Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: culture/tradition

  • True Leadership

    Earlier tonight, I overheard the women talking—my mother, aunts, some helpers, and my younger sister. From my room window, I listened to their discussion about the funeral and everything they did to make it a success. I wasn’t eavesdropping on women’s conversations, but I couldn’t help but listen this time. I admire their ability to…

  • Adieu Sister: Chioma Iroegbu

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 5 (Fata)

    When I reached home that evening, it seemed like the whole world was turned upside down. I felt my head swell as the bee stings and sharp roots hurt my foot. By the side of my bamboo bed, Nene and her dog sat, staring at me. She held my hand and squeezed softly. I saw…

  • Love Challenge 9

    I love to stare into your eyes That’s my favourite place to be

  • Thoughts on Love

    We don’t know what we miss or get when we make decisions concerning relationships. Sometimes what we seek might come packaged in disguise. Love is dynamic and may come in different shades. If you love someone, do not hesitate to tell them. Have a lovely night. Our love challenge continues tomorrow.

  • Thoughts on Friendships and Personal Autonomy

    I received several messages from close friends, complaining of the way their friends or partners treat them. I tried to see reason from different angles so that I can make an impartial judgment. Being right is not a guarantee that people will treat you well, and returning people’s favours is not ideal too. Well, we…

  • Images: Growing Up

    These images show children having fun in the African countryside. I can relate to most if not all…

  • African morning

    In the morning the mild golden sun rise above the huts and hills Painting the corn fields yellow and making the streams shimmer Upon flowing rivers it glitters, till the dead end below a tree root Big fishes stay ready to strafe up to pick insects off tree barks In the hamlets, dogs chased cats,…

  • Beautiful South Africa

  • Homesick rhyme

    |. I’m coming back, that’s my happiness Tell the strong boys and beautiful girls, Get the boys to gather much wood And the girls to sweep the compound I have got many stories for all, haha So get ready, our nights will be longer! Go on, run along now, and tell them ||. Tell Mama…

  • Let’s take a walk

    Let us take a walk through the pine forest, Under the cool shade which she provides, Along the path where tree leaves form a cushion And a place where squirrels make their home. Let us walk past the dark shrubs in the hot noon, To feed our eyes on Mother Nature’s wonders, Through lands where…

  • Muse: Life

    Quiet breezes roam this evening, I let my weary mind stroll with it, Walking it down these streets of life, And reflecting on life’s true meaning, Aware of seasons, of sowing and reaping, I wonder if life come in such seasons, And when stars die, if they fall off from heaven Or if there’s such…

  • February Harmattan

    Harbinger of Sahara, king of the queer dust I hail you! Your entourage of heavy sand storms and dunes Display there works of art on our glass windows and faces You give us very strange attires, ghostly ones We wonder, we make guesses of why you love the dust, Why you paint all; flowers, careless…

  • 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

  • Elegy to you, Peace

  • Tungan Maje By Michelle Basil

  • 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…

  • Haiku: Sunset

    Fast the sun traveled awayHappy birds fly homeWhen evening breeze came

  • Thoughts on the State of Leadership in Africa

  • My Soul Longs for Thee

  • 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,…

  • Reflection

  • Umukwu’s Masquerades

  • Back Home

  • African Proverbs 15

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

  • 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…

  • 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.…

  • 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…

  • 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 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.

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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…

  • 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 African (Igbo) beats. Learn the Igbo language and culture here.

  • African Proverbs 2

    Here’s a Guinean Proverb: Knowledge of leadership is not plucked from the air, one is born with it. Explanation: Selflessness, honesty, compassion and every other qualities of Leadership are groomed from good home training, personal decisions to live upright and treat others right.

  • Happy Teacher’s Day, 2019 and Thoughts on Growing Up

  • The African Palm Tree

    The palm tree is one of the strongest trees in the world. In tropical Africa, this plant grow wild, though it’s now cultivated. In Igbo land, the leaves, barks and roots is used to produce different kinds of medicine. The boiled seeds serve as food and the oil is used for cooking. The wood is…

  • The Goose that laid the Golden Egg

    You may agree with me that evenings are best for story telling. In Africa, evenings are valuable family time. Dinner or sitouts allow time to reflect on the days work: achievements and disappointments, and to tell tales. Tales don’t just act as lullabies but convey moral virtues (and vices) as well. Now when a story…