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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Mar 2013 : 19:37:07
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Chinua in Loving Memory!
Yep, rest now that soul of the pen
the famous name we all celebrated
over the ages, kept the burning flames
when things were up or down
with words of wisdom, sincerely
and you watched the old baobab trees sway
as they danced to times' changes
with the winds of change breezing hot and cold
for the long awaited redemption.
Among the many sons of Africa
you kept your tact to the last breathe
unlike the others who bullied and dictated
not only our conscience but prostituted our virginity
and stripped us naked in all angles
with their tainted ink and barrels of the gun
putting the yokes of the chains back on our necks
after the many years of bitter sorrow
insensitive and unsympathetic to our plight.
Now that time and death has called
a call that everyone must answer to
we mourn and weep bitterly
of your departure to eternity
and we pray that the holy angels
welcomes you with that shiny ink
as you rest in that serene status
on thrones with breezy islands
aloft mansions where the righteous reside.
RIP that Soul of the Pen!
By: Yero Jallow
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Momodou
Denmark
11640 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2013 : 19:47:37
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Yero, that was a fitting tribute.
May his Soul Rest in Peace.
A story from AP Mobile:
Chinua Achebe, celebrated Nigerian novelist, dies
NEW YORK (AP) - The opening sentence was as simple, declarative and revolutionary as a line out of Hemingway: "Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond," Chinua Achebe wrote in "Things Fall Apart." Africans, the Nigerian author announced more than 50 years ago, had their own history, their own celebrities and reputations. Centuries of being defined by the West were about...
Read Full Story
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A story from AP Mobile:
Achebe inspired generations of Nigerian writers
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - Nigerian author Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani was just 10 years old when she first read Chinua Achebe's groundbreaking novel "Things Fall Apart." She devoured the rich use of Igbo proverbs in his book, which forever changed Africa's portrayal in literature. That inspiration carried over into the creation of a pivotal character in her debut work, "I Do Not Come to You by Chance," whi...
Read Full Story
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2013 : 08:32:45
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Dalton 1. That's an excellent scholarly tribute for pride son of African and may his soul Rest In Peace.
Ameen!
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2013 : 17:26:59
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Alh Momodou, Kobo et al,
Thanks. I was just joining words together like humbly put by Kanibaa here once. I hope he will come out and inspire us with another poem.
My junior school English teacher, a nigerian himself was a fan of the late Achebe. Honestly to be put, Africa lost one of its renowned literature figures in the person of Chinua. He was able to combine truth, humor, and activism all in one.
I hope you all forgive our slow contributions here.I am glad you all like those few words together. 
Thanks & best always,
Yero |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2013 : 17:29:22
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Remembrance Day
Your proclaimed mourning
your flag at half-mast your
solemn face your smart backward
step and salute at the flowered
foot of empty graves your
glorious words-none, nothing
will their spirit appease. Had they
the choice they would gladly
have worn for you the same
stricken face gladly flown
your droopéd flag spoken
your tremulous eulogy-and
been alive. . . . Admittedly you
suffered too. You lived wretchedly
on all manner of gross fare;
you were tethered to the nervous
precipice day and night; your
groomed hair lost gloss, your
smooth body roundedness. Truly
you suffered much. But now
you have the choice of a dozen
ways to rehabilitate yourself.
Pick any one of them and soon
you will forget the fear
and hardship, the peril
on the edge of the chasm. . . . The
shops stock again a variety
of hair dyes, the lace and
the gold are coming back; so
you will regain lost mirth
and girth and forget. But when,
how soon, will they their death? Long,
long after you forget they turned
newcomers again before the hazards
and rigors of reincarnation, rude
clods once more who once had borne
the finest scarifications of the potter's
delicate hand now squashed back
into primeval mud, they will
remember. Therefore fear them! Fear
their malice your fallen kindred
wronged in death. Fear their blood feud;
tremble for the day of their
visit! Flee! Flee! Flee your
guilt palaces and cities! Flee
lest they come to ransack
your place and find you still
at home at the crossroad hour. Pray
that they return empty-handed
that day to nurse their red-hot
hatred for another long year. . . .
Your glorious words are not
for them nor your proliferation
in a dozen cities of the bronze
heroes of Idumota. . . . Flee! Seek
asylum in distant places till
a new generation of heroes rise
in phalanges behind their purified
child-priest to inaugurate
a season of atonement and rescue
from fingers calloused by heavy deeds
the tender rites of reconciliation
By Chinua Achebe
Source:
http://www.randomhouse.com/acmart/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400076581&view=excerpt
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2013 : 17:04:24
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| Bro Dalton..ajaraama bui..nice tribute to a giant of the African literatie..Chinua wrote so many masterly pieces and all were unique in style and what is more caused an upsurge on the writing arena for African writers. Sure we had greatz like Birago Diop L.S Senghore as well as Camara Laye all sprouting in time before or after but Chinua's advent made a profound impact on me as a student as it depicted a determination of a learned man of the ink stain to deplore tyranny on his people. He wrote on contemporary issues and made huge inroads into the political world of Nigeria and the black world at times risking his life but strived underterred in his quest for justice. Certainly displayed the might of the zapping pen or keyboard against the sword or gun which failed to silence him. We shall remember him for his valiant stance and more over his immence literary contributions to education and writing as it were. Rest in peace dear brother. .as we cry for another giant to take your place.. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2013 : 00:35:54
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JUST BY CHANCE OBSERVED INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON CHINUA ACHEBEAND SHARING WITH COURTESY FROM KENYA AND UGANDA NEWS MEDIA DAILY MONITOR;
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Edited by - kobo on 09 Apr 2013 00:51:22 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2013 : 23:10:24
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PAMBAZUKA NEWS WITH A CRITIC (Professor Ibrahim Bello-Kano is of the Department of English and French, Bayero University, Kano);
SHARING COURTESY OF GAMBIA-L WITH INTERESTING COMMENT FROM Baba Jallow;
quote:
Pambuza News Readers Comment on Professor Ibrahim's critique:
"A very insightful and educative article. However, I wish you had written this while Chinua was alive and well. Could you not just give the man His due credit and leave it at that? Well, I hope your literary skills will surpass his since you are so apt to critique"
'nubiya-Marsha
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Edited by - kobo on 12 Apr 2013 23:18:28 |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
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