How Do We Spell Nigeria (after Roger Bonair-Agard)

A is for Apathy
B is for Boko Haram
C is for Chibok

219 girls were taken in April of 2014
Several hundreds have been taken before and since
Like a game, like commodities, like things that can be moved and replaced
Kidnapped, slaughtered, bombed
This is a game; and we are toys

D is for Damaturu
E is for Elite
F is for Fuel

We have become accustomed to disarray
desensitized to disorder, disaster
We expect nothing
and nothing in return we get

G is for Government
H is for Health care
I is for Insurgency
I is for "I underestimated Boko Haram..."
I is for Irony

J is for Justice
K is for Ken Saro-Wiwa
K is for Killing Us Softly
L is for Lavish Living
M is for Mega Churches
M is for Military
ill-equipped, tired soldiers

N is for Nigeria, paradox as we are
A smiling people with crooked teeth
A patient people with vicious tongues
A strong people with weak wills

O is for Oil
O is for Ogoni
O is for Ojukwu
P is for Private Jets
P is for Patience and the buses she impounded in Abuja
Q is for Queues
Nigerians are still learning how to stand in queues at banks
Nigerians are still standing in queues at filling stations


R is for Revolution
Needed, wanted, prayed for but we're still here
S is for Stella Oduah and her amoured vehicles
S is for Soyinka and his integrity
T is for Tipping Economy
Africa's largest economy cannot provide its citizens with constant power

U is for Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, gone too soon
V is for Visas
Anywhere but here will do
W is for Weddings
If only our lives were as pristine as the parties we throw

X is for Xenia
We must learn to love each other
Y is for Youth
Bows drawn, arrows in quiver, simmering, waiting
Z is for Zeal
We are Calebs
Though they say that we are grasshoppers
These grasshoppers will take possession

But we are still waiting
And that's where we're at


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This poem was inspired by Roger Bonair-Agard's How Do We Spell Freedom

Comments

  1. More inspiration to you. :)

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  2. I have returned to read this poem over and over again and each time it tells more truth than the last. And this, even though I'm Ghanaian. Beautiful.

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    Replies
    1. Delalrom! Thank you. Even though you are Ghanaian, you are my brother and we are in this together. Thank you :)

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  4. This is so so on point! Please permit me to put this poem on my blog...and who exactly should i credit for it? Ibiene Oguntoyinbo or Ibiene Bidiaque? I actually clicked the link from Delalorm's Afrilingual.

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    1. I'm sorry I'm so very late in responding to you on this. Yes, you can put it on your blog. Please credit "Ibiene Bidiaque". Thank you

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