CULTURE ANTHOLOGY

BLACK PRIDE MAGAZINE

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A

Poetry Publication

Of

BLACK PRIDE

Magazine

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Copyright © Micheal Ace, 2017.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, retained or transmitted in any form or by any

means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and

retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Published by Black Pride Magazine

Website: www.blackpridemagazine.wordpress.com

Cover Photograph: ©BlackPrideMagazine

Book Design/Layout: Micheal Ace, ACEworld

Edited by Micheal Ace

Introduced by Adigun Temitope (Idealism)

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CONTENT

DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................. 5

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 6

FOREWORD............................................................................................................................................... 7

TRIBAL MARK by Fidelis Okafor ........................................................................................................... 9

UNTITLED by ADEJUMOKE BALOGUN .......................................................................................... 10

TRIBES by Saviour Michel Village Writer ............................................................................................ 11

TRIBAL MARKS by Akinbode Israel .................................................................................................... 12

WE ARE LOST by Benjamin Elemide ................................................................................................... 13

DERAILMENT by Alade Germane Elijah ............................................................................................ 14

MY NIGERIA - MY CULTURE by Ifemeni Xtian Derrick White .................................................... 15

UNTITLED by ABIENEKPAN OSALETIN ......................................................................................... 16

WHY THE MOON DOESN'T RULE AT NOON by Agbaakin Oluwatoyosi Jeremiah .................. 17

DERAILMENT II by Alade Germane Elijah ...................................................................................... 18

THE LIFE OF A CULTURE by Tukur Loba Ridwan ......................................................................... 19

WHEN CULTURE BECOMES MYTH by Ola W. Halim ................................................................... 20

THE NEW YAM by Ezugwu Evanstus................................................................................................... 21

AKPU (Fufu) by Chiyasa - Ezeezeh Ikwuemesibe ................................................................................. 22

OKE LA by Success Timothy Ayo........................................................................................................... 23

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DEDICATION

This works of art is dedicated to all the poetry pen-lords and lovers of art in Africa and the world in

general. To the lovers of BLACK PRIDE Magazine and to the team of the magazine.

Lastly, this anthology is dedicated to all February (Februarians) celebrants.

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INTRODUCTION

Poetry is the ability to create the true language of emotion, as rightly described by Owings Mills, M.D.,

U.S.A.

There are more to culture than just being the way of life of a specific group of people. Culture goes

beyond the values, norms, and behaviors of a particular geographical people; it involves other things like

marriages, folklores, gods (deities), festivals, ceremonies and lots more.

While selecting the theme for this collection, the motive of BLACK PRIDE Magazine team is to establish

the objective of the magazine which is to project the African culture.

The fifteen poems of this collection, which have embrace most of the experiences relating to African

culture, slipped out from the mouth of fourteen different young poets who are exceptional in how they

structured their poems within a conceptual tradition of African world.

Akinbode Israel in TRIBAL MARKS writes culture to be hidden under skin, that is, it is within ones

mind "In silence, I once laid under skins".

The fact remains that, the level at which our culture is fading in this contemporary era due to the so called

tag "civilizations" would make someone wonder what will happen to the next-generation coming after us.

We cherish, appreciate and even nurture western culture, foisted on us by our colonial masters over our

indigenous culture. Even at our various homes, children who are victims of this scorn tend to believe that

western cultures are far superior to that which confers in us our national identity and this made Benjamin

Elemide to reflect his poem titled WE ARE LOST on the lost of our dear culture and traditions "Let us

paint our face the colour of shame" and"For turning beauty of the past to the world facing home with the

ugliness of the present".

Despite all these our attitudes towards our culture, there are still ways and places in which this our culture

can be praised and practised and this will never happen until we keep on reminding the citizens through

our works of art, such as; poetry, articles, essays, stories and lots more.

The anthology will be of immense value to most African citizens. It is a clarion call to blacks to

remember their origins and work towards projecting this culture.

Adigun, Temitope Idealism

BPM, Editor-in-chief

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FOREWORD

I woke and thought

If the beauty of black is divine

Super, natural, and supernatural

Then I have seen the colours of life

For if black is beauty, and God is beautiful

Then , God is black!

(God is black, Micheal Ace)

There would be no better reason for this outstanding anthology than the wistful derailment of African

culture. One can as well make a stance, having a vivid look into the future, that in the next few decades to

come, Africa will slip to the darker and a weary phase of the world map. As sad and disheartening as this

may sound, it remains one concrete philosophic view and belief that nothing except a change to our

mindset can alter.

To teach an old dog new tricks, you don't have to wear it a different look, cut off its waggy tail or bear it a

new name. Just put it amidst other dogs giving it a freedom to explore its mind, environment and its way

of life. This is nothing but a paraphrase of what has happened to our eminent countrymen.

The 'never stopping' nose of the foreign pig has finally found its way into our garden. And cutting it off

would be such a fierce call for war for we have long neglected the moon of our fathers only to count, and

lose counts of some foreign stars.

Nevertheless, seeing the gigantic and profound efforts of these worthy and heroic poets gives me, gives us

a hope that even though we have lost the night to a coming dawn, the world is not ending today, and there

shall still be another night.

I cannot but spot the uniqueness from this great collection. Speaking from the views of the very apt Tukur

Loba Ridwan, Ola W.Halim, Fidelis Okafor, Adejumoke Balogun, Saviour Micheal Villagewriter,

Akinbode Isreal, Benjamin Elemide, Alade Germane Elijah, Ifemeni Xtian Derrick White, Abienekpan

Osaletin, Agbaakin Oluwatoyosi Jeremiah, Ezugwu Evanstus, Chiyasa Ezeezeh Ikwuemesibe, to Success

Timothy Ayo, I am indeed optimistic that the wind coursing the nooks and crannies of our great Africa is

being redeemed.

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Conclusively, I'll love to once again appreciate the mentioned poets that contribute to the immeasurable

success of this anthology. Moreso, I will like to cease this opportunity to urge writers, musicians, poets,

artists, and all other craftsmen in the embodiment of art, to use their gift and passion in rewriting the story

of African culture, from doom to boom.

Before this ink reaches the bank of my muse, I will heartily appreciate and congratulate BLACK PRIDE

MAGAZINE for making its way to the pages of history. Also, a warm kudos goes to Deacon Temitope

Idealism for his great effort in the initiation of this wonderful project.

Together we can re-attain our lost pride. Together we can ride down to the promise land. Together we can

own up this glory. Together we can sing the song, write the verse, and dance to the rhythmic kicks of

victory.

-Micheal Ace

Vice president, World Union of Poets (Nigeria)

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TRIBAL MARK BY FIDELIS OKAFOR

calling the pity of the night is a child wrapped in blind color as skin.

light has not been scary, until he saw the face of culture nannies

getting diploma on map making on his face with ancestral dexterity.

widens as erosion with age.

Like a sacred animal, he bore his pride and identity.

to tell a tale of a land walking with raised tail.

the sun chuckles as it runs across the square where he post

his face becomes the path home,

a tale of obe race

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UNTITLED BY ADEJUMOKE BALOGUN

Our culture is a shield protecting us

From the seen and the unseen

Our culture is a horn

Carrying our divine given domain

Our culture is a bond

Binding my tribe to your tribe

Binding the creeping black ant

To the majestic Savannah baobab

Binding an ancient stone

To a running thought

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TRIBES BY SAVIOUR MICHEL VILLAGE WRITER

when I talked about our African culture

my skin reflected on the mirror of many tribes

because my culture is my pen kissing the first line of my favourite poems

my culture, how luscious your beauty,

you are the beauty of poetry,

our culture draws fortitude from stars and beauty from moon.

our culture is my pride, the blackness of your skin

our culture shines like a street light

our culture is a laughter in the corridor of my throat

our culture is a butterfly that never stops flirting my flower

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TRIBAL MARKS BY AKINBODE ISRAEL

In silence, I once laid under skins,

Hiding from the sun,

Until a knife found me.

He found me and showed me to all,

I became an identity.

Not a liability.

I became a compass,

Leading many home.

Then I stayed,

Forever

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WE ARE LOST BY BENJAMIN ELEMIDE

Let us paint our face the colour of shame:

For turning beauty of the past to the world

facing home with the ugliness of the present;

For richness of our culture known to men

but remains worthless in our impoverished heart;

for the sweetness of bitter truth that we would chew

When we can no longer speak mother's tongue;

For what it would cost us when posterity

demands from us the road to the way of life;

Then, we would realize that we are lost

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DERAILMENT BY ALADE GERMANE ELIJAH

This culture is germane to us

As it includes the elements of life

Teaching Caliban and Ariel to us

Guiding ways we hustle and strife

Language, music and dress

Basis for the sociolinguists,

Astrologers and artists:

How sad the nowadayests

Have turned it into piece of mess

Marriage, dressing, greetings and rites of passage

All now torn out of page.

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MY NIGERIA - MY CULTURE BY IFEMENI XTIAN DERRICK WHITE

They say you're a biased home

as sturdy as a fragile womb

recreating your multi-linguists

as they spat on your flanked pride.

when the home is on torrid flames

you chastises into different poles

you separated our tongues

into a collection of sentimental junks

and now, you sat like a sculpture

on the roof, above our hearts.

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UNTITLED BY ABIENEKPAN OSALETIN

When a river becomes enemy

To its source, it becomes a history.

We joined foreigners

To raised stones at our beliefs

With great agility and a shameful happiness.

We stew our tradition

And served its flesh

To the hungry birds of the earth.

Now, we walk round in circle without direction

And our sun rays have been eaten up by darkness

©Osaletin

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WHY THE MOON DOESN'T RULE AT NOON BY

AGBAAKIN OLUWATOYOSI JEREMIAH

remind them of how closely

the sun dangles on your tropical skin,

when they tell you

that your skin speaks in Melanin.

tell them how vast your colours can be:

the green of the dirty, therapeutic

shrubs that strive against your 'GMO' weed

stranger, chide my hide if you must

but do not question this Moon

why it does not rule at noon

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DERAILMENT II BY ALADE GERMANE ELIJAH

How beautiful was this train?

She did shield her passengers from rain

We enjoyed the long cool breeze

Until we got off trade by a sneeze

From a strange bird called jet

Jet decorated in dollar, not seen yet

A supposed adventure turned scary

We all scattered in survival

Loss of identity caused fury

In our own ways. Is there revival?

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THE LIFE OF A CULTURE BY TUKUR LOBA RIDWAN

On the never ageing forehead of a heritage

Where the wrinkles of our forefather's toil

Were drawn within the shores of our soil

To guide our children with our right hands

Where lives the food, fabrics and tongues

Of our kinsmen, uniformed and formed

With the anthems of songs and poetry

Laid on the drums that swing the luscious hips

Of our sisters, and the sweets of our brothers,

The life of culture is to be told and retold

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WHEN CULTURE BECOMES MYTH BY OLA W. HALIM

Mam grew in the greener world

Of drums and chalk-smeared hands

Of the masqueraders of the seventh earth

Who clinked cowries

Twined calico and beads into

A festival of winds

Mama now sings a dirge

Of polished huts for blinding roofs

Of earthen calabash for rusty pails

Of culture wound in myths

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THE NEW YAM BY EZUGWU EVANSTUS

I expect you always

at the end of every season

when we revere the god of vegetation.

Beautiful dancers, masquerades

both benevolent and malevolent

all appear to adore you.

Children run up and down to

catch glimpses

what a story to tell at the end of the day!

I feel nostalgic to have you around

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AKPU (FUFU) BY CHIYASA - EZEEZEH IKWUEMESIBE

This Nigerian foreigner

Borrowed across the oceans

Today marks, our staple...

You're Igbo if swallow

This swelling swallow

For lunch, dinner, oh,

It is breakfast tea...!

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OKE LA BY SUCCESS TIMOTHY AYO

Heaven, the sight of a young man

Gazing his bride this night of nights.

All roads that lead to the glory land

Shall part for majestic ride of a worthy knight.

He summons the pure maid for a final dance.

She rolls, twists, joggling the rounded haven...

A palace guard-a knock-an intrusion of just pleasure

'Oba báá le. The king wishes to have the damsel"

But the rage of Akanni lits deafening thunder,

'Òkè, Òkè làá, Òkè gbemi...'

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