Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: culture

  • What This Blog Is Turning Toward This Year

    New Year Rigmarole You know, there’s just something about having to witness the New Year in California. We’re always one of the last places on Earth to welcome the new year. I have to celebrate “Happy New Year” with everyone, and even take a nap before I get to mine. Sometimes I tell my friends…

  • Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 12 (Tales by Moonlight 2)

    I stood up and tried to follow the figure. The wind began to blow, and I felt it was calling to me for some reason. Navigating through the crowd was difficult. Some kids were bothering me by tugging at my feet, while teenagers watched me with disdain nearby because I was blocking their view. The…

  • Muse: Granny’s Clay Pot

    Memories Most traditional pots in Igboland are made from moulded clay dried in kilns. In times past, the Igbo society is well known for pottery. Water collected from streams and springs is fed into the big pot. So through the night, the clay pot makes the water chill. In the morning, a cup of water…

  • 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’…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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,…

  • The King’s Messenger: Town Crier

    Kokookoroko kokorokoro A greeting called from afar The children ran out excited As if this 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 even the heaviest village sleeper ‘Oh how cute, it is one of the King’s…

  • Poetale after the Days work

    Now we gather by the fireside Waiting for yams to roast Warming our hands in the heat On this evening, cool and mild The dreams we wait to dream The waiting pillow beckoning The tales in hopes of telling And a joyful evening it seems The hot day had gone up those hills Releasing a…

  • Celebrating Talent: Damilola Ajayi

    I thought about celebrating good and talented people. Here we go, the first person in the series! Permit me to introduce this pretty, humble, enterprising young lady. She is Damilola Ajayi, from Ekiti state in Nigeria. When I first met Dami in 2017, I wasn’t so sure of what to expect from her. As I…

  • Tradition: Breaking the Igbo Kola nut 2 (Iwa oji Igbo)

    Onye wetara oji, wetara ndu. Ndi be anyi ekelem unu oo. God, our tryst maker! Chinekem ke b’nigwe! One that holds the Earth with bare hands And causes the winds to soar where You wills My God, we have gathered once again to celebrate To enjoy the life which you have blessed us with! Nna…

  • The Palm Tree

    I wonder why it is called a tree Yet she is dressed like a masquerade With thorny arms raised to deliver a blow And fins to wade thru a turbulent storm Dangerous as she looks, She is quietly harmless Swerving from one wind to another She enjoy the attention of the airs When there is…

  • Nneoma

    Nneoma, nwayi oma m ji eme onu Obidiya, Anam ede akwukwo a N’ihi gi, n’ihi ihunanya gi Iru gi di ka mmiri no n’iyi Ochi gi na-eme m obi uto Enweghi ihe m ga eji tunyere ya Lee kwa mgbe akwa n’egbum I kpom si “Bia, kam bie gi oma Tinye aka gi n’akam Biko…

  • 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…

  • I am Igbo

    I am Igbo Not because I am fair Not because I am tall …Or short I am Igbo Not because I travel a lot Not because I live in hamlets … And towns I am Igbo Not because I live in Africa Not because I sell for profits … Or for loss I am Igbo…

  • The Winds Tale: A call of the Hills

    The call of the hills… On a night dark as pitch We stay listening to the swooshing trees And the strange call up the hills… A tornado of wind come surfing down Pushing the brushes and woods apart Sending both man, child and pets scrambling Tall and strong wild palms bend double Threatening to crush…

  • 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…

  • Nigeria

    In the morning, the sun rises Above the horizons and cliffs And on the smiling faces on the farms The hope rises with the sun As the children roll out their bicycles To the tanned fields of the hamlet Followed by their pets, puppies and kittens A proud cloud draws a huge smile And on…