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Akabueze


The way you wield the sword

And raise the battle cry

With strength and will

Shirt coloured with blood

Our enemies blood


Akabueze

"Hand is king"

Isn't that what it means?

Your name!

The circumstance surrounding your birth

 Birth your name

Was it because your mama was alone

When she pushed in pain

For several hours

Your Papa was in Boma

Pushing and pushing 

Kegs of palm wine 

And "seeds" of Huto

The gambling game.


Akunna your eldest sister's cry

He ignored

Shouting "just this one and I'm done"

Wasn't that what he always said

But the path from his house

To Boma

Became clearer and clearer

Like the path to "Idemili"

Our only source of water

"Mama is giving birth"

Derinka the herbalist laboured

For several hours Chanting

And praying to the spirits

The spirits of our ancestors

But your Papa insisted

 He never left Boma

Till he won or was exhausted from drinking

Every Kobo he willed to Boma.



Akunna ran back to your mama

And met her smiling 

Too weak to stand 

Or even wipe her tears of labour

Alas! 

Mama had a son

A son!

After the entire Ndinne mocked her

Ndinne!

The community of mothers

They mocked Mama for not having a son

"Who'll defend this flock of girls?"

They asked in mockery

This was even a license for Papa

A license to drink and gamble more

"I have a son now"

"I am a man now"

He declared loudly in Boma

You became the Man 

He didn't become.


Akabueze you fought the battle

Papa was too cowardly to fight

He drowned his losses in Palm wine

He couldn't defend mama from the village

You defended the family

Even the entire village

Akabueze!

How can a good stock sprout from evil

You mastered the art of Ikelegu

The village wrestling

You found a father in Igba the warrior

And you began to walk in his steps

Akabueze!

Papa wrestles with palm wine and gambling

You wrestle with wild animals

To provide food for the family

And our enemies 

To secure our borders.


Though I'm weak and bent with age

I can not but wonder

"How did this wonder happen?"

This child that ran these muddy street

Now is a tower of strength

Akabueze.





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