A man tapping palmwine

I have been scratching my head
In wonder for some years now,
Puzzled and amazed by such ignorance.
 
I shook my head in disbelief
‘Can anything good come out of Nigeria?’
They were asking me, flushed faces facing me
 
Giggles… Laughter… The taunting touch of mockery
The volcano in me nearing eruption
I held it down, held my peace
 
‘What is your response, Yaga?’
The taunting touch of mockery
Volcano in me, erupting… Where do I begin?
 
Thoughts like rapids flowing through my head
The beautiful soil that needs no tilling
The undulating plains that need no smoothening
Have they seen the sturdy hills of Enugu at dawn?
Or Olumo, the indomitable, proud head in the sun?
Have they heard of Gurara Falls?
Or stood on the peak of Obudu , where spirits stand tall?
No flood or quakes, no screaming hysteria
Do they know this beautiful Nigeria?
 
Thoughts like rapids rushing through my head
There, in the sands, the footfall of heroes
Warriors passed this way, paved the way to tomorrow
The trees still whisper, ‘Here lies Aminu Kano’
‘Here lies Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello’
‘Here lies Awolowo and the heart of Tarka’
‘Here lies the wall of Queen Amina of Zaria’
The trees still whisper these old, old stories
But do they know this beautiful history?

Four-One-Nine
Four hundred and nineteen children standing in a line
Facing poverty with dignity
Four hundred and nineteen men weaving an honest living,
Bleeding fingers squeezing water from stones
Four hundred and nineteen women scraping flesh off bones
Four hundred and nineteen backs, bent but not broken
Not a lie spoken, not a bribe taken
 
With nothing but the light shining in his own heart
There is Chinua Achebe writing, Things Fall Apart
From the depths of his own sorrow, at ends that never meet
There is Basketmouth cracking us up with his bottomless wit.
When we fall in love but lack the words to woo her
We let Tu Face sing, My African Queen to her
It is who we are – men and women who grip adversity
Twist and turn it with undaunted creativity
 
Thoughts rushing like rapids through my head
But they judge us for the one man duped in Tokyo
The one man swindled in Congo
When faceless millions are braving the winter
Working three jobs to send money home to mother
When resolve is building Nollywood – one film a time
Faceless millions walking one day at a time
Yet still doing much with so little…
Do they know these beautiful people?
 
Yaga?
Volcano erupted – silently, quietly
My eyes return, flushed faces, still, facing me
 
What do you say?
Giggles… Laughter… Ignorance and ignorance talking
Can anything good come out of Nigeria ?
 
I rise to my feet – volcano erupted
I have never heard a thunder storm defend itself
So I turn around
 
On the back of my tee-shirt – simply written:
NAIJA FOR REAL.
PLEASE STOP BEEFING!!

©2009 Yaga Chukwumerije. All Rights Reserved.

]]> http://www.419positive.org/voices-yaga-chukwumerije/feed/ 1 http://www.419positive.org/welcome/ http://www.419positive.org/welcome/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:40:24 +0000 The 419Positive Project http://localhost:8888/419positive/?p=1 Welcome to The 419Positive Project blog!..

This project has been a long time in the making.. We wanted everything to be just perfect.. The timing.. The national ambience..

We’ve faced many obstacles.. And learnt many lessons.. The greatest lesson being to quit waiting for the perfect conditions.. For each time our perfect timing approached, external forces unsettled the ambience of the nation..

Here’s our challenge:
How do we convince people to Say Something Positive about Nigerians or Nigeria when they are faced with the realities of bad governance, poor infrastructure and an uncertain future?..

We’ve struggled.. And many times, we lost hope.. However, we are confident that there’s more to Nigerians and Nigeria.. And we are hopeful that this journey will reward us with a renewed sense of ownership and civil responsibility..

We’re inviting you to take this journey with us..
Enjoy..

]]> http://www.419positive.org/welcome/feed/ 0 http://www.419positive.org/nigeria-in-pictures-borgu-kingdom/ http://www.419positive.org/nigeria-in-pictures-borgu-kingdom/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:08:06 +0000 The 419Positive Project http://www.419positive.org/?p=446 UK-based photographer, Bukkie Opebiyi, shares some amazing pictures from her visit to the Borgu Kingdom of Niger State, North Central Nigeria..

At the end of the month-long muslim fasting period, the people of Borgu gather at the Emir’s palace to celebrate..
The Borgu area is also home to the hydroelectric power plant, Kainji Dam..

(Please note that all images are the property of the photographer)



Horse races are put on to entertain guests



Ornately decorated horses



The Jakadia (lady dressed in green) oversees the ladies-in-waiting



The Emir’s guards stand out in their ceremonial red and whips

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