Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Africa

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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…

  • 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:…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit (Dibia Ndem)

    When Dibia Ndem left our home that evening, I wanted to follow him outside my father’s compound. I wanted answers; I needed to ask how he knew it was my leopard that destroyed the boar that almost wrecked my Uncle’s farm. Yesterday’s nightmare was the worst I ever had. I dreamt of a long fight…

  • Sunset in Ovim

    Yesterday I trekked to the market square. During my lonely trek I met old friends and distant relatives. As noted before, in Africa we place much value on family and friends. My trek was short, because the market was just around the corner. I bought two pieces of dried meat from a vendor, one for…

  • A poem for Ovim, Isuikwuato

    Morning wakes with the sun Windy clouds, happy yawns Quiet town, down the hill Misty paths, birds sing With the forest’s inhabitantsTall palm trees stand guard From their branches, birds tweet Squirrels look down in fright or excitement Dropping oily snacks on trespassers Forest pathways are hijacked by monkeys Protesting when a group of boys…

  • Shameless Love by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    They say I love you, Yeah I do, I’m shameless about it, I’m weak to confront you, Your very appetites, As I find no alternative. I’m shamelessly in love, The disease is not new, Probably there’s a dew, We only had but a few, I’m the Judas in the twelve. Some probably won’t get it,…

  • African Proverbs 8

    What do you make of this Ovambo saying? A Parasite can not live alone.

  • Weirdest Snacks in Africa

    Here are some of the weirdest snacks you can find in Africa. Palm Grubs: Yuck, I know right? Some of the grubs can grow big enough to fit in one mouthful. The grubs are found in dead and decaying palm and raffia trees. Some people eat the grubs alive but to be on a safer…

  • Anunebe: The Masquerade as reported by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    The moment is almost here as people in the village are all dressed to watch the great Anunebe perform in the village square, one occasion that is performed once in a year, and this makes the event one of the greatest anticipated events in Ibeme, Isiala-Mbano, a small village in Imo State, Eastern part of…

  • Initiated Relationship by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    I was drunk last night, Thinking about your very words, How this our love is an initiation, And not a relationship, What I call, inspired spirituality. You accosted the actions, While prolonging your decisions, You never truly loved me, Will it be best I say; You rather used me, I have heard men are scum,…

  • Muse: Homecoming

    Nada o! O nada o! Nada o! I’m back o! Kuje kusanar, go and tell them! Bring my jug, bring me kola, bring a mat, For justice will be done to Mama’s soup pot I must lay under the mango tree tonight To watch the stars glitter and hear the crickets sing Ah… I’m glad!…

  • Haiku: Tides

    Sunshine, blue skies and approaching tide Brown crabs crawl away, walking sideways Amused egrets follow, escorting their trail

  • Haiku of the Morning

    See these sparkle of gold Brew bubbles across the clouds, While they sail away to other lands

  • African Proverbs 7

    The bush in which one hides has eyes – Gusii Proverb. Explanation: There’s actually no hiding place for anyone.

  • Don’t Cry

    Now listen dear child, listen attentively To the forested hills, for they are your ancient brothers To the birds, they carry gossip and might have answers Watch the sunrise and sunset from tree branches Search the valleys too, let your eyes behold our land Feel the flowers with your finger tips Smell the caking dust…

  • Rainfall, Drummer of the Year!

    Nothing compares to the feeling you bring, With queer beats, you spice up Summer, Singing as in songfests with the Thunder!

  • Three Poems: The Waterfalls, Peace and Your Love

    The Waterfalls: I tell the trees of your sounds and they are jealous When you fall, birds and the wild stop to listen, To hear Nature sing while she wash her garment in your mist Peace: Bird songs, butterflies, sun rays and peace, All are fruits from the green forest, Nature’s providence to mankind Your…

  • Muse: Swift Stream

    The blue stream flow swift Three patient toads sit aghast Waiting for the current to pass

  • African Proverbs 6

    Every Dog is a Lion in his own gate. -Ghanaian Proverb Explanation: This metaphorical statement translates to every man is King in his own house.

  • Kedike by Chidimma

    This is a nice song with (Igbo) African beats. Learn Igbo language and culture here.

  • African Proverbs 4

    Here’s an Igbo proverb made popular by Chinua Achebe: When Elephants fight the grass suffers. There’s a Swahili version of it: When two Elephants fight the grass gets hurt. Explanation: For instance, when a child’s parents fight or separate, the child suffers most. Also when there’s war or strife in a country the poor masses…

  • My Muse

    I love your dimples, joyful grace on your smiles It stole my stare each time I looked at your face, Night falls herald day’s end and our retirement But for the Sun’s slumber we gladly wait Evening is timid, passing through the horizon, The setting sun took her gold from morning There’s a fire made…