The Search

Our yes wander
As our minds wonder
And as we look beyond
We go ahead
For we want to take the lead
To break the bond of our bondage
And regain the legacy of our great heritage.

So we must march
In the search.

Gathering, gathering clouds
Swirling, swirling winds
Thunder claps
Lightning flashes
I hear the echo
Of the voice of Sango
And behold Ogun
Beating out the path with his iron.

So we must march
In the search.

We must not look back
We must follow the same track
The footsteps of Oduduwa
In the way of Obatala
The Command of Olorun
The God of heaven
Only the Almighty Father can give us wisdom
To continue the search to gain our freedom.


~ By Mike Chima Eke.
This poem was composed between 1990 and 1993, by the writer now popularly known as Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, aka “Orikinla Osinachi”, inspired by the large oil on canvas painting of the same title by Nigerian artist Toyin Alade of the famous Abayomi Barber School in Lagos, Nigeria.