Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: Africa

  • Two Poems: Together we watch day end and my Dancer

    (1) TOGETHER WE WATCH DAY END Baobab and Palm are shelters, Glittering stars are my friends, Waterfalls and Lions, my brothers And together we watch day end. (2) MY DANCER I steal a glance when you dance Memories of pouting lips haunt me I dreamed of you and I once But wished it away if…

  • Muse: When there was Love

    When there was love I saw blue clouds, Clear like the sweet spring Leaping in joyful bounds

  • Tradition: Ohafia War Dance (Ikpirikpi Ogu)

    Intro: Ohafia is a town in Abia State in Nigeria, it consists of 26 communities with Elu as the ancestral capital. Many people have asked questions about Ohafia War Dance. In the olden days, Ohafia was known for their bravery during tribal wars. At present, Ohafia is still known as land of warriors. It was…

  • Thoughts on Covid-19

    Even with the breaking news of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Abia State, some still doubt the media and think that the news is a hoax. People can be stubborn you know, add ignorance and then you can imagine what it can birth. The human nature is fraught to benefit at the expense of others. This…

  • Update on Covid-19: Abia State

    Just got news that there are confirmed cases of the virus in my state. People has not responded well to the call to sit at home. Businesses, parties, and social gatherings go on secretly. Starting from today, the police will be arresting anyone without a face mask in Abia State. I’m not sure if this…

  • Motherland

    Envelope me in your warm embrace I’m safe, when I run to your open arms

  • Come, Watch the sunset

    Come, it’s sunset Let us ride towards it Hold my hands Watch the sleepy clouds

  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Published in 1958, its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans during the late nineteenth century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, one of the first to receive global…

  • What’s in a name?

    A name indicates a person, place or thing. It may reflect why a person bear it. For instance, one can say Akpan, the first born or Judy, the mechanic. So a name can serve as a trait, feature or attribute. In African culture, people name their children after circumstances they passed through, events they evidenced…

  • Draw the sun

    Draw the sun and paint your dreams Believe in the little you do, hope for the best Connect to your mind, live your dream!

  • Dawn

    ** A slope of rounded hills Black against the horizon Threatening the sun with its fierce thrust With thin clouds streaking across the sky ** The clouds underbellies glow reddish hue The morning warmth fighting the heady moon Wide plains stretched, savannah grass paradise Sometimes lonely trees stand with the yellow grass Ancient, raw, the…

  • My Facebook Poll on Covid-19

    Recently I set up a pool for my Facebook friends. Though response was low I still got a reasonable answer. Out of 49 viewers/votes, 84% voted NO to the question on the image and 16% voted YES. I reached out to the YES voters to ask them for reasons for their choice. Some admitted they…

  • Irony: African Leadership and Covid-19

    I’ve tried to figure out why we have cases of both stupidity and shrewdness when it comes to the drama between voters and politicians. As one portray stupidity and the other shrewd, they exchange the baton afterwards. During election time African leaders share enticing gifts, which include cash and food stuff to voters in exchange…

  • Beautiful Day

    Is it not a beautiful day? From our places of comfort and seclusion, I trust everyone can get at least a warm and beautiful view of nature, of trees swinging in strong winds, of bird cries across the skies, and sunshine over quiet country or town. I’ll love to share your experiences over a bottle…

  • When Leadership inspires

    Leadership is a great responsibility. It’s in no way a small feat because it involves handling other people’s issues. For the public to trust anyone with power and authority such a person must have earned it through evident charisma and selfless character. A leader is open minded, available to lead the way, and be able…

  • Leadership and Nigeria’s Covid-19 situation

    As of March 29, confirmed Covid-19 cases in Nigeria rose to 111 and counting. The sad reality is that African leaders are not doing enough to prevent the virus from spreading further. Also, the testing equipment and medical personnel are NOT enough should the disease escalate. Even so, some people doubt the existence of Covid-19.…

  • Covid-19 Update in Nigeria

    The virus is still at large, and people move about freely as usual. Some news agencies reveal frightening figures. I can’t confirm these figures yet. Most public places; markets, schools and religious sites are open. Please keep us in your prayers. For those without Africa, we have you in our thoughts too. Stay safe, everyone.

  • Beautiful Spring

    Rainfall or shine, flowers and bird calls Squirrels and trees, spring brightens all Dwell in tree houses, sit out in beaches, Live in the beauty within and without you

  • Update on Covid19

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) asked African leaders and health institutions to prepare for the worst. I’m afraid, African leaders are doing little or NOTHING to prevent the spread of the virus. Moreover, health institutions in Africa is in shambles, so I don’t know how we will be preparing to prevent the spread of Covid19…

  • Update: Covid19 in Africa

    This image from CGTN Africa show African countries with confirmed Covid19 cases. Stay safe everyone. #coronakindness

  • Another visit to Ovim’s Hills

    If you encounter tablelands and rocks, hills and valleys, waterfalls and streams, abundant trees and virgin forests, all set in one quiet countryside, you will agree that Ovim is really blessed. Ovim is situated on ancient hills, a beautiful place for camping and outdoor fun. Each time I visit I get healed by her beautiful…

  • Cling to Hope

    I cling to hope She woke slowly But I must wait

  • Two Poems: True Happiness & Sun Ride

    1. True happiness come from the inside By accepting and treating yourself right, Teach people love by loving yourself And seeds of peace and joy will grow 2. I drift away towards the sun ride Watching pretty clouds ride fast, My hills slowly sink – farther off Back at town, I smell gutted tomatoes

  • Self-Reflection 3: Focus

    Focus and reflect. 📷@sabine_stols

  • All about Coronavirus

    Nigeria recorded her first case of Coronavirus 2 days ago. I received this video from a friend in Italy. Please share this video with loved ones.

  • True Leadership

    Earlier this evening, I overheard the women talk; my mother, aunts, some helpers and my little sister. From my room window, I heard their discussion on the funeral and all they did to make it a success. Usually, I don’t eavesdrop on women chats, but I couldn’t help but listen to this particular discussion. I…

  • African Landscapes

    These images represent different African landscapes… Can you identify the Sahara, Kalahari and veldt?

  • 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

    Take a moment and breath… 💙💚🌺🌻 Images from I Love South Africa page…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Home

    Home is where dance classes are unconventional, where meals are sumptuous and delicious no matter what. 😋 Home is cute smiles and beautiful memories and faces; green grasses and blue skies. 🙂 Home is happy hugs and pats, joyful and sometimes sad stories, when things change, we still end with it. 🤗 Home is a…

  • Dramatic sky over Kalahari

  • Golden Savannah images

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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,…

  • Tropics

    The taste of coconut oil is on my lips Sunset surf the evening wind The cloud is blue, tree leaves green The sand is warm, sea water cold Up the skies, birds fly away happy And on the beach crabs walk Out on the sea, blue whales horn Beauty is our tropical songs For her…

  • Africa: My Idea of Love

    You are my idea of love The sun rising behind these hills My morning dew and muse, The songs I sing in my heart And my secret joy and happiness You are an elixir to my bones, The unseen muscle behind When I lay unsure of myself You play strings of my heart To make…

  • 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…

  • Haiku of the Harmattan

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

  • Back Home

    This morning I and Jindu traveled back to our village. Thanks to the holidays we have enough time to explore and enjoy the quiet countryside. We took the 6.30AM bus and arrived 10.23AM. It wouldn’t take that long but for bad roads and many checkpoints. It is common for Governments to abandon capital projects here.…

  • 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

    When I was growing up I was fascinated each time we traveled to the countryside. It was fun as I could query the roads with my eyes and count palm trees as we went. Welcome to Akara, the biggest town in Isuikwuato. The name may sound familiar to Nigerians as it shares same pronunciation with…

  • 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…

  • There is more to life by Miracle Kelechi

    I stumbled on this and think it is worth sharing. Thank you Miracle Kelechi for the reminder that there is more to life than worries.

  • 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…