Akamu


Akamu
Only a dummy judges a book by the cover and size.
The worth of a book is not judged by the length and width, but by the depth.
Akamu
You know it is not the quantity of the food we eat that matters, but the quality.
Akamu
Do you know how many calories we burn by telling long stories?
This new generation is different from that of Kongi
They don’t even know our oriki.
Kongi was a different kind of rebel
The first black rebel to win the Nobel.
Akamu
This is a generation of small minds
And small minds don’t like big books.
They prefer browsing to reading.
While you are still gazing at the moon in the bucket of water
They have toured the world traveling on the Internet with their computer.
Akamu
Stop gaping and moping at them
Whoever runs round and round will never cover much ground
They are all caught up in the web of their vicious circle.
Akamu
Did you see that girl in long blue khaki knickers?
And did you see that boy in canvas sneakers?
Did they not remind you of the Ajasco dancers of good old days?
They look funny, abi?
Did King Solomon not say there is nothing new under the sun?
But that was before Neil Armstrong skyrocketed to the moon.
Akamu,
If I continue, we will miss the last train at Iddo.
Let us leave before it is too late.
I have seen so much waste when things are done in haste.
We will eat the kulikuli with the gari before the train reaches Alagidijasioddo.
Akamu
Believe me. There is no need to worry.
I will tell you another konkiri story
I will have enough saliva tomorrow to tell you more.
It is the konkiri Nigerian story as never told before.
Of course, I will add my own pepper and salt
How many pencils can we make without graphite?
Let us go home before your mama starts shouting Akamu!


~ By Orikinla Osinachi, Saturday August 20, 2011.