The Rebirth of Niger

The Rebirth of Niger:

             Kingsley C OkaforIgwe

Along the Niger

The reawakening: 

The rebirth of civilization

The emancipation of life force

The rediscovery of self

Let the river flow

Venerating the heritage

The ingenuity,

Of departed ancestors

Gone are days

Of lethargic self-depletion.

Gone is sackcloth.

Alive,

The heroes past,

Come alive.

In a million fold,

Alive:

Our heroes live,

To revive the misplaced,

Tradition misplaced.

Let the river flow

From the land of many spirits,

The missionaries fled.

Leaving behind the mission;

The mission irreconcilable;

Diametrically opposed,

The many spirits of the land,

Opposed.

Let the river flow:

In our lives, we must carry

The spirit of our ancestors;

Their steadfastness,

We must demonstrate.

With our tongues,

We must profess.

Our story,

We must tell.

Let the river flow.

Each one of us owes this duty,

Duty we must pay:

For our relevance,

We must pay.

For our children,

We must pay.

A person abandoning this duty

Is not worth a coin.

Who are they,

Those absconding?

From what must they abscond?

The foundation is laid,

All are called.

Every life has a calling

In every one of us,

There is a calling.

In every one of us,

There is a role to play

In every life,

There is a purpose

Heed your calling:

Your purpose in life

And

Let the river flow

Along the Niger,

Awaken our children,

To the rebirth

Of our civilization.

Let the river flow.

Ode To Chi, in Igbo:

Ana m eluberu Chi m isi

Ebe Ala siri m guzo ka m

Ga eguzo

Onye di na akpo m?

One ndi na akpo m?

One ndi na akpo m oku ndimmuo?

Ejikwa m Ofo

Ejikwa m Ogu

Ndi odu ghara ikwe suo na ala

Ahukwa na m

Nne m nyekworo m Ikenga

Nna m nyekworo m Ikenga

Ha siri m gaba atula egwu

Ndika mmadu na eche m nche

Nna m na agoro m Ofo;

Ofo oma ka ona agoro m

Onye puru igbachiri m?

Onye puru imejide m?

Na ebee!

Ndika mmadu na eche m nche

Abiama;

Chi -ukwu Abiama na eche m nche

Nna m nyere m Ofo,

Ofo oma ka m ji aga

One ndi na achu aja mmuo?

Onye na achu aja amaosu?

Onye puru imejide m?

Abiama na eche m nche

Osiri m gaba atula egwu

Kedu maka ndi uta?

Ndi ogbu mmadu?

Chineke ga abu ha nile onu

Oji Ofo ga ana

Oji Ofo nwe mmeri

Ejim Ofo

Eji m Ogu.

Okwa agbara aka azo ala,

Oji ji ana akonye?

Ochu aja mmuo

Ori amaosu oga asi na aka ya di ocha?

Onye amaosu oji Ofo?

 Ka oji Ogu?

Aka amaosu odi ocha?

Aka omealu ona eji Ofo ka ona eji Ogu?

Mba! Mba!! Mba nu!

Chekwa ka m biri

Biri ka m biri

Egbe belu, ka Ugo belu

Ala nwekworo nti

Enu na anukwo ife

Anyanwu na afukwo uzo

Nne m nyere m Ikenga

Nna m nyere m Ikenga

Ejikwa m Ofo

Ejikwa Ogu

Ofo  oma na Ogu Ike ka m ji aga

Ka odiri Olu na Igbo mma.

I se.