Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Destiny Community School, Zambia

    Doctors, accountants, lawyers… These are just some of the dreams of the students at Destiny Community School in Zambia. These underprivileged students love going to school. Help them continue their education. As you’ll see, they have bright hopes and dreams for their future. #GivingWay

  • Love

    Every child deserves to be loved. Children can be at their best selves when loved and would reciprocate this act while growing. So if love is lacking in the society, it may be that people failed in their first duty to love. A man who lacks love was once a child who knew no love!…

  • Say it now: for Yemeni children

    Say not your voice has no power, For we listened and heard you speak from radios, And you spoke of many things, that helped not dying souls They say humanity is not defined by guns nor skin But look at kids wallow in great pain for no reason Look not another way while we die…

  • African Proverbs 14

    Consider this proverb from Ethiopia; The mouse is silent while laboring, but when the baby is conceived, she cries.

  • Gratitude

    Gratitude reigns over might or gold, It is greater than reputation, profits sold It gives reverence to all, young and old And makes every thankful person bold

  • African Wildlife: Bongo

    Bongos might be the largest antelope in Africa, but they are very timid. They scare easily and will run away and hide when frightened.

  • Haiku: Evening tide

    Fast falls the evening tide, Kids play on tree branches Squirrels watch from holes

  • Nature’s simplicity

    Grey skies, morning wakes to roosters, Gold spreads across the cloudy horizon Morning was just Nature’s simple character

  • Friendship

    There’s always a companion for everyone. There’s someone to confide in and share issues of life with. Friendship is characterized by love, sympathy, kindness, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, altruism, mutual understanding, compassion, trust and ability to be oneself and to express one’s feelings.Even Africa’s wild agree that everybody needs a companion, a friend. Do you agree?…

  • Appreciation

    Good morning from West Africa. It’s Friday and a bright new day. I wish I can throw a poetry (blog) party! I’m very grateful to all my followers. I see your comments, likes and suggestions. Honestly, I’m happy knowing you are out there. It means a lot to me, Imeela! Let’s do more.

  • Hope

    Hope is a smile drawn across faces. How happy they are with hope in their hands! *** Image from Fiverr

  • Shepherd Lore

    Dusk is messenger of sunset, birds fly away, hills sink, Fireflies become touches to guide the Shepherd through hills and valleys; nothing troubles man and sheep more than the thought of warm wool and smell of hay

  • African Proverbs 13

    The moon and the stars are not above us, the Earth is on the other side of our feet. -Moroccan proverb

  • Happiness 3

    Do you know that Africans in general, Nigerians in particular are considered the happiest people on earth? Believe me, there are many things that can put a smile on your face in Africa. Happiness comes from the inside. Check out the image of a happy African girl.

  • Human – Animal Relationship Awareness Week

    The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the importance of human – animal relationships and highlight the benefits and variety of these special bond. Whether it’s a puppy, giraffe or a caterpillar, all creatures deserve our love and respect. How will you recognize the holiday? Raise awareness, pay extra attention to your…

  • African Proverbs 12

    Here’s from Bahumba people of Congo: To engage in conflict, one does not bring a knife that cuts but a needle that sews.

  • A haiku of the night

    Howls and barks from sad dogs, Full moon, cold grips the quiet night When silhouettes walk the lonely streets

  • African Proverbs 11

    This is a Bambara proverb: No matter how long a log stays in the water, it doesn’t become a crocodile.

  • Happiness 2

    Here is an image of happy African children riding their wheelbarrow. Happiness is free. 😊 Do you find joy in simple things?

  • Happiness

    A saying goes that for every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. Also, there’s nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons. I learned that contentment grows happiness and joy bears no grudge, considers not mistakes or failures. Consider…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 3 (Headhunters 1)

    The next Eke day, I was sent to buy provisions for the family. Dada gave me £2 for food and medicine. The money was enough to buy things that will last for a week. The Eke market sold once in two weeks, and many people, traders, artisans, and technicians came from far and near to…

  • Dancing in the Rain

    Joy is dancing in the rain… 😊🤗🙃 Have you tried this before? #Nostalgia

  • Herd of Elephants

    A group of Elephants is called a herd. Elephants are herbivores and peaceful animals. Sometimes writers call them “Gentle Giants.” They are found all over Africa and are territorial. Elephants are social animals and love mud bathing. Most of their day is spent grazing. Their diet include barks, tree leaves and roots. Here’s an advice:…

  • Granny’s Compound by ‘Jindu Iroegbu

    Here’s another painting from ‘Jindu, my little brother. He’s amateur but I see talent. This one is named “Granny’s Compound.” He explains why: “Whenever we were at Granny’s place, we had fun and played under the trees. Granny’s place is small but her heart is big, she accepted everyone.” Granny’s Compound was a melting pot,…

  • Peace of Mind

    This image of an African child depicts peace of mind and contentment. What are your thoughts? #peace #contentment #joy #happiness

  • Nature: Best Vacation

    Nothing heals faster than Nature and this healing feeling is unexplainable. It’s something everyone should experience. Most vacations should include moving away from hustle bustle and noisy streets of familiarity and town. I can’t say what works for everyone but if you need inspiration or thinking space, I recommend travelling to the countryside, where serenity…

  • The Spotted Hyena

    I was amazed the first time I saw this animal. That was during a trip organized by my secondary school to Songhai Redemption Centre, near Owerri, Nigeria. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa’s most common large carnivore. They have excellent nighttime vision and hearing and usually bear litters of two to four cubs. Cubs…

  • Haiku: Tropical Fantasies

    Sun rays, sea breezes; gold and blue fantasies, Twilight muse from clouds when evenings approach Noisy monkeys play beside the raffia palm forest

  • A poem to my Childhood

    I like to watch the sunrise So early I rise to fly my kite Clouds are my playground, I look to the sun to see her smile And to the butterfly that dress in fine colors, I dug a pole for my little mast on the sand Waiting for the moon to rise again I…

  • Sound of Water

    My poems are like sounds of flowing water, It tells of no serious things in particular; But little of people that wash others’ feet And the wild that call green forests home It talks of fauns that hide in crevices And dreamy waterfalls, happy to fall with currents, Rushing, flowing in streams and rivers, Out…

  • Australia Awards Africa

    The Australia Awards is the cornerstone of the Australian Government’s development assistance program for Africa. It provides access to postgraduate education, training and professional development opportunities for suitably qualified Africans from eligible countries. On their return to the workplace, Australia Awards alumni are expected to contribute to the development of their home countries. If you…

  • World Cities Day: Gaborone on CGTN Africa

    On World Cities Day, correspondents of CGTN Africa traveled to Gaborone, capital of Bostwana to find out what makes the city special and how governments can make improvements to increase accessibility for persons with disabilities.

  • Worrying

    Like strong surging water worrying Seeks to drive Joy and Peace away, It throws parties for Depression and Self-pity, And gladly the duo fix what should or should not be Worrying clenches open palms, It crashes great resolutions, Reconfigures good dreams, And creates for the mind, fatal walls Like calm and still waters, Mindfulness pays…

  • The Forest’s rhyme

    Even before mists and dews evaporate The green forest was awake, tending to her residents But the cold iron snake will have none of her benevolence

  • Significance of Breaking the Kola nut

    Onye wetara oji wetara ndu (Igbo) He who brings Kola brings life… Kola nut is a symbol of hospitality and friendship in Nigeria. While other food can be cooked, the Kola nut needs no special preparation before presentation. It’s a bitter fruit of the Kola tree¶, grown all over tropical Africa. In Igbo land, Kola…

  • Health benefits of Tiger Nuts

    January this year, I visited a friend in Abuja, Nigeria and she welcomed me with a juice. This juice was nourishing. I learned that it was Tiger nut milk mixed with coconut milk and crushed dates! It was quite tasty for a traditional drug! Permit me to introduce the Tiger nut AKA Chufa and yellow…

  • AWF: Manyara Ranch Conservancy

    From a mismanaged cattle ranch to a prime wildlife area. When African Wildlife Foundation began operating Manyara Ranch Conservancy, poaching was rampant in the area. Now, the 45,000 acre ranch is a well maintained wildlife corridor between Tanzania’s Tarangire and Manyara National Parks. Video from African Wildlife Foundation.

  • Swing by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    Ding-Ding, The heart is new, The heart is free, The heart is keen, What else is left unseen. Knock-Knock, We’ve closed, We took overdose, We didn’t really pose, So we loss, To a better boss. Ping-Ping, My ink is dry, My hair is grey, My mind is heavy, My soul up for prey, I’m a…

  • November 1/11/19

    November, 2019 is finally here and the year is almost done! There might be setbacks on our way but note that it’s not over yet. Jackson Brown penned, “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength but by perseverance.” Remember that the greatest Oak was once…

  • Why you should visit Africa 3

    From nature reserves to rivers and lakes, and from stunning valleys to exotic wildlife, Africa has a lot to offer. Welcome to this edition of Why You Should Visit Africa brought to you by Oiroegbu.com. 1. Adventure: If you truly love nature and adventure, then you should visit Africa. There’s so much to do and…

  • African Proverbs 10

    Here is an interesting Akan tribe (Ghana) proverb: a rat says, what belongs to me, is in my stomach and not in my mouth. Explanation: True ownership of something needs no advertising.

  • Sow Love

    It was Israel More who said, “You should either be like the candle that produces light or like a mirror which reflects it. Pray for love; sow love, show love, and share love.” “…By this shall all men know that you are my disciples – if you love one another.” Jesus Christ (John 13.35) “Ignite…

  • When there was love

    When there was love, I saw the clouds Clear like the sweet spring water Leaping, joyfully from rocks, Falling, washing pebbles white, And rushing to feed unknown lands

  • When Beauty Fades by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    I can feel comfortable with flowers, What a beauty! What an aroma!! I can’t resist the gentle, Pure and, how sacred they are, What else can life be proud of? I’m really proud of life’s many beauty, And many lies. But here beauty fades, Like addiction, It becomes uninteresting, With time, It loses its value,…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 2 (Mazi Kenem & Spirit Animal)

    It was evening when I reached Mazi Kenem’s house. Dada had asked me to return a basket borrowed from the older man during the New Yam festival. It was an old basket; most of the raffia used to weave it was damaged. The evening breeze and cloudy skies painted a vague but hopeful imagery in…

  • Himalayan in pictures by Urvsh

    My friend Urvsh is holidaying in the Himalayan. She shares with us her images and videos. The Himalayan range is located in the Indian subcontinent. Mt Everest, K2 and Kanchenjunga, some of the world’s highest peaks lies in the Himalayan range.

  • Legend of Wawadomea: First Wave of sails

    There are dreams I like to forget. These dreams came, went and when I wake I find myself still wallowing in my own reverie. These dreams gave me illusions and changed the way I perceived the pirates. After the quick fight with the cannibals of Juren, a small island off the coast of the bigger…

  • Paper People by Harry Baker

    Excellent spoken poetry! Enjoy.

  • African Proverbs 9

    We should put out fire while it is still small… Kenyan proverb. There’s an Igbo version for this proverb: Remove the Monkeys hand from soup pot before it turns to a man’s hand. Explanation: This proverb is the English version of nip it in the bud.

  • Ruptured Emotion by Deborah Nnagbo

    The cry was deep and internal. The smile was blue and unreal. The little jitters of unrest made marmot parade on her chocolate face. She has a curse to carry through the streets of life. A lump in her sore throat. A choking smell of betrayal, swimming in and out her tiny nostrils. Did you…