Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: Ovim

  • 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…

  • Sunset in Ovim

    I stand by these rocks and hills, ancient To enjoy again a beautiful moment of sunset I’ve a new song to sing each time I behold the sun set A song sang by my father and his father’s father A song that echo through the hills, Like smoke dispersing from mills, Ancient like mud where…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Back home

    Well, the morning bus was fast enough. Now, I’m here again, Ovim my beautiful home! I noticed new additions to the garden, date palms, groundnuts, turmeric, plantains, cane sugar, grapes, pawpaw, oranges, guava, coconut, sour sops, tomatoes, mangoes, yams, cocoyams and more. My aunt had turned this small garden to a demonstration farm. My fluffy…

  • Information on Covid-19 in Local Languages

    This is Umukwu, Amune Ovim in Isuikwuato. An uncle sent this video to me yesterday. I’m happy to see this happen. Now that information about the virus is spread through local languages, I expect to see some change in attitude and willingness to observe social distancing. The video is in Igbo language. I think the…

  • Homeland

    I love you homeland

  • 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…

  • Ide Stream

    We took a walk through Ovim. I decided to show my friends around. Just after Ugwu Uwaoma, we saw the table mountain. From the distance, it looked magnificent. Further ahead, we came across the stream Ide, with her tide gliding smoothly through the green forest. The stream is deep and some fish trapping go on.…

  • Umukwu’s Masquerades

    I never knew today was Ekpo (masquerade) day in Umukwu, Ovim. I was having a little nap when the noisy drummers arrived with the masquerades. When I was growing up I witnessed many masquerade carnivals and took particular interest in Ebulu–ogu – the biggest and stout masquerade. They are known to be merciless and stubborn.…

  • 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.…

  • In Ovim 2

    Good morning. I promised to take some shots during my morning walk. I’m not a good photographer though.There’s a thick fog this morning. These kind of buildings are common in the village. It hasn’t been long since the mud house went out of fashion. With high rate of poverty, it’s hard to afford good housing…

  • 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…

  • Nature: Best Vacation

    Nothing heals faster than Nature and this healing feeling is unexplainable. It’s something everyone should experience. Most vacations should include moving away from hustle bustle and noisy streets of familiarity and town. I can’t say what works for everyone but if you need inspiration or thinking space, I recommend travelling to the countryside, where serenity…

  • Why you should visit Africa 3

    From Nature reserves to rivers/lakes and from beautiful valleys to exotic wildlife, Africa has a lot to offer. Welcome to this edition of Why You Should Visit Africa brought to you by Oiroegbu.com 1. Adventure: If you really love nature and adventure, then you should visit Africa. There’s so much to do and participate in.…

  • Sunset in Ovim

    Yesterday I trekked to the market square. During my lonely trek I met old friends and distant relatives. As noted before, in Africa we place much value on family and friends. My trek was short, because the market was just around the corner. I bought two pieces of dried meat from a vendor, one for…

  • A poem for Ovim, Isuikwuato

    Morning wakes with the sun Windy clouds, happy yawns Quiet town, down the hill Misty paths, birds sing With the forest’s inhabitantsTall palm trees stand guard From their branches, birds tweet Squirrels look down in fright or excitement Dropping oily snacks on trespassers Forest pathways are hijacked by monkeys Protesting when a group of boys…

  • Musing: The Hills top

    I stand at the top, savoring this freedom Oh hear me, hear me sweet Freedom! I see the happy white clouds sail away, I see the black hawks circle above me, I hear the sound of talking, of machines, of the wild, altogether! I see mother Natures great painting tablet, I see the town and…

  • Isuikwuato

    One wakes to the call of Nature everyday, 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 we…

  • The Hamlets’ songs

    Tonight I write of a beautiful countryside Nested in the forests, at the foot of hills in the East, A quiet place that taught me the songs of Nature And fed me with fruits fresh from all blooming trees! * In the morning, fine birds gather to build nests Their strong choral concert disturb the…

  • Ina murna (I’m excited) 

    The snaky road twisted, here and there Passing pockets of forests tucked away, And when it ended at the foot of Ugwu Uwaoma I saw the palm trees lead a welcome song At the foot of the hill a banner hung Bearing Mama’s poster and details… *** Now I stand before thee, oh great hill…

  • At the countryside

    The scent of travelling delights me To lands I have been or haven’t seen But it is more desiring to go somewhere, Quiet, natural and homely- Nothing compares to this ideology The smell of gasoline and burnt tires Is now my friendly companion For the road has been a customer And places my joyful partner…

  • My humble land

    Now the morning has come finally After the stress of yesterdays rain This hilly land wakes warily Our pots are full of Heavens blessings Sweet musings and fine sights are all about me The bees, the green hills, the swans that fly away The vast fields of flowers which crops the Lilies And the blue…

  • A son of the hamlet

    I was born and bred in a big city But nought interests me More than a quiet life Which the serene hamlets give I was the king of the jungle With maidservants and menservants And a great sand house Filled with sand-made yams Commanding the mango fruit To fall for my noon delight And the…

  • 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…

  • Kpe’re in the Harmattan

    Now real love feels like Standing on a rocky land Surrounded by bamboo trees On a very hot sunny day By the side of a flowing stream Filled with children playing In the coldness of the waters And watching the hovering hawks Circle the area like a scout As each burst of Heavenly air Shakes…

  • Umukwu: In Cold Mornings

    It is a very cold morning As dew descend upon this land From those ancient hills Standing like medieval knights Protecting, shielding and guiding the hamlet Quiet, queer and strange But full of amazing life When you feel the cold Touched by the tip of a grass leave On your way to the stream Or…

  • The Stream, Kpere

    Then I heard your drift, Flowing through the forest Washing men’s nakedness… When there was love When on the stream side I sit Trying to peer thru the tall shrubs I saw the white clouds Clear as the sweet spring water Leaping in joyful haste, In boundless ecstasy Washing the little rocks Pulling pebbles along…

  • Ovim, my homeland

    To Thee My homeland My mothers birthplace The land of the brave Ovim- land of strength What baffles me most, Through this bewildered mind The uncertainty of what Must be thought and said Is the serenity about thee I speak of you with pride With love, with joy Thee Ovim, my Father land A beauty…

  • Africa

    Oh Africa! The land of warriors Of Shaka the Zulu Land of great trees and waterfalls The Victoria and the Chad the Baobab and the Iroko A land of green forests With many faun and flora A goldmine, a pouting sky The wonders of Nature A setting sun in the evening Have you heard the…

  • Isuikwuato

    Oh land of the brave The temperate, the strong The oneness of Nature The beauty all desire Oh dear humble African land The green forests of Amaeke With those daring masquerades Prowling about town On hot sleepy days Cloudy days; rain and sun Hills, ancient and fresh Streams running thru them Giving them some life…