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Fantasy: On My Word
My heart drums a familiar beat Each time my pen starts to work All nature gather at my feet, Little crickets swishing for more space, Shadows of ants behind the candlelight, And light-craving moths that crouch on my touch Cold wind makes me restless It flirts with my candlelight, Which dance wildly in a waltz…
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Anatomy of Action Challenge: Day 1
The Anatomy of Action Hi guys, There’s an exciting challenge among the youth globally, organized by the UNEPMGCY – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY). While the youth is the main actor in this challenge, everyone is encouraged to get involved. The general theme focus on the food we…
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Beauty and Stones
Hills covered in green Towering over valleys, Stories of man’s invention; Iron snakes and rickety wheels Sunshine is colour of ripe wheat Children play in the prairie fields Morning air swing up tall trees Beauty is seen all over the land There is so much beauty around But stones in the hearts of many men
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The Importance of Folklore In Igboland (Uru akụkọ ifo baara n’ala Igbo)
The Igbo Storytelling Tradition Before the coming of the white man, the Igbo cultural society educated themselves through folktales. Storytelling was a revered tradition used to pass the wisdom of ancestors to the younger generation. It is assumed that anyone who can tell a good story is wise. The Igbo people believe in a supernatural…
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African Proverb: On The Chameleon
Proverb: A chameleon that wants to survive from the burning bush must abandon the majestic walk of its ancestors. Origin: When there’s a fire in the bush, all living things around there fly, crawl, run for dear lives. Even the slowest among them will make a drastic effort to escape the fire. Chameleons are slow-walking…
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Reflection and Short Poem on Global Warming
Global Warming Is Real If you are in West Africa, you’ll notice that the harmattan winds didn’t blow this past year. Growing up, it was normal to witness dry, intense storms that blew in the morning, noon, and evening. Then, exposed body parts would turn white unless you used a particular type of oil pomade.…
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Video: Meet the Hyena Men of Northern Nigeria
Some men possess magical abilities to control wild animals. Watch the Hyena men from the rural parts of Northern Nigeria perform in the streets of Lagos. These men mastered this roadside circus from a tender age. I’ve caught a glimpse of their live-action once. I confirm that their performances are phenomenal and not for the…
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Many Tongues, One People
I wrote this poem on January 2, 2017, after returning from Northern Nigeria. Before, I viewed people from other tribes with suspicion because of the bitterness and rivalry among Nigeria’s tribes. However, after living in different parts of Nigeria, my perspective changed, and I began to see the humanity in everyone. I was educated in…
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What 2020 Taught Me
Failure Is Not Final “What did you learn in 2020?” That is the big question for everyone. So I’m going to share a bit of what 2020 taught me and how I have evolved into a resilient individual. Indeed a lot had transpired this year; wars, disasters, locust infestation, Brexit – EU trade issues, MAGA,…
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Plant Trees, Plant Hope
We can’t replace trees that are thousands of years old. But we can plant new ones; we can instill hope for our future generations. Sad image Sequel to my earlier post on uncontrolled bush burning, which destroys plant and animal habitats, I decided to write further on this sad image I stumbled upon. Man and…
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A Big No To Wild Bush Burning
Home again It’s a full moonlight tonight. The evening air is modest. We are all sitting outside, just in front of the house, discussing the day’s work. Some lay, rolling on mats spread close to one another. In between the lead tale teller’s story, distracting dialogues transpire, though as whispers. Incessant noises made by insects…
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Poem: When Tree Leaves Fall
Tree leaves dance when they fall, trembling quietly Brown leaves, some dull in red and lighter green All manoeuvre in the same direction of the wind When bold leaves fall off the branches They twist and sail through the wind Some set up leisure, settling on the moist below Sailing off, noiselessly to other stream…
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What Is Poem?
What I Think of Poetry We’ve discussed many issues in the past, but in today’s Poets Corner, we will be talking about poems. Poems are known by other names, namely: verse, ballad, ode, dirge, elegy, passage, lyrics, songs, hymns, stanza, epic, haiku, and more. I will say poetry is a function of mood and situation.…
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Love Poem: Twilight
Evening lurks behind Even as sunset float ahead. It heralds the end of daylight So we watch it go in installments. We feel softer airs traverse, Drifting with pure grace Upon our hair and coats. It gets darker; nature’s notice. We wonder what it meant To follow orange twilights As it glides down the horizon,…
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Reflection on Responsibility
A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of – Nelson Mandela Everyone has a role to play in our society. Even the smallest can contribute to positive change. Often, people think that responsibility is only…
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Ashanti Proverb: When You Walk In Your Father’s Path
When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him – Ashanti proverb This excellent Ghanaian adage is self-explanatory. I’ll try to explain some salient points. Generally, it’s an African believe that a child who goes nearer to his father grow up acting and speaking like him. Indeed, this is…
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The Journey Is Short: Do Good
I champion good leadership, love, peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness. That’s why so much of my stories and writing emphasis those virtues. I like to borrow a leaf from Mandela, who, after encountering great tribulation, did not adapt to his prosecutor’s ways. The short story below was copied from a friend’s Facebook timeline. I decided to…
