Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Africa

  • Health, our new Wealth

    Health is a new wealth! Here are some factors that may help us live healthily. Our psychology plays a significant role in our wellbeing. If you think healthy thoughts, you’ll be healthy. We were thinking healthy means being conscious of our internal and external environment and knowing how to maintain a proper balance. As a…

  • Dramatic sky over Kalahari

  • Reflection: Friendship

    Friendship is a beautiful gift. True friendship drives away all sort of fear and loneliness. It’s even said in myths that trees feed each other through their roots. So there are benefits to networking and keeping true friends. Note that friendship is central to human survival and that humanity thrives better in community.

  • Golden Savannah images

  • Elegy to you, Peace

    I remember your smiles dear sister, Your struggle to live in this pathetic world, Your last smile and when you slept in peace I glad that your pains are no more Though I miss you and we may live alone I still see tree leaves fall from the window side, Sitted on the lawns that…

  • Tungan Maje By Michelle Basil

    Our relationship with family and friends, with our immediate environment and passion for others makes us human. Michelle Basil is my guest this beautiful and sunny morning. This is her story. Michelle believes that simple things in life matter. She is a lover of outdoors, sunshine and trees. Her favourite spot is Tungan Maje, the…

  • A shepherd’s song

    There’s a song known only to a shepherd, When evenings come and the sun light fade He sits with his sheep in the barnyard And plays the guitar through the early night Hounds howl, but his lyrics reassures his flock Stars gather across the sky to listen, he winks at them And when he retires,…

  • I’m happy motherland!

    I’m happy dear motherland, I’m happy! I’m happy to lay my head on your shoulders To sniff your wet hair that smells like cocoa butter! My feet is swift to run to the wild So I wash my feet on the stream’s slow tide I fright mambas and laugh at mating frogs All cold morning…

  • Visit Africa: Benin in Images

    Discover beautiful Benin in a few images💚💙

  • Haiku: Sunset

    Fast the sun traveled awayHappy birds fly homeWhen evening breeze came

  • Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors

    It is breezy here and I have a tale for the evening. Gather around, sit with me under this mango tree, warm yourself by the fire and enjoy this poetale… Ifochakpi! Waa!! Once in the animal kingdom There lived a Hen and a Cock and Their neighbors, the Rat and the Lizard One day the…

  • Iyi Okoroafor

    As I mentioned earlier, Nigeria is blessed with many water bodies. Chief among them are the Niger and Benue rivers. There are small rivers, such as the Cross and the Argungu. Kainji Lake and Nigeria’s part of Lake Chad provide electricity and fish tourism, respectively. In Igboland, iyi refers to streams or rivers. Rivers are…

  • Lullaby

    Evening breezes are swift lullaby From the distance Burning grasses sigh Bats, owls hover above Tiny insects welcome a starry night Crickets quiz themselves While the mantis scavenge for a bite Still this airy night is very young

  • Thoughts on the State of Leadership in Africa

    No one can fully explain why we – Africans, are so poor amid plenty. I will try to explain why. There’s a lot of greed and grief in African leadership. When leaders are greedy, citizens stagger in distress. We still don’t know how the dust hit us between the eyes. And while we researched answers,…

  • My Soul Longs for Thee

    My soul longs for thee, dear motherland To run the patched dusty red muds And to swim in the rivers crisscrossing all over you Let me climb the trees of your forests And drink from the shallow streams My soul longs to nibble the tender pumpkin seeds Freshly cut from hilly farms To dance with…

  • Family is Energy

    For more than a week, the waters of our creek Oko’pia have been chalky. Villagers say each time this happened, an animal (Atah – Alligator) is digging away at the source. I don’t know where the source is and honestly if I knew I wouldn’t go. 😐 Our farm lies further away from the village,…

  • Egypt: Land of the Mummies

    Here is Egypt’s iconic pyramids taken by a friend who went there last month. Welcome to Pharaoh’s land! There’s a lot to see and do in Egypt and the African continent. Visit Africa today.

  • Palm Trees

    Like a tropical masquerade she stood With hands as long and spiky fronds And breasts as red fruits, ripe and Fresh snacks for all who come to her feast Long are her strong and tiny roots For she stands as firm sentry and greets All that journey through the quiet hamlet She hides behind hills…

  • Reflection

    Fast falls the evening tide in Ovim. At this time of the day thick fog descend from hills surrounding our village. Tens of thousand incessant voices converse in low tones. I’m confused on which to listen to. Evenings must be a time of reflection for every creature. It’s even more exciting to sit among them…

  • Little Feather

    Dreams are not for you little feather For you must fly and soar above all, Above those who may delay your sails And across thick forests and arid lands Which are nobody’s foe or friend I am jealous of you but wish you well So wave me a bye, spread your wings, And let the…

  • Morning sun

    Shine forth morning sun Make dew drop and disappear Paint the world gold And take all gloom away, From fields let farmers behold, From forgeries let smiths smile And from hamlets let our joy flow With every fine memory you bring

  • Morning view of Uwaoma Hill

    Exotic view of Ugwu Uwaoma! The pathway leads to Umukwu, my granny’s place. This morning I was privileged to pass through this ancient hill. Around the hill are ponds and streams. There are Catfish and other species in them. I will visit the farm later to collect some wood. I heard there’s a stream before…

  • Haiku of the Harmattan

    Green things are brown Harmattan made them so Even trees turn mad dancers

  • Dust of Locust with Steven M Ross

    Okechukwu Iroegbu: A dark patch I saw from afar On a day the doors were left ajar A falling mist upon earth Greysome; a sight I loath The sun had seen much For I, never seen such Steven M Ross: Sunlight still prevail Every emotion that you feel Like poetry is a bust So does…

  • Happy New Year

    Morning of 31 December: I helped process cassava harvested from our farm. You might notice I haven’t been regular since new year’s eve. It’s part of my duty to work in the farm when I travel home. Processing cassava is a hectic task and I tend to sleep off each night without writing or reading.…

  • Umukwu’s Masquerades

    I never knew today was Ekpo (masquerade) day in Umukwu, Ovim. I was having a little nap when the noisy drummers arrived with the masquerades. When I was growing up I witnessed many masquerade carnivals and took particular interest in Ebulu–ogu – the biggest and stout masquerade. They are known to be merciless and stubborn.…

  • Back Home

  • Masoyina (My Love)

    Love is when you stare into my eyes To smile when we got no reason to It gives me pleasure to love you, masoyina* And I cherish that I do every sunset **** Masoyina*: Hausa language for my love.

  • Harmattan winds

    Harmattans graceful blankets slowly descend, Blowing dry brown dust upon our hamlet, On misty mornings and smoky evenings

  • African Proverbs 15

    A tree is straightened while it is still young. Proverb from Burundi

  • Image: Two African girls

    Here is an image of two beautiful African girls. In Africa life is simple. This two girls posed for a picture, one smiling and the other hands on her head. What do you make of this image?

  • Welcome to Akara

  • In Ovim 2

  • Haiku of the night 3

    Airy evening for all tree dwelling fellows Sparrows sing, Robins bass as crickets chirp Two happy lovers sit listening *** Hello everyone. I promised to post more about my hometown. I’m having issues uploading images, so I’ll do that once I’m back to town.

  • In Ovim

    I’m back to Ovim Isuikwuato, my hometown. It has been a long week for me, marking and grading students’ math exam. Coupled with the noisy neighbourhood, the stress nearly overwhelmed me. Thank God it’s Friday. Now far away from work and town’s hustle bustle, I can feel myself heal. The surrounding hills – notably Ugwu…

  • The Animal King

    Do you know why there is no king in the animal kingdom? Here is a story narrating why. I wrote this poetale a longtime ago. Have fun. Once upon a time In a land far away, Across seven rivers And seven hills Lived a clan of animals They knew no strife No envy, no rivalry…

  • Reflecting on the Sunset

    There’s that feeling of nostalgia when the sun drifts away from the hamlets, sinking, sailing through the clouds like a golden phantom, spherical like a child’s playball. Sometimes when it’s hot we wish away the sun and when it’s cold we wish the sun’s heat could warm our land. It’s man’s nature to want balance…

  • Every man is King…

    In Africa it is believed that every man is a King (in his house). Here is an image of an African child having fun sitting on his throne of bricks.

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 4 (Headhunters 2)

    One of the men unsheathed his shiny machete while the others looked on. I stopped in my tracks, thinking wearily. Were they indeed, headhunters? Maybe they are hunting for slaves for, in those times, the slave trade was booming. If they were none of those, why would they be blocking my way with machetes? Strange…

  • The Baobab

    I tried drawing this evening and this is what I made. I call it the Baobab tree. The Baobab is an iconic African tree. It’s a symbol of the African Savannah that can survive in arid regions. The wood, barks, leaves, fruits and roots serve as food, drugs and raw materials for man and animals.…

  • Pirate ship by ‘Jindu Iroegbu

    ‘Jindu paints another image. This he identified as a pirate ship sailing on blue waters. There are birds enjoying the sea breeze. ‘Jindu likes The Pirates of the Caribbean and other sea faring movies, maybe this influenced this painting. Sometimes I wonder how it feels to go on a sea voyage. Thanks to ‘Jindu’s painting,…

  • Visit Africa: Safari

    Safari is a term used for expeditions to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitats. It has a Swahili origin and it is commonly used in East Africa. You might want to consider Safari as a holiday option. There are beautiful things waiting for you to enjoy. The misty sunrise and magical sunset will…

  • Sunset captured by Robin Bliss

    Beautiful hues adorn the skies when Robin captured these images.

  • Amuse: Slow School Bus

    Where’s that slow school bus?

  • 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!…

  • African Proverbs 14

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

  • 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

  • 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?…

  • Hope

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