Many are displaced bywars. Wars that could beavoided. Some are vic-tims of natural disasters. Hungry,homeless and lonely they trek theearth’s sandy fields looking forrelief. No matter how long it takesor how scanty it is, their life de-pends on it. Such is the plight ofthose we have made orphans, in aworld that is much endowed. To […]
We have no need forthe common salt of want and hungersaid the spokespersons of the peopleas they rode kites of ballot paperto the truth of an ancient wish But we must stop theseair-conditioned arguments —do something — said the Peoples’lawyersas they stood up and werecarried shoulder high …When my mother came backfrom the rally of […]
Come! has the new yearGood news we hope to hearLess pains we hope to bearPoverty we hope to tearLess rags we hope to wearDaily meals in a squareCome on forward my dearCome with me so we cheerGod’s will shall we steerLuck and success shall be nearAll enemy shall we not fearTo the ill-wishers we shall […]
The Structural Adjustment ProgrammeIs the South Africa police.The SharpevilleIn my villa.Driving me out to the villageAnd taking away all my privilegeAllowing me only a dig of my minesAnd leaving me strapped-of my moneyPlus unusual divided mind. Mohammed Alh. Nanu Potiskum EDITOR’S NOTE Originally published in Citizen on 16 Nov 1992, p. 37. This diplomatic transcription […]
[Tiv traditional poem with line-by-line translation and stanza commentary] Uba NguemooKpehe shor ke kpya kpa doo gaUba NguemooKpehe shor ke kpya kpa doo gaYamuel Yashi a nongo amo shongi. Translation / English rendering:Uba NguemoI’ve divined into my pocketbut the result is not good. Uba NguemoI’ve divined into my pocketbut the result is not good.So let […]
Iokro of mine i plantmy maize in the farm bloomsgoat of Aro the okro eatswith maize Aro’s ewe its hunger slakes.ask him me what i do wrong! IIgoat that visits Arocommutes with the gulletsheep that knocks Aro’s doorthe vanishing trick elects. IIIAro,husband of the townthe towncrier’s terrorshooed behind, he shoos the frontrodent in the rich […]