Dancing Dying! Poem by Abednego Oghenechovwiere Omashone

Drummers drumming
Vocalists echoing
Dance ozighizagha.
Caught in the
Rhythm of udje
Omusi cares not
For popping breasts.

Dance to diffuse tension!
Tensions in the air!
Tensions on the land
Tensions on the highways
Tensions in the sea, rivers
Tensions in the creeks!

It holds sway on the mountains.
Represented down the valley.
Ukiri fiercer than ever
Ibani roaring in the expanses.
Some dancing kokoma
Others dance to alanta
Some to opiri
Others free madness!

Free madness!
And forget you’re
In the market place!
Free madness!
Oh! Alas! No one
Shame for no one!

Some dance kirimomo
Others the continental;
To the almighty
Supplications made
Yet, in the air,
On the land,
The highways,
In the sea,
Rivers, the creeks,
On the mountains
Down the valley,
Tensions unprecedented
Unambiguously defined!

The dancing people
They are called.
But look!
A dying nation!
Who will save? ! !
Who will save
This singing dancing dying day? !