Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: African

  • Ubuntu – I Am Because We Are

    International House is a laboratory for a new kind of experiment – the day-to-day practice of international fellowship among men and women. – John D. Rockefeller Jr., I-House Benefactor It’s up to us, the residents, to continue building on this legacy of love, understanding, justice, and peace. – Okechukwu Iroegbu, I-House resident 2022-2023 A popular…

  • Africa No Filter & African Women in the Media Graduate Trainee

    Africa No Filter Here’s an opportunity for female African storytellers! Please if you know anyone, share this with them. The latest media grant by Africa No Filter will only fund women storytellers Women’s voices are still underrepresented in the media. To help close this gap, the latest Media Grants by Africa No Filter are aimed…

  • Since I met you

    Many times I told myself that love is but a lie It comes into a life and leaves without a trace But since I met you, I feel more ambience; The way you make me do things I do, The way you smile and cherish life so Start a blog here.

  • Messenger

    Kokookoroko kokorokoro A greeting called from afar The children ran out excited As if the message was for them But then who knows? Heads up, listen attentively Komkom korookom Another beat rang out Pushing the mild hit Into the ears of the heaviest village sleeper ‘Oh how cute, it is one of the King’s messengers’…

  • Tale of The Musk Rat

    Once upon a time In a land far, far away Where the forests were untamed And animals had clans and kingdoms There lived a young musk rat Who loved his mother so much And took good care of her He would go hunting for fruits And exotic vegetables from the forests And brought them home…

  • My Love Song

    I love the smile on your lips, The dreams you bring to me I love the taste of your pudding, And the smell of boiled walnuts I love our evening walks While we wave the sun bye I love the feel of evening rain And listening to your lullabic songs I love the memory games…

  • Amuse: Singina likes my tales

    “I remember your funny and lovely tales,” she yawned “You complete my day with those poems of yours!” At first I wasn’t sure of what I did right exactly, But as a shepherd I find pleasure writing about life, Telling of my travel, of my long days and how it ends Now, tomorrow I shall…

  • Movie: The Ghost and the Darkness

    As we observe our social distancing, I started seeing old favourite movies. I remember this historic film back in the days. Trust me, this is a thriller you will enjoy. Plot from Wikipedia. **** Plot: In 1898, Sir Robert Beaumont, the primary financier of a railroad project in Tsavo, Kenya, is furious because the project…

  • Stars Glitter for you

    Stars glitter for you When you look up the skies

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 7 (Crocodile at the Stream)

    Dada said I had to be strong to attend the next 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 and exercise seriously. The moonlight night tales come once in a fortnight, sometimes it may be delayed especially during…

  • Beauty

    Beauty is the ladybird Waking in the midst of dew To enjoy a quiet and lonely walk

  • Self Reflection 12: Patience

    The law of sowing and reaping may take time to manifest sometimes, but it will surely come to pass.

  • Muse: Meet me

    Meet me at the tunnels end, there I’ll wait…

  • Muse: I choose you

    I’ll choose you any day; today and tomorrow

  • Self Reflection 4: Gratitude

    Gratitude is an attitude that creates doors in walls and hearts.

  • Muse: My friend

    You my friend is wild, Yet your acquaintance is mild

  • Images: Growing Up

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

  • African Proverbs 15

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

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • A haiku of the night 2

    Soft wool, fluffy pillow, starry night Three fellows bidding a shepherd sleep Crickets sing from cracks in the wall

  • 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.

  • 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?…

  • African Proverbs 13

    The moon and the stars are not above us, the Earth is on the other side of our feet. -Moroccan proverb

  • 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 old 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…

  • 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…

  • African Proverbs 8

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

  • African Proverbs 7

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

  • African Proverbs 3

    Consider this proverb for the day: What has horns must not be hid in a sack. – Zulu (South African) Proverb Explanation: Something’s are not meant to said or done in the public. This is an African version of the English saying “Don’t wash dirty linen outside”.

  • African Myths 4

    It’s a good and rainy evening. Welcome, again to another episode of African Myths. I will take you through some of the craziest things you might have read today. Have fun. As a growing kid we were told not to walk behind our elderly ones. If you do, you will see evil spirits and they…

  • African Myths 2

    I biala. That’s Igbo for ‘you are welcome.’ Tonight I will be updating my post on African myths. So sit tight and read some of Africa’s do’s and don’ts! Have you heard that you shouldn’t call a 🐍 by name during night time? Well, we were told that if you do, a 🐍 will visit…

  • Making most of Love 1

    Singles and doubles, you can recall how it felt, loving someone especially when it was reciprocated. I always wanted to share a thought on creating happiness for loved ones. Here it goes. Your spouse should be the first point of joy and happiness. Celebrate each day you spend with him/her. Always tell them how happy…

  • Introducing the African Folklore

    Folklore are tales, legends, superstitions of a particular ethnic population. In Igbo and other African societies, story telling is unique, such that it is a passage to transmit the culture and tradition from one generation to another. These tales generally convey the history, messages and old knowledge. They are meant to teach morals and virtues…

  • Bamboo house

    You have given us shelter and warmth,  You have given us memories  And reasons to smile…  * When sons of men laughed at your appearance then Those wild boys threw stones and the earth pots broke,  We hid in you at first afraid but later mocked their fruitless fight,  But you, you stood bold and…

  • Sunrise up the Forestlands 

  • African Tradition: Calling upon the African rain storm

    ‘The land is hungry, so are my words… Let’s make it rain… Let’s flood the dry earth and let the ink flow again!’ Now I seek to hear the sound of the rain fall Yes let it rumble through the clouds Like the stomach of a child about to purge The vegetations here attest to…

  • The Village chief

    There was a chief in the wild plains, A warrior and a leader of the clan He fought in the war of the White men And returned a warrior of other lands ” Igwe! Igwe o!! Igwe i ga adigide!”* The men of the clan always hailed him For he desired peoples praise than honor…

  • Africa’s poetale

    Africa is a budding cocoon A shy, fragile and cute butterfly With shaky wings meant to fly Living, in a desperate world Africa is the gigantic tree That grows by the side of the river Shielding the lengths of the forests And feeding the lifes around it Africa is a mountain highly peaked With white…

  • Masquerades

    Strings of flax fall from your stress Hides carved from animal skin And strange cloth embellish you You swerve around like a drunk Scaring children and younger folk Caring for nothing but for asunder The masks on you remind of the hyena Your whip dragging behind you as you walk As you seek peoples’ doors…

  • Breaking the Igbo Kola Nut

    God our tryst makerOur lover and He who knows allChineke m, ke bi nigwe!Maker of the UniverseHe whom fetches water with a basketTo disgrace the bucketHe who whips us with one handAnd consoles us with the otherHe who stills a raging seaHe who made the Kola nutThe King of all foods!We come to You, our…

  • A Tale of the Lakes: The Duck

    Once upon a quiet lake Beside a green forest Lived a Duck and her chicks All day they waddle through the waters Enjoying the serenity A day came and the Duck Brought her chicks all about her ‘Quack quack Daak’ she began ‘You have been friends With the Turtle You know the Lake More than…

  • Poetry from the Skies

    There was poetry up in the skies before we learned to write Awesome rhythms rendered as a strong winds might Surely we aint aware of this lyrics penned down by the clouds As such when it sings the green vegetations all bows There was poetry long before we learned to walk or hear Drums that…