Umuoji Igwulube Okodu Poem by Victor Okechukwu Anyaegbuna

I hail from a little cosy village
Sitting statutely on a little plain
North East of the River Niger.
Umuoji, I hail thee
Land of my great ancestors
Who lived out great values
And shared mighty ideals
That roled out rich culture
The heritage of passionate kings
That shared lineages
Of the wisdom of Solomon.

I hail from the modest town
Of great men and women
Who in their great humility
Only sprayed love like a cologne
And served hospitality like daily meals
In decent tourist romance richly endowed.

I love my native homeland
From where I derived common genes
With my beloved kith and kin
That reared a passion of laughter
Jest, drink and dine
Inbuilt passion of mutual protection.

I love Umuoji, my local fortress
Where the python holds sway
And guards the temple of Idemili
In sacredness unchallenged.
And it is indeed real
That who dares violate the python
Suffers the strangeness of its elemental power.

I love Umuoji, land of love and peace
Where twenty three villages
Are united by four quarters
Eziora, Ifiteora, Akala and Dimechem
Great sons of Oji Okodu
Where masquerades adorn
A culture rich and flambuoyant.

March 2011
Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.