A Plea for Memory
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About this ebook
The author hopes only to trigger the readers imagination. He does not seek to preach an irrational belief or convince of a particular point of view. This work remembers the pasts of various African peoples, records the forceful subjugation of the present and poses the perennial question of the continents renaissance. It delves into the human condition and immerses itself in the themes of remembrance, history, pain, war, gods and death.
The author is unapologetic in his refusal to follow the classic rules of poetry in the belief that freedom of expression must be unconstrained by mere regulations. He tries to abide by his own maxim: of all the freedoms, the greatest is that of thought.
Olumide Omoyele
Olumide Olabode Omoyele was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He currently lives in England, United Kingdom. He has an LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree from King’s College, University of London; an LL.B. (Hons) Law degree from the University of Greenwich, London; and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law (now the University of Law), London. He is an expert in international financial law and regulatory policy and has published several articles in leading legal journals. One of such articles, “Continuing obligations of listed public companies: a critical analysis” is also featured in a major book – a five volume collection of classic and contemporary business law articles of the past 50 years, by: Hardy, ST, and Butler, M (eds), titled: “International Themes in Business Law” (Sage Library in Business and Management, 2007) Vol. 3.
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A Plea for Memory - Olumide Omoyele
© 2013 Olumide Omoyele. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
Published by AuthorHouse 12/02/2013
ISBN: 978-1-4918-8676-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4918-8675-5 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4918-8677-9 (e)
Cover design © Olumide Omoyele
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Contents
Preface
Prologue
Agonizing Pretences
Life and Death
Teacher is Child
Slumber
At Peace Only When Asleep
Second Coming
Infinite Eternity
Beastly Humanity
A Cry to the Yorùbá Gods!
Brimmin’ with Strife
Angels of Ideology
Day-Dream
The Eye Above
Yearning for home
Africa: Dreams
Heavy Heart
Rallying Cry
Hip Hop is Dead
Invisible Friend
Power Squander
Sweet Slumber
Dying to Sleep
Awakening
Waking to Adulthood
I Am Man
Arrogant Man
Agonizingly Liberating Nihilism
God
Fear of Permanent Death
Not For Sale
Prayer 4 A Rude Awakening
Rise! Africa Rise
African Woman (I salute!)
Earth Weeps
Sadist Cupid
These Gods are Wicked
Death/Life Irony
Even Thugz Cry
Plea for Forgiveness
I, god
Imagination and Memory
Remembrance
Everybody Burns
A Lady’s Eyes
Rain
A Wail 4 Biafra
Abeke
Gentle Giant; Gentle Soul
The Mighty Shall Fall
Dying
Best
And So, God Wept
Feminine Wrath
Forget him not!
Remember J?
Beautiful Rose
Ogoni’s Tears
Isara
Gods of the Written Word
Haunted by Memory—Biafra On My Mind
Suspended Memory
Epilogue
Yes We Can!
Life Cycle
No Reincarnation Please!
Definitions
Dedicated to AFRICA . . .
and
. . . to the memory of my ancestors who, in the evening of set ways,
must have darkened the earth with teardrops shed at the
thought of their progeny’s probable fate at the
hands of obdurate, alien powers
on whose insistence,
things fell apart.
Preface
One of my childhood nicknames was rule-breaker
. I grew up in a contradictory household: my mother, a fervent convert to spiritual Christianity; and my father, a non-spiritualist capable of tactical adaptation but with an underlying belief in Yoruba Gods. Born in Lagos, I witnessed the rise of aggressive born-again
, Pentecostal churches with a renewed, refreshing interpretation of Christianity. I also witnessed magnetic performances of Eyo dancers, clad in white, on the streets of Lagos. In all their glorious majesty, they were like phantoms, passing by momentarily, and leaving frenzied crowds in trances.
Aged 8, my family moved to our home town of Isara Remo in Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria. I made acquaintance of the Asogbo River, the lifeline of a town, the lush woods providing meat and legendary farmers gaining societal acclaim for their skilful management of the soil and its bountiful gifts. It was in Isara that my spiritual education was complete. The detonation of an already raging imagination; enthralled by countless ceremonies, burial rites, Agemo festivals and Egungun dance fests. It was like being transported back in time, to an authentic African time, with