sing from tree tops, monkeys dance… Continue reading Path to Harvest – Poem

Rate this:

Poets Corner: What Is Beauty?

JUST A LITTLE STORY Let me tell you a little story. I remember a picture story of a man that sat close to a girl in a park. The first image portrayed the man as ugly, dressed in unbuttoned black shirt, with all manner of rings, deep scars and tattoos. The pretty girl was dressed… Continue reading Poets Corner: What Is Beauty?

Rate this:

Reflection: The Virus and China

Not so cuddly thought… As I lay on my bed I had a thought. A thought that actually provoked many questions. Maybe someone can help me understand these issues better if my opinion does not reflect reality. This is the first reflection on racism, the next will be on Africa. NB: I speak for people,… Continue reading Reflection: The Virus and China

Rate this:

Opinion: The 2020 World University Rankings

As children in the typical agrarian world of Northern Cross River State, Nigeria, it was the tradition for mothers to leave their young babies in the care of the older ones while the mothers went to distant farms. Across the day the older children grappled with the occasional frustrating cries of their baby-siblings, sometimes grappled… Continue reading Opinion: The 2020 World University Rankings

Rate this: