The archive Politics Poem by Emma Ohanele · 1993 The great old game of politicsThat makes nonsense of mathemat-icsI do hope we are ripe for youOr else again, at you we’ll boo.You divide a home that’s oneAnd set a father against his sonIn fact you permeate religion. You’re meant to be a game that’scleanBut not […]
The archive Politics is a game Poem by Adamu Moh’d Nababa · 1993 If politics is a gameLet’s choose our playersThose who can shootAnd won’t make us shout. If politics is a gameLet’s choose our playersThose who don’t foulAnd won’t make us fall. If politics is a gameLet’s choose our playersThose who can ranAnd won’t […]
The archive The system Poem by A.S. Sanusi · 1991 Here we are stillResolute in our standWritten on diamond bannersWith blood of our martyrsUnbending, unyielding thoughyoungNew, isolated and misunderstoodPresent in flesh and gestures.Our places in historyThe history of our time and continentWaxes with fruiting newnessUnrepentant, typical with timeBulging like a tuber of hopeUnseen yet saturated […]
The archive Protest of October 1991 Poem by Kabir U. Muhammad · 1991 Typhoons have less furyThan storms of thoughtsCrossing my mindThe society devouringLiver of its youngMy ignorant society of ragsPassivity and squalorA million stars flashbefore my eyesReceiving the slap of betrayalLet me love IslamLet me love you in IslamLet me work Islam with youBe […]
The archive Letter to the economy (To Nigerian workers) Poem by Abba Gana Shettima · 1993 My alkalam has been tinglingto write and let you know mythoughtson your body which was torninto useless shreds of boneand became chained to forlorn hopeeven as your eyes were drainedby a visual fallacy of greatness. Your body has been […]
The archive Virtues Poem by Lao Tzu · 1992 Whoever cultivates virtues in hishouse his virtue is overflowingWhoever cultivates it in his town hisvirtue is lastingWhoever cultivates it in his ‘coun-try’ his virtue is abundantWhoever cultivates it in the worldhis virtue is universalThus by one own personal trials oneknows other peopleBy one’s town one knows […]
The archive Stockbroker Poem by Ibrahim Isa Abbas · 1991 Personified; he is an authorised clerkA dealing member of the stock ex-changeInstitutionalised; as a firm traditionon securitiesAll on behalf of investorsFor the brokerage commission. To the NSE, the authorised clerkOn the trading floor, the authorisedbargainerTo the investor, an adviserTo the firm hoping for listingOn the […]
The archive Lone soldier Poem by Isaac Umunna · 1992 Dressed in full battle regaliaAt attention you standYour gun by your sideYou have climbed the stepsAnd reached the podiumBut to come downFrom your lofty heightYou dare notWhere, O soldier,Lies your much-vaunted power?Twenty four hours each dayOn duty you areBattling furiouslyTo maintain the status quoLonely giant […]
The archive My friends Poem by Abdulkadir Babajo · 1992 Never worry my friendsWe are ready with plansThey are the master-plansWe can adopt to trendsPilot the moving trains Modern trains can flyGo coast to cost with the goodsMetal frames and woodsPoachers swarming the woodsCovering the face and shy Never trust the filesEven the heaven skiesWhich […]
The archive What the madman said Poem by Obiora Udechukwu · 1988 F WE KILL the cock that crowsWho will now rouse the sun from sleep?If we kill the bird that singsWho will distil harmonies from the clouds? Question i address to our people:Question i address to the land:Question i address to the world:If they […]