Olodumare laughed when the Nigerian contingents
Stood up to present their case
before the throne of the Most High.
Olodumare said, “Active and passive
are equal and opposite
to effect the law of balance.
In the beginning
I created the most talented people
In a landscape mischievously named Nigeria.
NEW SALE
I have just sold this work titled “MESSENGER OF HOPE.”
It is a terracotta piece mounted on canvas.
It has an antique look to give it a timeless dimension, just as the element of hope that it defines.
I’m happy the work has found a home where it will be happy and loved.
THE MESSENGER OF HOPE
If the road is bad
buy-a-Jeep-generation.
If the oil is crude
export them for refining
then import-them-for-distribution-generation
If the schools are bad
send-your-children-abroad-for-education-generation
If there is a food shortage
import-food-from-abroad-generation.
If there is no pipe-borne water
NAME YOUR TEACHER
Who taught you
that you must breathe?
Who taught you
that you must eat?
that you must crawl?
that you must walk?
that you must talk?
that you must listen?
Who taught you
that your culture is inferior?
Now, please watch this one-minute clip after reading my short note.
This morning I went to my usual coffee shop, not too far from my house in Austin, Texas.
It was my favorite hangout before the outbreak of the Covid.
But now, it has become only a drive-in shop, and I sat in my Jeep, waiting for the young woman to take my order.
“Tall coffee and a banana nut bread warmed,” I told her.
“Sure,” she said. “That will be five dollars and seventy cents.”
A friend, who is also a devout, church-going Christian just talked with me a few minutes ago. He called from Nigeria.
“What is wrong with these kids?” he asked me. “Why can’t they protest peacefully? What has their quarrel against police brutality got to do with burning down buildings, and looting stores? They are criminals. They are worse than the politicians they are criticizing. If you place them in positions of power, they would do worse.”
I didn’t respond. After all, I didn’t call him. He called. He must have something really important to say to have spent his money calling me.
LOOKING BACK
I
Exile, however sweet,
for home makes the heart yearn.
Àjò kìí dùn
kónílé gbàgbé ilé.
I colored the Yoruba proverb above for emphasis.
Why?
Because everybody living in Nigeria is a hero.
It is often akin to being a kamikaze pilot in WWII.
They just survived the #EndSars uprising.
John McArthur, the internationally renowned evangelist, is quoted as observing that “It is confusing to watch people demand justice by violating the law.”
What is even more confusing is to watch the law perpetuate injustice.
And infinitely most perplexing is to watch the officers of the law flout legal procedures and violate human rights with impunity.
This is why SARS provoked such hostile reception from the Nigerian community that it was meant to serve.
It is most confusing to watch Nigerian politicians loot the funds meant for the entire nation.
It is confusing to see the police refuse to prosecute them.
YORUBA DISINFORMATION IS MUNGO PARK
This morning, a friend of mine who is a professor at a university here in Texas woke me up with, “Hey Moyo, what is the meaning of Yoruba?”
This professor called me on WhatsApp video.
Disinformation is as old as the human tongue.
Let me take that back.
Disinformation predates the human tongue.
Disinformation started with the body language of making signs.
When you smile, when you really are plotting to hit a fellow, that is disinformation.
LOOTING THE LEKKI WAREHOUSE
The Bible says:
1 Timothy 2:7
He was a murderer
from the beginning,
and does not stand
in the truth
because there is no truth in him.
Whenever he speaks a lie,
he speaks from his own nature,
Let the house rat hear
and tell the bush rat.
Safeguard your community.
Let each community of 1000 citizens
Form a fence of 100 youths.
Take a census of 1000 names
in each community unit.
Document the name, age and occupation
of everyone within your community.
Do not rely on police protection
there is none anymore.
To the Yoruba Nation
There is a new vision
It is from Odu Irosun
And it advocates the IYEYE plant
Now listen:
We are now near the top of the Gbadi Hill
It is the tallest hill in the universe
So tall, its head is a pointed triangle.
Now the citizens of Iperi were hungry
They cried out from hunger and unhappiness
They were in pain for homelessness
They needed a savior
Who will protect the people of Iperi
A young stranger will shelter the people of Iperi