An Ode to Achebe

I was a voracious reader as a child .....

It was my way of escaping......

Escaping the drudgery of chores.......

Escaping the  pain of school politics......

Escaping the weight of parental expectations......

Escaping the helplessness of being a child.....

Escaping the frustrations that came with being a daughter.....

Escaping the hopelessness of wanting the unobtainable....

Just escaping!

I read good books... I read bad books.....

I read books every child should read...

I read books no child should read...

I just read.... until the day I picked up 'Things Fall Apart'

Here was an author, who used words......

Like a hungry lover devours his woman - voraciously.

Here was an author, who created characters........

That took up residence in one's brain - indefinitely.

Here was an author, who used words....

I could taste and smell -  completely.

Here was an author, who painted stories.......

That would rival any masterpiece - absolutely.

I have read good books, I have read bad books...

I have read books everyone should read

I have read books that frankly, should not have been written

But nothing has moved me as much as the words that came from him.

Today, I shed a tear

For the passing of an icon

I shed a tear because he is gone

I shed a tear because he died far from home

I shed a tear because his beloved country is still a 'potential great'

I shed a tear because we have lost a great man

I shed a tear because yet 'another great' has left us

Rest in peace, Chinua Achebe

You live forever......

Your Okonkwo lives...

Your Obi lives...

Your Ezeulu lives...

Your Beatrice lives...

Your Chike lives...

Your legacy lives..............

Thank you for coming into my life..

I know you live!

Picture Credit:  Chinua Achebe in 1960 Photograph: Eliot Elisofon/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images Source:Guardian 
Chinua Achebe: 'grandfather of African fiction'. Photograph: Craig Ruttle/AP. Source: Guardian

All Na Film Trick

PIDGIN ENGLISH VERSION:

Omo see something

Naija don better oh............

See how all the girls dey shine for home video

See how the weddings dey dazzle 

See all the boutiques wey dem dey open 

See how musicians dey chop life

See how politicians dey live large

See how all our actors dey drive big car

Omo things don change oh !

Omo see something

Naija don better oh...........

See how we replace NEPA* with generator

See how we replace water board with bore hole

See how we replace NITEL* with mobile phone

See how we replace better olopa* with high fence

See how we replace Nigerian Airways with anything else

See how we change state schools to poultry shed

Omo things don change oh !

Omo see something

Naija don better oh..........

See how all our pickins dey study for Ghana

See how we export ashewo go everywhere

See how we import Chinese replace Englishman

See how we create 419 brand

See how our big men dey buy all London

See how our girls sabi Brazillian and Indian*

Omo things don change oh !

Omo see something

Naija don better oh..........

Our pickin know all USA states....but no sabi where Damaturu* dey

Our sisi sabi chop strawberry and apple.....but dem forbid agbalumo, udara, otien*..

Our brothers sabi flex Gucci* belt......but deny Hausa* slippers

Our aristos sabi Laboutin* ......but forbid Adire*

Our ajebos sabi Harry Potter and Shakespeare .....but no sabi Achebe or Soyinka*

Dem even get English accent......but dem forbid Pidgin English
Dem ban tribal marks..........but dem love dollar tattoo !

Omo things don change

Make we clap for ourselves. 

Na progress....abi?

ENGLISH VERSION:

My friend, can you believe it?

Nigeria sure has come a long way.............

See all the gorgeous girls in our movies

See how fabulous our weddings are

See all the boutiques being opened daily

See how our musicians are enjoying life

See how our politicians are living large

See how our actors drive flashy car

Nigeria sure has come a long way !

My friends, can you believe it?

Nigeria sure has come a long way..........

Look how we replaced NEPA* with individual generators

Look how we replaced our Water Boards with individual Boreholes

Look how we replaced NITEL* with mobile phones

Look how we replaced good policemen with higher fences

Look how we replaced Nigerian Airways with anything else

Look how we left our state schools to become poultry sheds

Nigeria sure has come a long way !

My friends, can you believe it?

Nigeria sure has come a long way..........

See how our children now go to schools in Ghana

See how we have exported prostitution worldwide

See how we have imported the Chinese to replace the English

See how we have created the 419* brand

See how our rich men own choice properties in London

See how knowledgeable our girls are about weave-on

Nigeria sure has come a long way !

My friend, can you believe it?

                              Nigeria sure has come a long way...........                               Our children know all the USA states ....but have no idea where Damaturu* is

Our girls love eating strawberries and apples.....but shy away from Nigerian cherry fruit

Our brothers wear Gucci* belts........but forbid Hausa-made* footwear

Our aristocrats love Louboutin* shoes .......but will not wear Adire* fabric

Our spoilt children know 'Harry Potter' and 'Shakespeare' .....but don't know Achebe or Soyinka*

They even have English accents ...but forbid Pidgin English

They banned tribal marks.....but they love tattoos of dollars !

Nigeria sure has come a long way......

We deserve a round of applause

This is progress ...............Isn't it ?

GLOSSARY:

NEPA* = National Electric Power Authority (organisation formerly responsible for use of electricity in Nigeria)

NITEL* = Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (main telecommunications company in Nigeria)

olopa* = policeman

419* = Advance Fee Fraud

Brazillian and Indian* = Types of Human Hair extensions

Damaturu* = City in Yobe State

agbalumo, udara, otien* = Traditional names for Nigerian cherry fruit

Gucci* = Italian designer

Hausa* = Ethnic group in Northern Nigeria

Louboutin* = Luxury French designer

Adire* = Yoruba tie and dye cloth

Achebe or Soyinka* = Great Nigerian authors

Dont give up

In this life, you might stumble

As you try to battle

The never ending challenges

And the occasional bruises.......

That life throws at you

At times one wonders

And even ponders

If its all worth the bother

When you face another boulder.......

That life throws at you

Joy can often be fleeting

While pain is often lingering

But never go too far away

From places where love holds sway........

No matter what life throws at you

Always remain beware

Of those who embrace depair

Never give up

Ill-wind will definitely letup.........

No matter what life throws at you

Surround yourself with love

Like fingers in a glove

Distance yourself from hate

And all deadweight........

Dont give up......No matter what life throws at you !

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

I planned to blog about something funny and upbeat today. However, after the bombing in Abuja, I have been so confused.


My confusion - WHAT IS GOING ON ????.................................................


I know Nigeria has always had its share of challenges BUT this violence is just spiraling out of control.


Since January 2010, Boko Haram has been at the heart of so many atrocities. This year alone, they have been behind several attacks -  including a car bomb attack on the Police HQ; a bomb blast at a bar near an Abuja barracks. Needless to say, innocent lives have been lost


Surprisingly, it seems that whenever the perpetrators are even caught, they are killed instantly. How will we ever get to the root of all this if those who can reveal more - are killed as soon as they are captured?


Some may feel the best way to deal with Nigeria's challenges is to pretend they dont exist. I beg to differ. Even if I am not a politician, my conscience dictates I must speak/rant/cry........................whatever.


The Irish philosopher, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) once said - 'All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing'


While I pray for God to intervene in Nigeria's future; I also pray that those who are in a position to stop this violence do not adopt the principle of  'See no Evil; Hear no Evil and Speak no Evil'
If they do, the repercussions will be disastrous. 


The poem below by Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) was originally written about the failure of German intellectuals to condemn Nazi rise to power. 


I do believe the poem totally encapsulates what happens when evil is allowed to take root in any society:

First they came for the communists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist,

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn't speak because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left to speak for me

*sigh* Please have a blessed week

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A dedication

Sunday 3rd April 2011 is Mothers' Day here

It's a day to thank and celebrate mothers. Thinking about this, I started wondering.....Can a woman be defined as a mother only if she has given birth? I think not......

My definition of a mother is a woman who nurtures, cares for and enables others around her grow

As someone who has experienced challenges in having children, I am extremely sensitive to excluding those among us who are not mothers

So, I choose to celebrate all the women who have been instrumental in making me a better and stronger person. For example, when I started blogging, I never expected to encounter so many articulate and intelligent women who make me proud to be a woman. Thank you fellow-bloggers.

The image below depicts one of the things I love about African motherhood - a mother carrying a child on her back .  I dedicate this image - and my little poem below - to all the mothers (women who have supported, nurtured and 'carried' others in this life).

For all the times
I despaired
and you cared.
Thank you


For all the times
I wept
and you made me accept.
Thank you


For all the times
I was afraid
and you made my fears fade.
Thank you

                                           For all the times
                                           I felt helpless
                                           and you made me fearless.
                                            Thank you, thank you, thank you !

Happy Mothers' Day......................xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Tragic Comedy

Perhaps, the greatest comedy

Ever written,

Was by God

When He gave life to man.

As soon as man is born

He craves wisdom and maturity.

Accomplishing that,

He then envies the ignorance of the young.

As soon as man is ready to breed

He yearns for the perfect offspring.

Failing that,

He then prays for improved versions of himself.

As soon as man finishes raising his children

He pushes them out of the nest.

Forlorn and lonely,

He then longs for the vibrancy of a full house.

As soon as man is bored with life

He craves excitement.

Worn and exhausted,

He then hungers for the humdrum.

As soon as man learns to covet

He wishes to surpass his neighbour’s fortune.

Superfluously endowed,

He then fears he might lose it all.

As soon as man lacks food

He envies the portly nature of the well fed.

Overfed and languid,

He then yearns for the physique of the malnourished

As soon as man gains wealth

He seeks to gain immortality

Elderly and feeble

He then hankers for a peaceful death

As soon as man understands life

He reaches death’s door

All-knowing and wise

He then wishes he had made less mistakes.

Indeed, the greatest tragedy

Ever lived

Was by man

When he forgot his life is a comedy

This poem was inspired by a day when all I seemed to ask was - ' Why me?'

New Year, New Me?

A short New Year poem:

Happy New Year to YOU…

Oh dear!
Does that mean a Happy New ME?!

I wish I could say
I’ll be better;

I wish I could say
I’ll be nicer;

I wish I could even say
I’ll be sweeter!

Oh well,
I’ll try........................

Happy New Year to ME.

        by Naijamum

        I wish you all a Happy New Year.
       May 2011 bring us all blessings, peace and progress.
       May the Lord restore hundredfold all our blessings that were lost, stolen or damaged in 2010.
       May we bless others with our words and deeds and may others do same to us.
       Amen

Poetry: A Woman's Ode to Loss

You have come again
I know there’s going to be pain
Have you come to please
Or to tease?
Whenever you are around
My heart begins to pound.
As I lose myself
Becoming a shadow of my self,
Revelling in your presence,
Drowning in your essence.

Fantasising, Dreaming
Wishing, Hoping
For when you will restore my name
And take away my shame.
Will you stay this time?
Please be mine.............

The first time you came
I named you,
The second time you came
I gave my heart to you,
The third time you came
I devoted my home to you,
The fourth time you came
I worshipped you,
The last time you came
I despaired of you!

I hate you, I love you
I want you, I despise you!
There can be no greater pain,
Definitely no gain
In the loss of a child.
I am now reviled...............

What is the use of a seed
If I cannot breed?
What is the use of a womb
That becomes a tomb?
What is the use of hope
If it will always elope?
Running away with faith
Leaving me to wait.
Savouring the bitter taste
Of self-hate!

Hoping, Praying
Mourning, Loathing!
I refuse to be consigned
To the scrapheap of the resigned.
My womb has failed me
But it has made a stronger me.............!

By Naijamum (COE)
(This poem is an original poem and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the blog author)

Note: 
I know poetry does not appeal to all but I often use poems to describe angst or joy that cannot be easily expressed.
Suffering a miscarriage has to be one of the most painful experiences a woman can ever go through. This poem arose from witnessing such loss - repeatedly!
I do hope it resonates with someone. 
           
        

A Giant Leap....

I'm absolutely delighted to start blogging. So much on my mind.!
To start off, I want to blog a poem I heard recently. I loved it...

Come to the edge

"Come to the edge."
"We can't. We're afraid."
"Come to the edge."
"We can't. We will fall!"
"Come to the edge."
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.

~ Christopher Logue (1926)

The message that came through to me is 'NEVER be afraid to TRY.....!'