So i literally put my whole heart into this book and getting it online. It's a collection of thought-provoking African inspired poems for all age bracket. I really feel you'd enjoy this because its style of writing is inventive and we've at some point in our lives, asked ourselves, ' what would you be the first to do?'. So, grab a copy of *NOW YOU SEE ME* on okadabooks by clicking this link below �

https://okadabooks.com/search?query=Now%2520you%2520see%2520me

The voice of a first born
Sharp in the minds of them younger - The Months & Years
That can never be bought for thirty gold pieces
Even if betrayed.....
The first comer, the way paver, the look after
The blame taker, the threat maker
Poking the minds of them younger : The audacity
In age and eyes that saw the world before-after

The voice, sounding redundant like a second parent
Wanting to know your every move
Favoritism abolished in all ways
Responsibility? - An amazing grace

The Voice,
That approves parents acceptance even in it's thesis
Shadowing their decision in dissimilar cases
Proving to them they know not of what we feel :
Our tinted needs & valid excuses;
Brought to their senses with a Voice
Clouding every judgment till it rain - peace!

The Voice confidant to tell, Reliable to help
Teaching on past encounter of life's bullet wounds :
The scourged trials and failures
Emphasizing more on
Dribbles that led to heroic goals scored.

The voice,
The miracle working voice

- Stephen

Over the years, old classic kind of records from different genre has been abating . No one is spending time making music that are relentless, all they do now is just mix up a bunch of word with a nice beat and there you Go... It trending ; becomes the new buzz in people's ears.
But for someone like me who still crave for classic music and albums, it's kinda hard to find these days. Music sites ain't helpful in my search. But there's something I had noticed listening to contemporary music - The use of Interjections
To hit the nail too quick. Imagine a classic record like "shape of you" by Ed Sheeran; in which the chorus was basically OOH.. repeated more than once, creating a melodic sound that keep listeners craving to listen again. His whole album 'divide' - O my God - what an album to keep a music listener grooving for months; The whole song on the album was purely rhythmic with ohh, ahh, oh, which makes the album so sweet and melodic.
To jump from the foreign scene to our music here in Nigeria. SIMISOLA album by simi was my case study - also a great example of records driven by the melody of oh & ooh. If you've listened to the album you'll know I speak only of the truth. She knows how to use her voice to pin down listeners to listen to the next track just by using these tools.
Come closer by Wizkid - the chorus was also a portray of the sweet melodic power of interjections in contemporary music.
Nigerian upcoming artiste should tap into this groove.

R I S E UP! W O M AN.

The world is changing, women are still been fought for their equal rights all round the world, but it looks shady yet true to say that - Nigerian women are milking this opportunities they have ‘has women of pride’.
Over the years, especially in the 40’s, countless brave women stood up to fight! for liberty, equal pay, equal right to vote and own properties. I wonder if they smile seeing our young women [of now] giving up on their impetuous dreams of becoming women of valor in the society, and settling for less - looking sharp for rich dudes to put a roof over their heads even when they could be owning a mansion.
Just to remind you - that there was a time the world never gave record of your existence as seen in the holy bible; but strong women fought for that; then how come you complain weak and insecure to work harder than men in the society.
It’s time to rise up Woman! and take charge cause there’s plenty of space to plant whatever dream seed you have in this land so... green. Show men - who runs this world? - GIRL!; rewrite your dreams : make them bigger and better; Work harder: men are working hard.
Charlotte Whitton - whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half has good. Luckily, this is not difficult.

Day dreamed about writing this a article long time ago - i saw a beautiful future where women were lined up for a photo shoot as great leaders and investors with few men amongst them : dominating every sector in Nigeria; but then i came back to the present - oh my...you were all still sleeping.
You complain there are no spaces for women in our society; that’s a regular babies cry till great women like Mary Slessor stood on two feet and stooped the killing of twins. It’s high time you set foot on those dreams of yours, move like a champ and fulfill destiny.


Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche - you must never ‘behave’ as if your life belongs to a man.
I see women as strong. Not just emotionally - Mentally; Record breakers; Goal achievers: who won’t stop at nothing to get what they want. Fighters; Champs! - like i love to call them.
Women who for years will wait even with their tight timed future to achieve their aims and goals... I’ve been privileged to know a few women like that and i’m indeed grateful for our friendship.
So many Men have tried and given up the second time, even women to; yet, the point here is that -YOU’RE STRONG... AND CAN ALSO DO THE UNTHINKABLE; so challenge yourself today.
"It's more than just voicing those words - 'you're strong' ; PROVE IT ! "

I see women has confident : Women who can stand up for themselves; women whom when they speak are like roaring lionesses, devouring the hearts of men; Women with style, women who know what they want, women who are never scared of ‘Shame’ : they walk through it until the rain pours down to wash them away; Women who never change up to fix up; This my my definition of a confident woman. But then a question breached through my heart asking if a married woman should be... this confident towards her MAN? - My only answer for confident women out there or for those growing up to be confident, is that : marry a man that loves your definition but always give ears to his suggestions.

I see women has brilliant & smart. Weeks ago, my friend and i were having a chat; then i told him how happy i was for a female graduate wining the best graduating student in my fellowship. Then he talked about how he doesn’t like females being the first... My heart melted at his bias statement and i felt wounded that this mentality still exist amongst men.
But being at the top in class is not just what i want women to fight for. I also want you woman to be ambassadors of greatness, never let men subdue you; be a superwoman with a superman soul; be sharp and most of all - Decisive.
Mary Shelley - I do not wish women have power over men; but over themselves.


I see women has spiritual. God did not just give women that ability to keep new humans for nine months for nothing. To me - they are the most complete and the best creation of God. Men should have been the best creation but when God saw the role of a women, he had to remove a rib off the man; he also had to make them not as physically strong as men so they won’t will too much strength: Reasons why they are so sensitive; reasons why you can’t compare the blessing of a woman to a man; reasons why he had to tame them with marriage so as to suppress their divine nature cause they can sometimes be vicious if too loose or not well sprung. A spiritual woman can make any man - Great, even if he has nothing. I urge every woman out there to have a close relationship with God.



Finally,I see woman has equal. I can write a whole novel about gender equality just by staring at my experiences and how living with two sister has been like. But then, this is to men - who feels women need to kiss your feet cause of the bride price you paid; who still feels given women respect is a sign of weakness: still feel they belong to the kitchen, still feel their place is never at the top, still feel they can’t handle big jobs, still feels they don't have anything to fight for: just get educated, marry and that’s all; still feels their work is just to get pregnant; still feels they shouldn’t be more wealthier than you; still see women as weak , inferior, and like water sachet you squeeze and throw away just to satisfy your inner thirst. But NO!; Women are powerful; they are woman of virtue...women of pride... Champs... - So respect that! and unscrew those mentality of yours.

Woman, listen to me, i have less concern about the measure of situation you are right now, but i’m telling you with all confidence in me that you are stronger than it. You are smart enough to be the best. Inquote - you are a queen.

To end it all, i speak to women out there to dare the impossible...; not scared nor afraid of failure and never scared of being alone. Show men you run this country; wake up from your sleep and RISE UP!

“Women deserve equal respect as men to be treated equally’’ #supportfeminism.

GOD BLESS EVERY WOMEN OUT THERE.

Onifemi47@gmail.com

We all looked gentle but with unclean hands and wilful thoughts. We still couldn't find the right name for our group or should i call gang. I guess the word gang fits our description.
We were humble thieves so we never wore mask, we sneak into rooms at midnight to take whatever electronics we saw. Stephen was the leader of the gang, the most handsome among us all, next was Kenth; the tallest and the guy with ideas, next was David; he was the smartest guy in the gang and there was me; Joseph, the newest member of the group, they called me J-face cause the leader "Stephen" said i have the most gentle face of them all and i was good for business
I never wanted to join anyway, but they knew my problem "MONEY". I had nothing, garri was my daily manna and sometimes i go hungry for a whole day [without eating]. My roommates also were managing, so it was only on special occasions they served me food. I had no money to rent lab coat, no money for manuals.
I pleaded with my female lecturers to assist me but they always say the same thing "Am i your mother". Some of my level mates were also there for me sometimes, but i had a big problem, i couldn't speak up, i couldn't tell them i needed this or i needed that. i was carrying my heavy cross and there was no Simon to carry it for me.
I was an orphan getting little support [sponsorship] from my church at home but they paid just my tuition fees and left me to work out the rest. But that was erstwhile before Stephen found me, he gave me money, he gave me an ATM to withdraw 10,000 monthly [i was happy]. He took me to places i never knew of.
After showing me what "LIFE" means for those that have money, he explained to me how they did the job. He told me all i had to do was to associate with the rich dudes, guys with silver still stuck in his mouth, a rich dude who knows how to spend, a rich dude who was wasteful and spoilt, a rich dude with everything [wristwatch, laptops, iPhone, Samsung]
He told me all i needed was to win their trust and know where they keeps their things; like their keys when they carelessly drop their bags during exams period, where they charge their phones and stupidly leave it for me to watch it for them.
All i needed to do was to supply the info and let them do the rest.
He gave me a transparent glass like the rest of us had, he said "people with glasses appear to look more gentle and unnoticeable"
And that was how i joined. I was ready to do anything to survive as long as it didn't involve blood, i saw the job as an opportunity that only comes but once for me since my work was the easiest and i didn't have to be the one to steal.
They stole everything and anything, sold it and made money. Stephen always commended me, he said i was too good, so he gave me extra most times.
Now i had money, i had my own ATM, i could fend for myself, life started to have meaning.
One of our code was never to show off what we had to anyone [we should be gentle in our spendings]
I followed the code like the Ten commandment. I knew God was watching me but i justified myself by saying "A thief is someone who steals and i don't steal", i paid my tithe that God never accepted.
[i never saw myself as a sinner]
*KARMA WAS NEAR*
It was our last mission for the semester, exams were on. I supplied the info [a rich fat guy with diamond wristwatch and 2 laptops living in abiola hostel, i gave them the extra key to his cupboard] but Stephen [our leader] was very ill, diagnosed with tuberculosis [he smoked a lot] , we all taught he will get better before the mission but he didn't.
He told us to abort the mission but Kenneth and David said no; they kept complaining about almost going broke.
*They left*
They were shot and bled to death trying to escape from the bushes they hid in.
[we threw our phones away in case they tried to reach us]
That was the moment i realized i was also a sinner.
I was the one that talked them into going for the final mission. They wanted me to follow them but i gave excuses now they a...a...are .... Dead
Stephen died of tuberculosis last month, [he didn't even make it till his graduation]
*********************************************************************
Pastor i am on my knees..., I am the last man standing and i am scared of dying, the devil has been haunting me ever since our leader died, telling me its my turn but i don't want to die......, am ready to give my life to Christ. Pastor Please pray for me...., i don't want to die!... I accept, i am a sinner who needs forgiving, please beg the almighty God to forgive me, i don't want o die please.........