May 5MY BIAFRAN STRAGGLER GHOSTThe thoughts of the salted stockfish had haunted me for days' end, even as we prepared for an “attack”. The thoughts of my stockade “marara” running out were worse. I was just tired. My palms were now rough from some ingenious conversion of cassava tubers to some kind of soap…Biafran War4 min read
Mar 10BISHOP SHANAHAN OF TODAYBishop Shanahan would have found it difficult as it stands today to move around in the hinterlands of Igboland. He would have been kidnapped somewhere between Ihiala and Orlu, with his abductors happy with the capture of missionary wines and amulets, thumping their noses at evangelical materials meant to bring…Religious Conflict4 min read
Mar 3ERECTILE PILGRIMAGEThe covid scourge is doing more harm than good amongst the minority of Nigerian men in the United States. I suspect the numbers might be higher. I know this because I have been hearing a lot of teeth-gnashing and heart-felt outpouring in muted African circles. The harm my African brothers…Erectile Dysfunction6 min read
Feb 17Identity CrisisA childhood friend of mine had sold me over a porridge of soup. True to human nature, my friend was always loving and caring while in front of me, speaking highly of me, showering praises but would not defend nor speak well of me in my absence. He will chastise…Igbo People4 min read
Sep 16, 2021Zero Religious ResponsibilityA two-mile road exists in my little town of Orodo — a stretch that has churches littered on both sides and has over time, given the almighty God, multiple residences in Orodo. …Religious Reform4 min read
Sep 3, 2021LIARSAfrican culture upholds truth. It is that same ingredient that drives the symbol of authority in Igbo land. “Eziokwu bu ndu” is a testament to this supreme notion all over the land, mandating subjects to the superiority of this authority. It was common practice to see gatekeepers of the “ofo”…Igbo Culture5 min read
Aug 30, 2021Many Won’t See ItI remember that summer of ’86, in that cozy family-style restaurant in Didsbury Manchester when my father had placed a bounty on whoever spoke Igbo — our mother tongue. It was a game he introduced, that whoever spoke the language will lose some unforeseen gift. His assessments were “We spoke…Language6 min read
Aug 19, 2021ROAD TO NOWHEREI remember those days when going to the village was the best thing ever. Those days that I had learned that cowries were once dowries, days that we dreamt of seeing that hue that made rounds on “tales by moonlight”. Those days that I craved “ahuruoku” and “urukuru”, a far…Village6 min read
Aug 13, 2021CUBANO-POVERTYCubano-poverty, a word coined from the aftermath of the now-infamous funeral of a woman in Nigeria, a mother to the nations’ biggest player in the entertainment industry-Obi-Cubana. …Youth6 min read
May 17, 2021OBIDIYA: A DYING VIRTUEOBIDIYA: A DYING VIRTUE Willkomen in Deutschland” — the overhead speakers had repeatedly barred as we taxied to our gate. I love flying Lufthansa — more so because of the Deutsche language that had a striking semblance to English.” Ich hatte tee als Kaffee” I had practiced this phrase overtime…Love Language11 min read
