Books you should read: 'The Boy from Africa and other poems' by Oliver Sopulu Odo

The Boy from Africa and other poems  by Oliver Sopulu Odo, is a chapbook containing 24 poems that focuses on the spirit of Africa, the African life as well as the depression of the African continent. Oliver writes his poem with the aim of giving strong motivation and also ensuring that you take a deep reflective thought as you read his poem.

Poetry: An Analysis on E. "O'brevis" Omeje's Depression -E-CAF

Photo by Chris Dubem

The poem is an easy comprehensible piece, made up of three nailed stanza, with a unifying theme. It's the shortness and meaningful write up I have seen on depression; encoded with the START, the AFTERMATH and the ADVISE. So complete!

Vincent Agbodike: Christ's Passion

In us You gave it all
By us we lost it all.
We rejected the blame
Putting Your efforts to shame.

In full force the gate of hell let loose
Pouring upon us her virtues in deuce;
Death, misery, hardship, sorrow, pain
Wickedness, hatred, vanity. Sin!

Oliver S. Odo: "Backfriend my Friend" and it's analysis by E-CAF

             

Hello! Backfriend the sweet atter
You have been giving to me is
My life support to live longer
I want you to know that bitter
Is a medication for the unhealthy living
Hungry doesn't kill a free goat that
Dines from its enemy farmland.
       
Criticism of Oliver S. Odo's B"Backfriend my friend" by Chidubem Egwudike
The persona, in this work, tells us the the kind of ironic impact false friends have on us.

The Rays: A poem by Chidubem Egwudike

Chidubem Egwudike |  Source

Lightness of God,
He is the lightness of nature,
And the Lightness of the brightest.

The one who chases away the darkness;
The darkness of the darkest.

Poem: FEAR by Chidubem Egwudike

Image Credit: Pinterest

I wrote this poem in the year 2017. It was dedicated to a very good friend of mine, Felicitas Irue.

She is a girl I felt attracted to back in my tutorial days. A lady who dwells in her sadness until I meet her. Trust me, I won't share her story here..lol

I am so glad to have met her and I believe I have indeed enlightened her.

Poem: INDICES by Chidubem Egwudike

This poem was written by I in the year 2019. It has originally been published by Think Life on April 20, 2019. Copyright of this work is under the protection of Think Life.
It's titled INDICIES....

Think Life: A poem dedicated to the online dream platform 'Think Life'

Image Credit via Pinterest

This is a life thinking peom, written by  Chidubem Egwudike, in the year 2017. It's the very same year Think Life - the platform - was initiated into existence. Egwudike wrote this poem, to dedicate it to the online Photography, Literalism and Quotes idealism.

The 2019 Brunel International African Poetry Prize to commence on October 1st. See more details on how to apply.

The shortlist was announced on March 12th 2018.
The winner was announced on May 1st 2018.

The 2019 prize will open for entries from October 1st to November 30th 2018.
The Brunel International African Poetry Prize is a major annual poetry prize of £3000, aimed at the development, celebration and promotion of poetry from in Africa.

Poetry: One wife for one man by Aig-Imoukhuede, Frank

I dey try go church, I done go for court
Dem all day talk about di ‘new culture’ ;
Dem talk about ‘equality’ ,them mention ‘divorce’
Dem holler am so-tay my ear nearly cut;
One wife be for one man.
My fader before my fader got him wife borku
Eno’ get equality mapalaver, he live well

Poetry: Saddest Night Alive by Romeo Oriogun

"They will write this as the saddest night alive.."

It always starts with your silence, your body running away,

even though you are here and the music is still playing

and all I want is to dance, just to dance baby

but you are really not here and the sea is always hungry

and everyone is watching how you will feed it.

We are in a movie, we are acting

but you keep saying this is not right,

Poetry: ABIKU - John Pepper Clark

About the Poet.

John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo (born 6 April 1935) is a Nigerian poet and playwright , who has also published as J. P. Clark and John Pepper Clark .

J. P. Clark

Coming and going these several seasons,
Do stay out on the baobab tree,
Follow where you please your kindred spirits
If indoors is not enough for you.
True, it leaks through the thatch
When floods brim the banks,

Poetry: DEPARTURE by Romeo Oriogun

i do know about the hate that sinks a name

& turns water into homes eating boys

& i cannot speak because my mouth is a grave

my father’s ghost roasted a boy found in the hands of another boy

& his ashes look like the sun dying on my skin

& every day nails are passed as praises as heroes

riding bodies into pain as Facebook posts

opening bodies into fields eaten by locusts

Poetry: KUMBAYA by Romeo Oriogun

I cannot make this up.

Sunlight sneak behind dark curtains

& you sit up, say the light is here again.

The streets hum with voices,

vehicles run into the rising sun,

my neighbor press her ear against the wall

to hear the voice of heaven

falling from a mouth made beautiful by sin.

Poetry: NOT MY BUSINESS by Niyi Osundare

They picked Akanni up one morning
Beat him softball like clay
And stuffed him down the belly
Of a waiting jeep.

What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?

They came one night
Booted the whole house awake
And dragged Danladi out,
Then off to a lengthy

Poetry: They too Are the Earth by Niyi Osundare.

• 

Image via Foluke Ifejola

They too are the earth

The swansongs of beggars sprawled out
The brimming gutters
They are the earth
Under snakeskin shoes and Mercedes tyres.

They too are the earth

The sweat and grime of
Millions hewing wood and hurling water
They are the earth
Muddy every pore like naked moles

Poetry: Olukun by J. P. Clark

I love to pass my fingers
(As tide thro' weeds of the sea
And wind the tall fern-fronds)
Thro' the stands of your hair
Dark as night that screens the naked moon:

I am jealous and passionate
Like Jehovah, God of the Jews,
And I would that you realise
No greater love had woman
From man than the one I have for you!

But what wakeful eyes of man,

A biography of Ezenwa Ohaeto

Nigerian poet and scholar Ezenwa-Ohaeto was educated at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka and the University of Benin. The author of several collections of poetry, including Songs of a Traveller (1986), I Wan Bi President (1988) and Chants of a Minstrel (2002), Ezenwa-Ohaeto was one of the first Nigerians to publish poems written in pidgin English, bringing the cadence of a primarily oral language to the page.

Poetry: I wan bi President by Ezenwa Ohaeto

E get one dream Wey dey worry me I don dream am tire,

If I sleep small Na di dream go come If I close eye small Na di dream go come If I siddon for chair say make I rest small Na di dream go come I think say na malaria dey come,

For night when I lie for bed When hunger dey blow me When I never see food chop When I never see water drink Na di dream go come,

Poetry: Idoto by Christopher Okigbo

Before you, mother Idoto,
         naked I stand,
before your watery presence,
          a prodigal,

leaning on an oilbean;
lost in your legend...