ELSMATERIALANDSUMMARYFORSECOND

SEMESTERPr
epa
redbyEgbunaEl
ij
ah(
Raba
)
Thepurp
oseofprepar
ingt
hisGui
del
ineisforourSuc
cessandtheSucce
ssof
Ever
yonethatwouldl
ookint
othi
sme t
ic
ulousl
y.Ther
efor
es t
udyitandGoodLuc
k
i
ntheexaminat
ion.

Forse
condsemest
erweweret
aughts
eve
ntopi
cs,4byDr.Ej
esuand5byDr
Oluc
hi,The
ref
orethewor
kswil
lbesummar
ize
dba s
edonTopic
s.

Thi
sPartwi
llbedea
lwi t
hPoemsandthe
irAnal
ysi
sbas
edonTopi
cs.Re
adPi
dgi
n
poe
trywel
lasitc
oversonl
ypoemsthi
sti
mea r
ound.

1.Ni
ger
ianLi
ter
atur
eandt
heNi
ger
ian/
Bia
fra
nwa
r,
Chr
ist
masi
nBi
afr
abyChi
nuaAc
hebe
.
Thi
ssunke
d-e
yedmome
ntwobb
ling

downt
her
ockys
tee
pne
ssonbr
oke
n

bone
ssl
owl
yfe
arf
ull
ytohi
deous

c
onc
our
seofga
the
rings
orr
owsi
ntheva
ll
ey

wi
llye
tbe
comei
nanot
herye
aral
ost

Chr
ist
masi
rr
etr
ieva
blei
nthehe
ight
s

i
tse
xpl
odi
ngi
nfe
rnot
rans
mut
ed

byc
osmi
cdi
st
anc
est
othepe
ace
ful
nes
s

ofac
oolt
winkl
ings
tar
….Tode
ad-
cel
ls

oft
hatmome
ntc
amef
arwa
ysoundsofot
her

me
n’sc
arol
sfl
oat
ingonc
rac
kli
ngwa
ves

moc
kingus
.Wi
thr
egr
et?Hope
?Longi
ng?No
neof

t
hes
e,s
tra
nge
ly,note
vende
spa
irr
athe
r
di
st
il
li
ngpur
etr
ans
cende
nta
lha
te….

Be
yondt
hehos
pit
alga
te

t
hegoodnunsha
dse
tupama
nge
r

ofpa
lmst
ohous
eaf
inepl
ast
erc
ast

s
cenea
tBe
thl
ehe
m.TheHol
y

Fa
mil
ywa
sce
ntr
al,s
ere
ne,t
heChi
ld

J
esuspl
umpwi
se-
looki
nga
ndr
ose
-che
eke
d:o
ne

oft
hema
gii
nke
epi
ngwi
thl
ege
nd

abl
ackOt
hel
loi
nsump
tuousr
obe
s.Ot
her

f
igur
esofme
nanda
nge
lss
tood

a
twe
ll
-appoi
nte
ddi
st
anc
esf
rom

t
hehe
artoft
hedi
vinemi
rac
le

a
ndt
heus
ualc
att
lega
zedon

i
nhol
ywonde
r….

Poor
ert
hant
hepoorwor
shi
per
s

be
for
ehe
rwhoha
dpa
idt
hei
rhoma
ge

wi
thpi
ti
fulof
fer
ingofne
wal
umi
num

c
oinst
hatf
ewt
rade
rswoul
dta
kea
nd

af
raye
dfi
ve-
shi
ll
ingnot
esheonl
y

c
ros
sedhe
rse
lfa
ndpr
aye
dope
n-e
yed.He
r

i
nfa
nts
onf
latl
ikeade
adl
iz
ard
onhe
rshoul
derhi
sar
msa
ndl
egs

c
aut
eri
sedbyf
ami
newa
sami
rac
le

ofi
tski
nd.La
rges
unke
neye
s

s
tri
cke
npa
stbor
edomt
oaf
lat

unr
ecogni
si
nggl
ueyne
ssmope
dfa
rawa
y

mot
ionl
essa
cros
she
rshoul
der
….

Nowhe
rador
ati
onove
r

Shet
urne
dhi
mar
ounda
ndpoi
nte
d

a
tthos
epr
ett
yfi
gur
esofGod

a
nda
nge
lsa
ndme
nandbe
ast
s-

as
pec
tac
let
ost
irt
hehe
art

ofac
hil
d.Buta
llhevouc
hsa
fed

unr
ecogni
ti
ona
ndhebe
gana
gai
n

t
oswi
velhi
senor
moushe
ada
way

t
omopea
sbe
for
eathi
sempt
ydi
st
anc
e….

Shes
hrugge
dhe
rshoul
der
s,c
ros
sed

he
rse
lfa
gai
n,a
ndt
ookhi
mawa
y.

Chr
ist
masi
nBi
afr
aAna
lys
is

Chri
st
masinBi
afr
aisapoe
ti
cre
spons
etotheBiaf
ranWar(1967-
1970;a
lso
knownast
heNige
ria
nCivi
lWar)
.Int
hisc
olle
cti
on,Ache
ber e
lat
est
hestor
iesof
thepe oplewhos uffere
ddur i
ngthewa r
.Thei ma ge sc r
eat ed,asi n“Be ninRoa d,”
arepor t
raitsofac ountryt ort
uredbyt her ea
lit
yt hatonahi ghwa ys ome times,
“Spe edisvi ol
enc e/Powe risviolenc e/We i
ghtviol ence.”a ndaChr ist
ma swh er
ea
mot hercannoti mme di
ate l
ydi s
cernwhe therheryoungs oni sstillli
vingorha sdie
d
(Chr is
tma sinBi afra
).Thepoe m" Chr ist
ma sinBi af
r a(1969) "isda tedj ustweeks
beforethes urrende r
,whe nc onditionswe repre s
uma blythedi re st.Ache be
describesthema ngersce neerectedbynunsout sideahos pital
,t henfoc usesona n
onlookingwoma ns opo orshec annote ve nsparea nhoma geint henow- devalued
currency." Her/infantsonf latl
ikeade adl i
zard/onhe rs houlde rhisarmsa ndlegs/
cauterizedbyf ami newa sami r
acle /ofitskind."Whe npoi ntedt owardt hema nger,
theboyma nagesonl ya" lookoft otal/unrecognitiona ndhebe ga nagain/toswi ve
l
hise normoushe adawa y."

Ac he
bee e r
ilyme ldsthe" plumpwi s
e-looki
nga ndrose-c
he eked"pl
a st
erJ esus
,and
thewo ma n'
sdyi ngc hil
d- -bothasiftheywe r
eunf at
homa ble"mira
c l
es."The
compos it
eima ge ,Mi r
ac ul
ousBi r
thandPi e
taatonce,isaf i
tti
ngholidayi confora
revol
utionc ont
e mpl at
ingt heconces
sionofitshopestokee pitschi
ldrena li
ve.The
Sonisbe ingbor na nds uccumbinginthes a
mei nst
ant,l
eavingt hemothe rto
oscil
la
tebe twee na dor
a ti
ona ndgri
ef.Ac he
bebe gi
nsthepoe mbyt akingt helong
view,wi t
hwha tmi ghtbede e
me ddi
sgruntl
edopt i
mism.

TheCa
sua
lti
esbyJ
.PCl
ark
Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
enotonl
ythos
ewhoa
rede
ad.

The
yar
ewe
lloutofi
t.

Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
enotonl
ythos
ewhoa
rede
ad.

Thought
heya
wai
tbur
ialbyi
nst
al
lme
nt.

Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
enotonl
ythos
ewhoa
rel
ost

Pe
rsonsorpr
ope
rty,ha
rda
siti
s

Togr
opef
orat
ouc
htha
tsome
Ma
ynotknowi
snott
her
e.

Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
enotonl
ythos
ele
dawa
ybyni
ght
.

Thec
elli
sac
rue
lpl
ace
,some
ti
mesaha
ven.

Nowhe
rea
sabs
olut
east
hegr
ave
.

Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
enotonl
ythos
ewhos
tar
ted

Af
ir
eandnowc
annotputout
.Thous
ands

Ar
ear
ebur
ningt
hatha
venos
ayi
nthema
tt
er.

Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
enotonl
ythos
ewhoa
ree
sca
ping.

Thes
hat
te
reds
hal
lbe
comepr
isone
rsi
n

Af
ort
res
soff
all
ingwa
ll
s

Thec
asua
lt
ie
sar
ema
ny,a
ndagoodme
mbe
raswe
ll

Out
si
det
hes
cene
sofr
ava
gea
ndwr
eck;

The
yar
ethee
mis
sar
iesofr
if
t,

Sos
mugi
nsmoke
-roo
mst
heyha
unta
broa
d,

The
ydonots
eet
hef
une
ralpi
le
s

Athomee
ati
ngupt
hef
ore
sts
.

The
yar
ewa
nde
ringmi
nst
rel
swho,be
ati
ngo
n

Thedr
umsoft
hehuma
nhe
art
,dr
awt
hewor
ld

I
ntoada
ncewi
thr
it
esi
tdoe
snotknow.

Thedr
umsove
rwhe
lmt
heguns
…

Ca
ughti
nth
ecl
ashofc
ount
erc
lai
msa
ndc
har
ges
Whe
nno
tint
heni
cheot
her
sle
ft,

Wef
all
.

Al
lca
sua
lt
ie
soft
hewa
r.

Be
caus
ewec
annothe
are
achot
hers
pea
k.

Be
caus
eey
esha
vec
eas
edt
hef
acef
romt
hec
rowd.

Be
caus
ewhe
the
rweknowor

Donott
hee
xte
ntofwr
ongsona
lls
ide
s,

Wea
rec
har
act
ersnowot
hert
hanbe
for
e

Thewa
rbe
gan,t
hes
tay-
at-
homeuns
ett
le
d

Byt
axe
sandr
umour
s,t
hel
oot
ersf
orof
fi
ce

Andwa
res
,fe
arf
ule
ver
yda
ytheowne
rsma
yre
tur
n.

Wea
rea
llc
asua
lt
ie
s,

Al
lsa
ggi
nga
sar
e

Thec
ase
sce
lebr
ate
dfo
rkwa
shi
orkor
.

Theunf
ors
eenc
amp-
fol
lowe
rofnotj
ustourwa
r.

Ana
lys
isofTheCa
sua
lti
es

Thepoe mpoi ntsto1966,t het i

meoft heCivilWa r.Bia fr
awa nte
dt obef reeand
independe nt.I
ta f
fect
edt hec ommonpe opl
ewhowe res uf
feringe ndlessl
y.The
Ba t
tl
ef ai
le dandt heproblemwa ssi
lenced.Th epoeta s
s ert
stha tt
hec a
usalti
esare
notonlyt heone swhoa redea d,fortheya r
efa rfr
omt hede vastat
ingc onsequence
s
ofthewa r.The ya renotonl ythos ewhoa r
ewounde dthought heya r
ewe llonthe
routetode ath.The yawa i
tbur ialbyins t
all
me ntsasde a
thi stheUl timateescapis
m.
Itisnotonl ythosewhoha vel osttheirma t
eri
a las
setsa ndpr operty,itisal
sothose
whoha vei r
retr
ievabl
yl ostthe i
rne a
ra ndde a
rone s.Itisthos ewhol onghe art-
re
ndi
nglyforatouch.Thecas
ualti
esa
renotonl
ythos
eleda
wa ybyt
hela
wa t
ni
ght
,ther
eisalwaystheuncer
tai
ntyaboutt
hece
ll
.Tosomeitmaybeacr
uel
pl
ace
,toother
sitma yfunc
ti
ona sahaven.

Fur thermore,thecas ual

tiesa r
en otonl
yt hos ewhos t
a r
tedaf ir
ea ndt ha tcannot
nowe xti
nguis
ht hes ame .Thisma ybea nyf ormofr umourori s
suet ha tkindlesa
co ntroversyorsparksc ommuna lviole
nc e.Th escapegoatsaretheinnoc entswho
ha dnos ayinthema tt
er,andt heyarethevi cti
msoft hefire
.The ya rea l
sotheone s
tha tescapethewa r,forthe yresideinthes hatt
eredshellofitsaft
e r
ma th.The y
alwa yse xperi
encet hewa l
lsfall
ingagainstthem.The ses o-
c al
leddipl oma tsrema i
n
smugi nthei
rroomss moki ng.
( J
.P.
Clarkwa sals
oadi ploma t
).’
Smoki ng’a part
fromi tsl
iter
alme aninga lsoconnotestheme ansofalleviat
ingtensionus ingas hort
-cut .

Thisstanz ar ef
erstothec ausal
it
iesoft hewa ri na nir
onicands arca
sticstance.
Theses o-c all
ed‘ cas
ua l
ti
es’existoutsidethes ceneofravagea ndwr eckage.Rathe
r
thanbeingt heemi ssa
r i
esofpe a
c e,t
he yareth ee miss
ari
esofr if
t.Theya resmugin
rooms moki ng.He retheterm‘ s
moki ng’a partfromi t
slit
eralme ani
ngma ya l
so
connotet heme aningofa ll
evia
tingtens i
onus inga neasyme thod.Theyc annotsee
thefunera lfir
esc onsumingt heforestsorna t
ur alveget
ati
on.The yfailtoha veafa
r
-si
ghtedvi e w.The ya ret
hewa nde ri
ngmi ns t
relswhobe ati
ngont hedrumsoft he
huma nhe a rt
,takinga dvanta
geofhuma n-
sensitivit
ytocert
aini ssue
s.The sedri
ve
huma nityt oaf renzythatisunfami l
iartoitsba sicnat
ureit
self.Thesedrums
possessapo we rthatoverwhe l
me ve nguns .

Sudde
nlyTheAi
rCr
acksbyGa
bri
elOka
ra
“Sudde nl
yt heAirCr acks”runsthr
oughs evenstanzasofune quallengt
hs.The
poemi sde scr
ipti
ve,andt heevent
sde scr
ibedinthena r
rat
ivec enteronthemili
tary
bomba r
dme ntofanun- namedc i
tyfroma lldi
rec
tions,wit
ha llkindsofa s
saul
t
we a
ponsf ullydeployed:LMGsj et
s,rockets
,et
c.Thec atast
ropheunl eas
edont he
populace,includi
ng“ chil
dren,”“mena ndwome n,”“boysa ndgi r
ls,”is
indes
cribable:everyt
hingi sawashwi t
hviolence
,a ndwithtwitteri
nga nd“cra
cking
s
ound,
”somuc
hsot
hatt
her
eisno-
whe
ret
ohi
de.

Thepoe m’sna rr
a t
ives t
ructureiss wif
tandur ge
nt,wi t
hve ryli
ttl
euseof
punct
ua t
ionma rks,butitissuffusedwi t
hexte
nsivee mployme ntoffigur
ati
ve
la
ngua ge
:e .
g.,r
e pet
it
ion,a sin“ bl
ami nggunners/pra
isi
nggunne rs
;”onomatopoe
ia,
asinthe“ a
ircracks/
wi t
hs tri
kingc ra
c kingroc
kets,”all
it
erati
on,a sin“bul
let
s
fl
ashi
ngf ir
e;”anda ssonance,a sin“ac k-a
ckflac
ks ”and“ hugginggutter
s.
”

Thepoli
ti
call
andsca
pei sc
risi
s-l
adenwith“mangl
ed/
bodi
essta
c ke
dinthe
morgue.
”Ye tt
hepoet,t
hroughhisdefta
rti
st
ry,i
sablet
ocount
erbal
ancethe
st
ruct
uralna
rra
ti
vesoe f
fect
ivel
ythatpeaceandhar
monypreva
ilintheend:

Thi
ngss
oons
imme
rtonor
mal

huma
ndr
hyt
hma
sda
nge
rpa
sse
s

a
ndt
hes
tre
etsa
repe
opl
ed

wi
ths
trol
li
ngme
nandwome
n

boysa
ndgi
rl
sonva
riouse
rra
nds

wa
lki
ngt
al
kingl
aughi
ngs
mil
ing.

Thepoe m’sdidacti
c i
s misa pparent:afterrainfal
lc ome ssunshi nea ndvi ce
versa.TheNi geria
nCi vilwa r,whi chlaste
df ora lmos tthreeyears( 1967- 1970) ,
wr eakedsomuc hhavoci nhuma ns ,ma t
erialresourc e
sa ndgoodwi lltha tbr othe rs
turnedaga i
nstthei
rbrother s
,sonsa ga i
nsttheirpa rent
sa ndsoforth.Thi si sthe
perennialtr
uisma boutwa r.Howe ver,ti
mea nds pacehe alwounds .Pr ophe tically,
today,thereispeaceandc oncorda monga lla nds undryi ntheland.Wi thoutt he
abover edeeminglines,t
hepoe mwoul dha vel ostmuc hofi tsvit
alitya ndgr e
a tness.
Fur t
hermore,bybr i
ngingt ogethera l
lofhuma nitydur ingat imeofc risis--thatis,
childre
n, mena ndwome n,boysa ndgi rl
s- -thepoe tbr ingsintoourc ons cious ness
ourc ommonbond.

2.Pi
dgi
nPoe
tryi
nNi
ger
ianLi
ter
atur
e:Thi
sist
hes
econdTopi
cwe
we
ret
aught
,andt
her
ear
eonl
ypoe
mst
ost
udy
.He
rewea
ret
ost
udyt
his
.Wi
thDr
.
Ejes
u'sEssa
yonPi dginPoe tr
y.We '
renotl
ookingatt
henormalanalys
isofthe
poems,wea r
elookinga thowt hesepoemshavethefeat
urest
hatals
oma kesthem
poems.Feat
uresli
keFi guresofs pe
ech,Repet
it
ions
,oreventheproble
mstha tt
hey
tr
ytoa t
te
ndto( Sa
tire
). ReadDr .Ejesu'
sPi
dginPoetr
ycrit
ica
ll
y.

Fi
del
isOkor
oEdonTe
y

Ma
ll
amgot
el
lamma
keef
ighthol
ywa
r

Egodoa
m

Sombodywe
yne
vers
eei
mpors
inc
ede
mbor
nam

Nai
mde
yba
shbokui
mporpl
usbokut
anc
e

Some
bodywe
ydons
ees
ayi
mli
fenome
annot
hingt
onobody

Nai
mde
mgi
vegun,g
ivekni
fe,gi
vebomb

Egode
yki
llegode
yla
ugh

Egode
yki
llegode
ysmi
le

GodAl
might
y,Iwa
nas
kque
sti
on

Dozme
nwe
ythr
owt
went
y-onei
nnoc
entpi
kins

I
nsi
dewe
llf
orKa
duna

Da
sht
hei
rinnoc
entbr
ainf
orwa
ll

Nayout
el
lde
myougogi
vede
mse
vens
eve
nvi
rgi
nsf
orpa
radi
se?

Doze
leve
nboyswe
yfl
ypl
anee
nte
rbui
ldi
ngf
orNe
wYor
kki
ll2001pe
opl
e

Nayoupr
omi
sede
mSe
pte
mbe
rvi
rgi
nsf
orhe
ave
n?

I
fda
tnat
rue
Nahowma nyvir
ginsyougogi
vet
hatwoma
nwe
ybombhe
rse
lff
orJ
erus
ale
m
mar
ketk
illfi
ft
ypeople?

Abinas
eve
nyoungme
nyougogi
vea
m?

Iwa
nbePr
esi
dentEz
enwa
-Oha
eto
Ege
tonedr
eamWe
yde
ywor
rymeIdondr
eama
mti
re,

IfIsleepsmal
lNadidr
eamgocomeIfIcl
oseeyes
mal
lNadidrea
mgoc omeIfI
siddonforcha
irs
aymakeIr
ests
mallNadidre
amgocomeIt
hinksaynamal
ari
a
de ycome,

Forni
ghtwhe
nIlief
orbe
dWhe nhunge
rdeybl
owmeWhe
nIne
vers
eef
ood
chopWhenIneve
rseewa
terdr
inkNadidr
eamgoc
ome
,

Ege
tonedr
eamwe
yde
ywor
rymeDidr
eambis
ayIwa
nbiPr
esi
dent
,

Ine verseePresi
denthungr
yIne verseePr
esidentthir
styPresi
de ntnogoworryfor
roadPol icenogos t
opa mforche c
kingPres
identnogowor ryforhous eNa
gove r
nme ntcookde ymakefoodNagove r
nme ntdriverdeydrivemot orNahim
ma keIwa nbiPre
s i
dentPr
esidentdeygowhe r
eeRePr esi
dentde ydowe t
ineli
ke
ifPresidentwantravelNasir
ende yc l
earr
oadpa ram.pa r
ampi roopirooEver
yc ar
gor unc omotforroadtooNaPr eside
ntdeypa s
sf orroad,

Demg oc
losedir
oadDe mgocloseeve
na i
rtooDemgot akeoneca
rcar
rya
m
Demg ot
akeanot
heronede
yf ol
lowAlldemve hi
cletyr
edeynewAllde
mve hi
cl
e
en
ginede
yne wDiseatgocl
eanwe l
lwellNaPres
identgetc
ount
ry

IneverseePre
sidentwa l
kte
nmi leIfewangogiveper
sonme ss
age
,Inevers
ee
Pre
sidentbegi
nc r
yI fenoseemot orweygoc
arry-
amIne vers
eePres
ide
ntpush
t
ruckFr ommorningr e
achnightEvenifenof
indtenkobochop,

Ineve
rse
ePre
side
ntgof
armWit
hhoeweydonspoi
lfi
nis
hDeda
yede
ypl
ant
cr
opforf
armNahimmakeIwa
nbePre
side
nt,

ifyous
eePresi
denthi
mservantDembodyde
yf a
twe l
lwe l
lifyous
eePre
side
nt
himwifeShegodeysmil
ea sedeyha
ppyIfyouseePre
sidenthimc
hil
dre
nNa
gua
rdgode
yfol
lowde
mNas
pec
ialt
rea
tme
ntde
mgoge
t

Na
'i
mma
keIwa
nbiPr
esi
dent
,

Pr
esi
dentdeydi
ff
erentdif
fer
ents
ha!Somepre
s i
dentdemdeyWeynodeywin
el
ect
ionSomepres
identdemdeyWe ynodeyloseele
cti
onSomepr
esi
dentde
m
de
yWe yde
yrul
eforever,

Pr
esi
dentdeydi
ff
erentdi
ffer
entsha
!SomePresi
dentdemdeyWeynodeywin
el
ect
ionSomePres
identdemde yWe ynode
yloseele
cti
onSomePr
esi
dentde
m
de
yWe yde
yrul
eforever,

Pres
identdeydif
ferentdif
fer
entSomePr esi
dentdemde yWe ydeyma keideology
DeylookLi keper
sonwe ynos e ef
oodchopSomepr eside
ntdemde yWe yde y
worryma kedemc ountr
ybe t
terYougos eesuff
erfordemf a
ceSomePr esident
demde yWe ydeyki l
lpersonlikedembifli
esIfyoufrownfacenafir
ings quadIf
yousayyounos eefoodc hopNabul l
etyoug oseechoponetimeSomepr e s
ident
demde yWe ydonf atli
kepersonwede yforfat
teni
ngroomPr es
ide
ntde ydiffer
ent
dif
fer
ent

IfPres
identgooverse
aNaf orr e
dc ar
pe tegowa l
kNas ososalutedemgode y
ma keNas peci
ala
eroplanegoc ar
ryamNaf orbesthotelegosleepDe mfitgi
ve
ams peci
alwoma nseffornightPresi
dentfittakecocainetr
aveltooEf i
tcarr
y
heroi
nde ygoEf i
tbringhempr etur
nDe mnode ysearchPres
ident,Iwanbi
Presi
dentlikeRus
siademownI fhims neezee ver
yc ountr
ygobe gincryIwa nbe
Presi
dentlikeAmeri
cade mownI fhi
mc oughe verycountr
ygobe gi
nwe e
p,

IwanbePresidentI
fIwa nmar
rybe
aut
if
ulwif
eIgoor
dermakeshec
omeI fIwa
n
chopbet
te
rfoodIgoor derma
kedemgobri
ngamIfIwangi
rlf
ri
endsefNasoI
gosenddri
verforeveni
ng,

IwanbiPre
side
ntForworknogodeyt
roubl
emeIgodeymakee
njoymenta
sI
li
kePer
songowr i
temyspee
chPer
songodri
vedic
arIf
its
endpe
rsonse
fma kee
gore
adam,

IwanbiPr
esi
dentI
ffoodnodeyma rke
tInoworr
yI fdemsaypri
cedonris
eIno
goworr
yIfsa
lar
ynoc omeontimeInogoworryIfpetr
oldeycos
ttoomuchIno
goworr
yIfsa
nit
ati
one xe
rci
sedeyInogoworr
yIfnar el
igi
ont
roublede
yInogo
worr
yIwanbiPr e
sidentMa kepeopleenjoyt
ooWe t
inbifede
ralcharact
erEver
y
i
ndust
rygodeyther
eWe t
inbidi
sadvanta
gedare
aEve r
yappoint
me ntgogothere
Weti
nbigeogra
phicalspreadeve
rypr omoti
ongobiforde
m.Fe deralchar
act
erna
f
orpers
onwe ynoge tbroda,

IwanbiPresi
dentWedemgodeypra
iseEver
yst
ree
t4gocar
rymyna
meIg
o
re
namealluni
versi
tyf
ordic
oun
tryAlldit
owngocar
rymyname

'
i
fdempubl
is
hnewspa
perorma
gaz
ineWe
ycur
semee
vens
mal
lNabombIgo
t
aket
eac
hdemle
sson

I
fIde
ypa
ssf
orr
oadEve
rype
rsongos
tandde
ywa
ve

IwanbiPresi
dentMakeIgetpl
ent
yti
tl
esDemgocallmedeExce
lle
ncyIgobi
Cornmande
r-i
n-Chi
efIfi
tbiFie
ldMars
hal
landAdmira
lIgobiLi
onofdeNige
rI
goanswerGrandCommanderofdiNa
ti
onDe mgoaddre
ssmeassnakewe
yget
for
est
,

Mybr
oda
.Iwa
nbiPr
esi
dentEve
nformyPa
paHous
e

Butnadr
eamIde
ydr
eam.

3.Ni
ger
ianLi
ter
atur
eandt
heQue
er

Sa
dde
stNi
ghtAl
ive
I
tal
wayss
tar
tswi
thyours
il
enc
e,yourbodyr
unni
nga
way,

e
vent
houghyoua
rehe
rea
ndt
hemus
ici
sst
il
lpl
ayi
ng

a
nda
llIwa
nti
stoda
nce
,jus
ttoda
nceba
by

butyoua
rer
eal
lynothe
rea
ndt
hes
eai
sal
way
shungr
y

a
nde
ver
yonei
swa
tchi
nghowyouwi
llf
eedi
t.

Wea
rei
namovi
e,wea
rea
cti
ng

butyouke
eps
ayi
ngt
hisi
snotr
ight
,
Iwa
ntt
oknowwhoma
del
oves
owr
ong.

Thedi
rec
tori
ssc
rea
ming,hi
sve
insa
rebul
ging,

I
’ms
hout
ingl
eavehi
mal
one
,itwa
sthewor
dsIs
hout
ed

whe
nthe
ylync
hedyoui
nmydr
eams
.

Ca
n’tyous
eemybut
tonsundonea
ndwa
it
ingf
oryourf
inge
rs?

Ca
n’tyous
eet
hel
eave
sar
efa
ll
ing?

I
t’
sth
ese
asonf
orwe
ari
ngne
wski
n,

f
orpr
ete
ndi
ngyoudon’
tlovet
heboywhor
odea
cros
syourmout
h

l
astni
ghta
ndIunde
rst
andyoua
rea
fra
id

be
caus
eyourf
ri
end’
sfa
the
rga
vehi
mupt
oth
epol
ic
e

onhi
sbi
rt
hda
yandIknowi
t’
sas
hit
tywa
ytoc
ele
bra
teane
wye
ar

butIdonotwa
ntt
obe
gforl
ove
,

Idonotwa
ntt
ost
eali
ntoyourdr
eams
.

TheDJi
spl
ayi
ngmyf
avor
it
esong,

bodi
esa
removi
ngl
ikef
ir
efl
ie
sda
nci
ngbyt
her
ive
rsi
de,

youa
rel
eavi
ng,i
nmyha
ndi
sagl
assofgi
nandt
oni
c,

I
’ml
ear
ninghowt
oli
vewi
tht
hisf
earofnotf
indi
ngl
ove

i
nthi
sci
ty,
howt
owa
tchmywa
vesr
unba
cki
ntot
hes
ea

l
ikeadogc
urs
edwi
tht
hel
ucko
ffi
ndi
ngde
adl
ove
rs.

Thedi
rec
tori
sshout
ingbutyoua
rea
lre
adygo
ne

a
ndI
’ml
eavi
ng,dr
unka
ndi
nte
ars
,

t
hemus
ici
sst
il
lpl
ayi
ng,s
ti
llc
all
ingourhe
art
sli
kec
louds
wa
it
ingf
ort
hemi
rac
leofwi
ngs
.

The
ywi
llwr
it
ethi
sast
hes
adde
stni
ghta
li
ve

buti
twon’
tme
anat
hingt
ous
,we
’vebe
enhu
rti
ng

be
for
ethee
art
hputt
obi
rt
h.

De
par
tur
e
idoknowa
boutt
heha
tet
hats
inksana
me

&t
urn
swa
teri
ntohome
sea
ti
ngboys

&ic
annots
pea
kbe
cau
semymout
hisagr
ave

myf
athe
r’sghos
troa
ste
daboyf
oundi
ntheh
andsofa
not
herboy

&hi
sas
hesl
ookl
iket
hes
undy
ingonmys
kin

&e
ver
yda
yna
il
sar
epa
sse
daspr
ais
esa
she
roe
s

r
idi
ngbodi
esi
ntopa
ina
sFa
cebookpos
ts

ope
ningbodi
esi
ntof
iel
dse
ate
nbyl
ocus
ts

iwa
sbor
ntobeda
rkne
sshi
dingunde
rac
ave

&iknowt
hewe
ightofe
xil
einabody

t
heor
igi
nofbodi
esl
ooki
ngi
ntof
ace
s

wi
thgr
ati
tudel
eavi
ngapa
rtoft
hem

i
nbi
st
rost
ofor
gethowt
heypr
aye
d

t
othewi
ndst
ofe
rryt
hemove
rwa
ves
t
hema
est
ros
aida
lla
rti
sful
lofde
par
tur
e

iwa
sbor
ntohol
daboyonabuss
tat
ion

s
hakehi
mloos
eahous
ele
aki
ngme
mor
ies

&t
el
lhi
mgor
un bl
eed

i
ntoal
angua
get
hatkno
wst
heme
ani
ngoff
ree
dom

t
ir
edofr
unni
ngofbi
ti
ngi
ntoor
ange
s

iope
nmybodyi
ntopa
in&br
ingoutyourwor
ds

f
aggots
inbone
swa
it
ingf
ort
het
ongueoff
ir
e

hous
eswa
it
ingf
ort
hel
ync
hingofr
ain

&il
ett
hems
li
cemebur
nme

iwa
sbor
nint
oawa
rmyGod’
sdut
yist
ohi
de

t
hehone
ydr
ippi
ngf
rommymout
h

&iwr
it
ethena
mesofl
ove
rsl
eavi
ngi
ntos
and

il
eti
tgr
owont
hei
rtongue
ssot
heywon’
tfor
get

howt
heyl
ive
dint
heda
rkbe
for
efi
ndi
ngAga
dez

pa
thwa
ytor
oada
cros
sthes
ea

iwor
shi
ptheda
ybe
caus
eits
urvi
vedt
heni
ght

&i
’mi
nabuss
tat
ion

s
ayi
ngbyet
oboyss
ear
chi
ngf
orc
it
ie
s
whe
ret
heyc
anhol
dha
nds&wa
lkonbe
ache
s

&iknowwha
titme
anst
oli
vehe
re

wi
thwor
dsi
nve
nte
dforha
te wi
thwoundsa
ske
dtobes
il
ent

&whe
nthe
yle
aveiwa
ntt
owhi
spe
rint
oea
rs

f
il
le
dwi
thdune
soft
hede
ser
t

donotf
orge
tis
ti
lll
ivehe
re

"Iwa
sbor
ntobeda
rkne
sshi
dingunde
rac
ave

&iknowt
hewe
ightofe
xil
einabody”
.

Ana
lys
is
Thef i
rstpoe mcall
edDepartureart
isti
call
yna r
ratesbeingqueeri
nada ngerousand
unacceptingplaceandpa
infuld e
partureofloverstobe t
terpl
aces
.Itpaint
sthe
experi
e nceofbe i
nggayi
nNi ger
iawhe reitisi
llegalandpunisha
bleby
imprisonme ntordeat
hbyamob.Thepoe msa reinformalusi
ngima ge
ry,repit
ion,
fir
stpersona ndstr
eamofcons ci
ousnessnarrat
ivetechniques
.Theseallmakeme
lovethepoe ms.

“
Thes
tre
etshumwi
thv
oic
es,

ve
hic
lesr
uni
ntot
her
is
ings
un,
”

Theaboveli
nesareanexamplefr
omt hese
condsingi
ngpoem,Kumbaya
.Thel
ast
poemSaddestNightAli
ve,a
lsonarr
atesat
aleofadis
tra
ughtl
over
,fr
agi
lel
ove
,
longi
ngandnight
ma r
esofbei
ngkill
ed.

“
I’ml
ear
ninghowt
oli
vewi
tht
hisf
earofnotf
indi
ngl
ove
”.

Ica
ns a
ytheabovesente
ncei
sonetha
techoe
safearofmine
.Whyi
sits
odi
ff
icul
t
t
ofindsomeonetoge
n ui
nel
ylovemeformoret
hanaminute
?
4.Re
ligi
ona
ndRe
ligi
ousExt
remi
smi
nNi
ger
ianLi
ter
atur
e
MAYALLAHPUNI
SHTHEDANES

ByOba
riGomba

Tr
uly,Imus
tbe

At
oneofmyba
ddr
eamsa
gai
n!

Whyd
oes
the
anus
enj
oyt
hef
art

a
ndt
hehe
ads
uff
ert
heknoc
k?

I
fAl
la
hsowi
she
sma
yhepuni
sh

t
hef
ait
hle
ssda
nes

Whod
onotknow

t
hebor
derl
ine
sofj
oke
s!

But
-sa
ywh
yabl
oody

Da
nis
hjoke
sra
ise
s

Aki
ll
inga
rmyont
hes
tre
et

ofmyc
ount
ry

Thi
smus
tbeourhomegr
owt
hve
rsi
on

ki
llya
nmi
ri
nki
lla
llya
nmi
ri
nki
llt
hem?

Thepoe
tsee
shi
scur
rents
it
uat
iona
sanot
herb
addr
eamhes
eesr
eli
gious
exr
eemi
sm

a
ndi
nse
rsa
nts
lut
te
rsi
nthec
ount
ryi
nthena
meofr
eli
gion.
Thepoe
tisf
orc
etoa
sk

a
boutat
rendi
ngi
ssuei
nthes
oci
et
ywhe
res
ome
onec
ommi
tsa
nof
fenc
e
a
gai
ntIs
lami
cre
lgi
oni
nDe
nma
rka
ndt
heChr
ist
ia
nandpe
pleofNi
ger
iaha
sto
s
uff
er

Whyd
oest
hea
nuse
njo
ythef
art

a
ndt
hehe
ads
uff
ert
heknoc
k?

Andhei
soft
heopi
niont
hati
fsome
oneha
ssi
neda
gins
tAl
la
hhes
houl
dbet
he
onet
o

punis
hthe‘da
nes
’[s
ome
onef
romDe
nma
rk]a
lt
hought
hei
nha
bit
ant
soft
he
count
rysee

theha
ppe
ningsa
saj
okea
ndhei
sfor
cedt
oas
k‘Whodonotknowt
hebor
derl
ine
s
of

j
okes!
’andhes
aidame
rej
oker
ais
edi
nDe
nma
rkha
ver
ais
edaki
ll
inga
rmyi
nthe
s
tre
ets

ofNige
riawhi
chhef
urt
herc
all
edahomegr
owt
hve
rsi
onoft
hej
okea
ndt
he
nor
ther
ners

wi
llor
dert
heki
ll
ingofa
llChr
ist
ia
nswhowe
ree
ast
hene
rsa
nds
out
her
nesr
esi
ding

t
her
e.Ki
lly
anmi
riki
lla
llya
nmi
riki
llt
hem.

Fe
del
isOkor
oEdonTe
y

Ma
ll
amgot
el
lamma
keef
ighthol
ywa
r

Egodoa
m

Sombodywe
yne
vers
eei
mpors
inc
ede
mbor
nam

Nai
mde
yba
shbokui
mporpl
usbokut
anc
e

Some
bodywe
ydons
ees
ayi
mli
fenome
annot
hingt
onobody
Nai
mde
mgi
vegun,g
ivekni
fe,gi
vebomb

Egode
yki
llegode
yla
ugh

Egode
yki
llegode
ysmi
le

GodAl
might
y,Iwa
nas
kque
sti
on

Dozme
nwe
ythr
owt
went
y-onei
nnoc
entpi
kins

I
nsi
dewe
llf
orKa
duna

Da
sht
hei
rinnoc
entbr
ainf
orwa
ll

Nayout
el
lde
myougogi
vede
mse
vens
eve
nvi
rgi
nsf
orpa
radi
se?

Doze
leve
nboyswe
yfl
ypl
anee
nte
rbui
ldi
ngf
orNe
wYor
kki
ll2001pe
opl
e

Nayoupr
omi
sede
mSe
pte
mbe
rvi
rgi
nsf
orhe
ave
n?

I
fda
tnat
rue

Nahowma nyvir
ginsyougogi
vet
hatwoma
nwe
ybombhe
rse
lff
orJ
erus
ale
m
mar
ketk
illfi
ft
ypeople?

Abinas
eve
nyoungme
nyougogi
vea
m?

5.Nigeri
anFemal
eWr
it
ersa
ndFe
mal
eCons
cious
nes
sin
Nige
r i
anLit
era
tur
e
Donots
topme
Angel
aMi r
i,aPla
tea
u-bor
nwoma n,whot
eac
hesa
ttheUni
ver
sit
yofJ
os,ha
s
al
waysexpr
e s
sed“adet
ermina
ti
onto

befr
eedf
romli
mit
at
i onspl
acedonwomenbyAf
ri
canpa
tri
arc
hie
s”(
Tanur
e
Oja
ide&Tij
anSal
lah,1999:
185).Thi
s

ur
gef
orf
ree
domf
rompa
tri
arc
halma
rgi
nal
is
ati
oni
sevi
denti
nhe
rpoe
m,“
DoNot
St
opMe
!”a
nthol
ogi
sedi
nOj
ai
de

andSal
lah’
s(1999:
185-
186)TheNe
wAf
ri
canPoe
try.Thes
tyl
is
ti
cconf
igur
ati
on
ofthet
it
leoft
hispoemsugge
sts

t
heas
ser
ti
vene
ssofawomandete
rmi
nedt
obr
eakl
oos
efr
omhe
rins
igni
fi
cant
s
phe
rebeca
useshe"
rega
le[
s]i
n

di
vinee
ndowme
nts
/tof
ir
eon,e
xpl
ori
ngunt
ildooms
day"(
Mir
i,186)
.Thef
ir
st
st
anzar
eads
:

Donots
topme
!

Ibur
n

l
iket
hewi
ldha
rma
tt
anf
ir
e

bur
ningunc
ont
rol
la
bly

a
ndd
est
royi
nge
ver
ythi
ngi
nit
spa
th

t
ocl
eart
hes
lot
hforac
arni
val
!

Noa
mountofwa
terorj
etofl
iqui
dche
mic
als

c
anque
ncht
hist
hir
st

i
nmef
ors
elf
-expr
ess
ion(
185)
.

Hereisawomanwhoisfor
cef
ull
y,"
unc
ont
rol
la
bly"br
eaki
ngf
ort
h,c
ravi
ngf
or
se
lf-
expre
ssi
on,awomanwho

ne
vermindsdes
troyi
ngtheba
rri
erst
hathavebe
enr
ele
gat
inghe
rtot
he
ba
ckgr
oundforlong.Thei
mageof‘f
ire’

s
ignif
iest
hisbur
ningdes
iref
orfre
edom.Thi
spoe
tsubs
cri
best
other
adi
cal
a
p pr
oachtomovingthece
ntr
istmal
e

hegemony.These
conds
tanzaoft
hepoe
mspa
nksma
n-“
some
onet
her
e
unimpr
essed”–wit
hwords.Thel
ast
st
anzaobj
ectst
he"room"spher
einwhi
chwome
nar
eas
signe
danda
sse
rtshe
r
des
iret
o"givecont
rol"i
nthepubl
ic

spher
ebecaus
es heha
s“le
tloos
eint
hef
ir
mame
nt”(
186)
.Thes
tyl
is
ti
cre
pet
it
ion
ofthet
it
leofthepoeminit
sboby

a
lsof
ore
groundst
hewoman’sque
stf
orc
ont
rola
nds
elf
-expr
ess
ion.Be
hindt
he
s
impl
elanguagee
mpl
oyedinthi
s

poe
m,Mi
ripa
sse
sas
trongme
ssa
geofe
manc
ipa
ti
onf
orwome
n.

6.Di
aspor
icExpe
rie
ncei
nNi
ger
ianLi
ter
atur
e
Te
lephoneConve
rsa
tion
Aki
nwa
ndeOl
uwol
eBa
bat
undeSoyi
nka(
bor
n13J
uly1934)

Thepr
ices
eeme
dre
asona
ble
,lo
cat
ion

I
ndi
ff
ere
nt.
Thel
andl
adys
wor
eshel
ive
d

Of
fpr
emi
ses
.Not
hingr
ema
ine
d

Buts
elf
-conf
ess
ion.'
Mada
m',Iwa
rne
d,

'
Iha
teawa
ste
djour
ney-Ia
mAf
ri
can.
'

Si
le
nce
.Si
le
nce
dtr
ans
mis
sionofpr
ess
uri
zedgood-
bre
edi
ng.Voi
ce,whe
nitc
ame
,

Li
pst
ic
kcoa
ted,l
onggol
d-r
oll
ed

Ci
gar
ett
e-hol
derpi
ppe
d.Ca
ughtIwa
s,f
oul
ly.

'
HOW DARK? '.
..
Iha
dnotmis
hea
rd.
..
.'
AREYOULI
GHTORVERYDARK?
'
But
tonB.But
tonA.Ste
nch

Ofr
anc
idbr
eat
hofpubl
ichi
de-
and-
spe
ak.
Re
dboot
h.Re
dpi
ll
ar-
box.Re
ddoubl
e-t
ie
red

Omni
buss
que
lchi
ngt
ar.

I
twa
sre
al!Sha
med

Byi
ll
-ma
nne
reds
il
enc
e,s
urr
ende
r

Pus
heddumbf
oundme
ntt
obe
gsi
mpl
if
ica
ti
on.

Cons
ide
rat
eshewa
s,va
ryi
ngt
hee
mpha
sis
-

'
AREYOUDARK?ORVERYLI
GHT'
Reve
lat
ionc
ame

'
Youme
an-l
ikepl
ai
normi
lkc
hoc
ola
te?
'

He
rac
centwa
scl
ini
cal
,cr
ushi
ngi
nit
sli
ght

I
mpe
rsona
li
ty.Ra
pidl
y,wa
ve-
lengt
hadj
ust
ed

Ic
hos
e.'
Wes
tAf
ri
cans
epi
a'
_anda
saf
ter
thought
.

'
Downi
nmypa
sspor
t.
'Si
le
ncef
ors
pec
tros
cop
ic

Fl
ightoff
anc
y,t
il
ltr
uthf
ulne
ssc
hage
dhe
rac
cent

Har
donthemouthpi
ece'
WHAT'
STHAT?
'conc
edi
ng'
DON'
TKNOW WHAT
THATIS.'
'Li
kebrune
tte
.'

'
THAT'
SDARK,I
SN'
TIT?
'

'
Nota
lt
oge
the
r.

Faci
al
ly,Ia
mbrune
tt
e,butma
damyous
houl
dse
ether
estofme
.Pa
lmofmyha
nd,
sol
esofmyfee
t.

Ar
eape
roxi
debl
onde
.Fr
ict
ion,c
aus
ed-

Fool
is
hlyma
dam-bys
it
ti
ngdown,ha
stur
ned

Mybot
tomr
ave
nbl
ack-Onemome
ntma
dam!-s
ens
ing

He
rre
cei
verr
ear
ingont
het
hunde
rcl
ap
Aboutmye
ars
-'Ma
dam,
'Ipl
eade
d,'
woul
dn'
tyour
athe
r

Se
eforyour
sel
f?'

ANALYSI
S

Ra
cis
tDi
scr
imi
nat
ioni
nWol
eSoyi
nka
’sTe
lephoneConve
rsa
ti
on

ThepoemTe l
ephoneConve rsat
ioni
swrit
tenbyWol eSoyinka
.Thepoemisin
fir
stper
sonna rr
ati
ve.Ittri
estograppl
ewit
ht heis
sueofraci
smthatl
urkswit
hin
themindsofc ount
lessindivi
duals
.Thepoethasplace
dbeforehi
saudi
encea
tel
ephoni
cc onvers
ati
onbe twe e
nawhi t
ela
ndl a
dyanda nAfr
icanman,wit
hthe
lat
terl
ookingforapla c
et orent
.Thepoemi sabit
tercommentonraci
smandraci
st
prej
udice
s.

I
nthepoemWol eSoyinkat
al
ksaboutt
wos t
ranger
sspeaki
ngove rt
het e
lephone
.
Itr
eveal
sthea t
ti
tudest
hatsomepeopl
ehaveaboutot
hers,pa
rti
cula
rlyjudging
someonewithoutknowinghimorherper
sona
llybutbyjustr
ecogni
s i
ngthec ol
our
ofsomeone’
ss ki
n.

Theiniti
a ll
inesmakether e
ade rsa wa r
eofthereasonbe hindtheAf ri
canman’s
arri
valatthephoneboot hthatma keshimt ocal
lal a
ndla dy.Thepriceoftheroom
andthel ocati
on,andotheressentialsa r
eagreea
bletohi m.Dur ingthecours
eoft he
dial
ogue ,thema nget
stoknowt hepr emises
.Thenthemome ntcomeswhe nthe
ma nma kesuphi smindtoc onside rtheoffer
.Butinthemi dstofhi
sc onver
sati
on,
heme ntionsthatheisblack.Att heot herendofthelinethe r
eisnothingbut
sil
ence.TheAf ri
canmannot i
cest hea bruptsi
lenceandhet akesi
ttobea n
impolit
ege st
ureofre
fusal
.
 Howe ve r,thesilenc eissoonbroke nasthelandladys ta
rtst
os pea kaga inand
askshimt oe xpl
a ine xactl
yhowda rkheis.Atf irs
t,thema nthinkst hathemi ght,
havemi s heardtheque sti
onbutwhe nthelandladyre peat
sthesa me ,heunde rs
tands
thatiti
ss ome t
hingve ryimport
antf orhertoknowbe f
oreshea l
lowshi mt orent
herhous e .Thisturnst obee nt
irel
yde vastati
ngf orthema n.Attha tmome nthe
feelsdi
s gus t
ingwi tht hequesti
ona ndf a
ncieshims elftobeama chine,likeaphone .
Her educ estobe ingab utt
onont hatphone .He s me ll
sthestenchf romhi swor ds
ands ees“ red”alla roun dhim.

Theide
abehi
ndthepoemTel
ephoneConve
rsa
tioni
stodepicthowbrut
ala
nd
de
vast
ati
ngi
tcanbeforamanwhoissubj
ect
edtorac
ialdi
scr
iminat
ion.

Theblac
kAf ri
canma nisreduc
e dtoshamebythesuddens i
lencea tt
heother
sideandhege t
si nt
oas tat
eofma kebe l
ief
,whenhesar
c a
s t
ica
llythinkstha
tthe
ladyhasbrokenhe rsi
lenceandha sgivenhimt
heopti
ont odefine“howda rk”he
islike“
Choc olat
eordar korli
ght?”.Thenhegoesontoans werthathisski
nc ol
our
canbepictureda s“wes
tAf ri
canse pi
a”.Themanrepl
iesthati
tisa l
mos tsi
milart
o
be i
ngadarkbr unet
te.

Me anwhi l
et hema nhol dsont oc odesofforma l
it
ywhi chbreaksdowna tthe
landla
dy’ sins e
nsiti
vity.TheAf ricanma nnows houtsoutloudsayingt hathei s
blackbuthei snottha tblackfora nyonetobeputt os hame.Hea ls
os ayst hatthe
solesofhi sfeetandt hepa lmso fhisrearar
ebl ackasar esul
toff r
ic t
ion.He
knowst hatthel andladywi l
lneverbec onvincedwi t
hhi sblac
kc ompl exi
ona ndhe
sensesthats hemi ghts l
a mdownt herecei
veranytime .Atsuchac rucialjuncture,
hema ke sade s
peratea nds i
ll
ya tt
emptpl e
adinghe rtocomea ndt a
keagoodl ook
athimbutc oul dnotpr eventthesituat
ionfr
omge tt
ingbe t
ter
.Finallythel andlady
slamsdownt hereceiveronhi sface .
 Thepoemr eflect
sthec onfli
ctbet
we e
ntheblackandthewhit
elandl
ady.The
poempoi ntsattheabsurdit
yofr ac
ism.Thepracti
ceofjudgi
ngsomeoneonthe
basisofhiscolour/
race/
ca s
te/s
ocia
lstat
usins
teadofhisinne
rcapabi
li
ti
espre
sent
s
thehighl
yc orrupti
ma geoft hesoci
etywhereindi
vidual
ityi
satst
ake.

6.Envi
ronme
nta
lConc
ernsi
nNi
ger
ianLi
ter
atur
e
Whe
ntheEa
rthBl
eeds
ByNni
mmoBa
sse
y

Ihe
ardt
hatoi
l

Ma
kest
hingsmove

Buti
ntr
uthIs
eet
hatoi
l

Ma
kesl
if
est
op

Be
caus
e

Theoi
lonl
yfl
ows

Whe
nthee
art
hbl
eeds

At
hous
ande
xpl
osi
onsi
nthebe
ll
yoft
hee
art
h

Bl
eedi
ngr
igs
,bur
sti
ngpi
pes

Thi
soi
lfl
ows

Fr
omt
hee
art
h’sde
athbe
d

Be
caus
e

Theoi
lonl
yfl
ows
Whe
nthee
art
hbl
eeds

The
ywor
kint
heda
rk

Wemus
tli
ftupt
hel
ight

Que
ncht
hei
rga
sfl
are
s

Expos
ethe
irgr
eed

Be
caus
e

Theoi
lonl
yfl
ows

Whe
nthee
art
hbl
eeds

>Fr
omt
heGa
rde
nCour
t,Ma
rinePa
rade

Wet
al
kandt
al
kinaga
rde
nofs
tone
s

Theoc
eanwa
vesba
theoure
yes

Buti
nOgoni
la
ndwec
an’
teve
nbr
eat
he

Be
caus
e

Theoi
lonl
yfl
ows

Whe
nthee
art
hbl
eeds

Wha
twi
llwedo?

Wha
tmus
twedo?

Dowej
usts
it
Wa
ila
ndmop?

Ar
isepe
opl
e,l
et
’suni
te

Wi
thourf
ist
s

Le
t’sba
nda
get
hee
art
h

Be
caus
e

Theoi
lonl
yfl
ows

Whe
nthee
art
hbl
eeds

Theoi
lonl
yfl
ows

Whe
nthee
art
hbl
eeds

Oneoft hegr owingc onc ernsi nr ecentye ar

sa llovert hewor l
di sthec areforthe
environme nt.The reha vebe e nt hreatstoenvironme nta lpolluti
onoc c asi
one dbyoi l
explorationpa rti
cularlyint heNi gerDe lt
ar egionofNi ge r
ia.Thi sha sbi r
theda
growi ngc oncerna mongwr it
e rsoft heregion,e speci
a ll
ypoe t
s,tol endt heirvoi c
es
tode crythee xploitat
ionoft heire nvironme nt.Thispa pe ridentifi
est hene gative
effect
sofoi le xplorationont hel and,thehuma na ndt henon- huma ni nhabitantsof
theDe l
taregion,a nds ugge stshowpoe tr
yisus e dasat oolt oc urbthi sme nac e.
Thedi scove ryofc rudeoi lint heNi gerDe l
tah asbroughtunt oldha r dshipont he
inhabitantsoft heregion.Thi sde privati
onha spr oduce da na ct
ivisma mongs ome
ofthewr it
ersint hisregionl ikeNni mmoBa ss
e y.Inhi spoe m“ Whe nthee arth
bleeds”,Ba sseye mpl oysa ne co -crit
icalapproac htola me nthowt hena t
ural
blessi
ngha sturne dtoac ur sewhi chha sresult
e dinpa ina nds ufferingf orthe
physic a
ll anda nditsinha bitants.Thi spaperunde r
scor estheimpor tanceofpo etr
y
inthedi scoursef orenvironme nt alpreser
va t
ionwi thac alltoa ppropr iat
ethis
naturalresourcef orthebe nefitoft helanda ndt hepe opleoft heNi ge rDe l
tar egi
on.