A People Lost

I was me, wondering around in my own world,

I was far away, echoes faded out just as quickly,

With nothing out of the extra ordinary,
Was I contended? I cannot really remember.

I was a combination of more good than bad,
In the midst of my dark world yet inside of me was an untapped gold mine.

Blessed with so much resources that I didn’t know half of it yet  but they did!

Music to my ears was the sounds of waterfalls: racing torrents of rivers, nature dancing continually in perfect rhythm just like hymns.

Meeting at the confluence but then the delta and the ocean calleth!

The sight of sand dunes of the sahara flirting with the sunset at dawn made the eyes teary.

The lush green vegetation of the sahel rolling over each other, a constant reminder of how perfect my rofia mat (if laid) can be- tranquil.

Animals big and small, a source of company and food as we all shared this very beautiful space I found myself in.

Oh it was beautiful indeed...

The Baobab showed me how big I can be ( a giant amongst nations), the Iroko, a reminder that I can stand my ground even in the midst of storms and yet I had lilies by the river bank; beautiful during the day, fading away at sunset after being battered by the hot scorching sun that guaranteed my all year round toned skin.

Yes the sun, to whom the birds usher in at dawn with the first sound to start my day, long after the owls and squirrels had fraternized with the moonlight.

The winds were fresh and unpolluted, I looked forward to a fresh dose every morning, but then he came..

From a place I never knew existed, he pointed far beyond the sun sets. I wondered if that was the reason his skin looked so undone!

He was clothed with promises so sweet, it was food to my ears. I was curious and nervous at the same time.

I showed him my space, my people and my land. The more I showed him, the more promises he made.

My people rode on the promises away with him far away beyond where the sun sets and have never returned.

My land he took as his, my people he took while I fed on his promises and waited..

Its been decades since my people left, sadly I hear some are now ashamed of me, their mother land-Nigeria

To be continued..