Category: Nigeria

Òkè

What’s the story behind your nickname? Òkè is a short version of my name, Okechukwu. Oke in Igbo can mean different things based on the pronunciation. It can mean rat (óké), share (òkè), male (ókē)and boundary (òkè). My full name, Okechukwu, means share from God, where òkè means share and Chukwu means personal god/God.

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Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 7

Papa said I had to be hail and hearty to attend the following Tales by Moonlight night. He also promised I could play and hunt with other children if I got well fast. So I took my medication seriously. The moonlight night tales came once a fortnight; sometimes, they may be delayed, especially during the… Continue reading Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 7

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Come Thunder (1967) by Christopher Okigbo

Christopher Okigbo Christopher died fighting in the Nigerian – Biafran civil war that raged through the late 1960s. Then Nigerian politics was in grave turmoil, the military was in charge and various parts of the nation harbored umbrage for the Igbo people of southern Nigeria. The Eastern region attempted to break away from the federation… Continue reading Come Thunder (1967) by Christopher Okigbo

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Account Of The Life of Prof. Chinua Achebe by Ezenwa Ohaeto, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION               Ladies and gentlemen, greetings.               If it is said that an elephant is not a wild animal, a person will say that it seemed as if something went by in the twinkling of an eye. The one who saw the elephant told what he saw. Very few people in our Igboland have not… Continue reading Account Of The Life of Prof. Chinua Achebe by Ezenwa Ohaeto, Ph.D.

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A Place In My Mind

Sometimes it’s hard to stop a rolling stoneBut whenever it may roll, it always seems to find its way back home. Alex Roe Family Influence I’m bringing a piece of me back. This gift, or ability to write started somewhere. I came from a family of disciplinarians, teachers, and soldiers. The women in my life,… Continue reading A Place In My Mind

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Agulu Crocodile Lake

Thalassophobia Thalassophobia is the fear of water depths and water-dwelling creatures. If you watch National Geographic or any wildlife program on TV, you will agree that a hungry crocodile is brutal. I have had a personal experience myself, watching them display savagery during feeding time, in different zoological gardens. Since then I have made up… Continue reading Agulu Crocodile Lake

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A Grateful African Poem

Now gather by the fireside While we wait on yams to roast, Drying our hands in the warmth This quiet evening, cold and mild We wait to dream A fluffy pillow beckoning, The day tales also waiting, A joyful evening it seems The sweet fellowship Of Nature’s trick and craft Upon the retreat fell, to… Continue reading A Grateful African Poem

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Many Tongues, One People

I wrote this poem on January 2, 2017, upon my return from Northern Nigeria. Before this, I have always viewed people from other tribes suspiciously. This is because of the bitterness and rivalry amongst Nigeria’s tribes. But having had experience living in several parts of Nigeria, things took a spin, and I started seeing the… Continue reading Many Tongues, One People

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My Hometown

One wakes to the call of Nature every day, with the sun ushering the day Huhuhu-Lalala-kiki, all sort of songs welcome the sun’s golden streaks Crickets quiz, wasps and bees buzz, snakes hiss away, the clock ticked Familiar sounds echo, strong wind rushing through the high tree lines Underneath the vegetation, silent waters flow, but… Continue reading My Hometown

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Inspiration by Franklin Onuoha

In this lovely piece from Franklin, my Nigerian friend, I could hear the echo of my voice. Well written poem. The sound of hooting owls The chirping of the crickets at night The calm breeze that massages my skin after a hectic day The acrid smell of harmattan The torrents of rain that make musicals… Continue reading Inspiration by Franklin Onuoha

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Two Poems: Fly and Babies by Peniel Gifted

FLY Fly little bird Through this sky of whites I want to watch The green wings, flapping. Fly high, even higher Like the bar-headed goose Your bod- blithe As I kiss the Jasmine Hugging from the sky. BABIES With them I sit- The people of Rainbow raiment. They tune in Jillion tunes Sketching a heart… Continue reading Two Poems: Fly and Babies by Peniel Gifted

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Opinion: Leadership and Hypocrisy

No change at all Nothing changes here. Even the nationwide protest that took many young lives didn’t solve much. I wonder what can change the mind of our leaders if the death of protesters won’t. Each time I travel through this blessed state – I see nothing new; it’s heartbreaking that amid plenty, we can… Continue reading Opinion: Leadership and Hypocrisy

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Opinion: A Sitting Time Bomb

The protesting Nigerian youth is a sitting time bomb. Trying Times I type with trembling hands. These are trying times indeed. This morning I saw a troop of angry protesters march through town demanding end to police brutality. Since its inception last week, the national protests had gained momentum. For days now the Nigerian youth… Continue reading Opinion: A Sitting Time Bomb

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Nostalgia: Hills I Call Home

I sit outside my granny’s house, clad in blankets and a pillow. It was a rainy day and a very cold one. The cold extended into the evening and early night. The village is surrounded by streams and hills and this must have contributed to the extreme weather. I left town a few hours ago… Continue reading Nostalgia: Hills I Call Home

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Opinion: Leadership Woes

Admitting imperfections are great ways to becoming a better person, people and leaders. City of Talents and Resilient people I was born and raised in Ogbor hill, a suburb of Aba, a city in Southern Nigeria. Aba is known for its industry and export of labour to many Nigerian cities and overseas. The city is… Continue reading Opinion: Leadership Woes

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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

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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…

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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

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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

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Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Proverbs and Meaning

Onye aturu ilu kowaa ya, ego eji luo nne ya efuola ohia. Before I start this post permit me to greet Igbo people; those who own the proverbs I’m about to explore; Ndi Igbo kwenu! Ekelem unu o. Ndewonu. •Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Igbo traditional Isi-agu attire INTRODUCTION: PROVERBS There are many definitions for proverbs… Continue reading Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Proverbs and Meaning

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Yankari National Park

•Hippo Lake, Kainji National Park, Nigeria West Africa is home to many nature reserves and Nigeria has a fair share. In-between those colourful coastal cities and hot towns of the Sahara, there are protected parks that are worth visiting. Yankari is one of them. Yankari National Park is a large wildlife park located in the… Continue reading Yankari National Park

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Orie Market Day

It’s Orie day here. Orie is a big market day in Isuikwuato. Everybody will be heading to the market to trade. People from different places buy and sell here. I walk through the quiet hills to get some fresh air and pick some flowers. Thankfully I have the quiet road to myself. I also have… Continue reading Orie Market Day

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Home: Africa

High up above the hills of Africa, the dark-winged clouds of the night were still folded above the village and surrounding valley. Man and the domestic animals that were his slept. But the antelope of the forest and the small fleet-footed gazelle were wide awake. In a short time, early morning dew descends from ancient… Continue reading Home: Africa

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Amnesty Int’l Letter: Children’s Day 2020

Dear Okechukwu, I wish a happy Children’s Day to all the children in your life. But as I write to you today, my heart goes out to all the children detained in Northeast Nigeria and caught up in endless violence at the hands of Boko Haram and the Nigerian military. They were taken away from… Continue reading Amnesty Int’l Letter: Children’s Day 2020

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