Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - iPoem 6: Ibadan Invited Me...

I owe Ibadan a lot. I came here in 1991 and I couldn't leave since then. When i arrived, i had the usual spatial angst common to those who had lived long in Lagos and thought its cultural ambience defined the end of the world in terms of pleasurableness. My first impression was also one of dullness. I was wrong. It took me just two years to entirely purge all remnants of 'Lagos-ness' from my being. I took all my degrees at the great University of Ibadan, and one of my children may be up for the Olubadanship one day (!). Most importantly, i benefitted from a serene environment that enabled the developmemt of my Muse. I am an authentic 'Shon of the shoil' as any Omo ibadan (even if it is my legs that brought me here rather than my head).

That poem is just a little payment of gratitude for the peace and opportunities I have received since I entered into a romantic agreement with this great city.

Adeshina Afolayan

Sent from Samsung Mobile

-------- Original message --------
From: stradin2001 via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Date:
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - iPoem 6: Ibadan Invited Me...

Dear Afolayan,
This Poetry is profound for those of us to whom Ibadan is more than home. I have been embraced in the warmth of this great City and consider myself a true daughter of the soil.

You see, my father came to this City from the then South Eastern Region(Ibibioland) in 1947 on being demobilized from the army after the second world war. My mother was married in 1947. My parents had all their 12 children in Ibadan. I am the 9th of 12 children and was born over 50 years ago in this City of the warm embrace. I am married to an Ibadan indigene. Yoruba is my first language which I speak with the true kini so (show) accent. My Uncle who is 83 years still resides in Ibadan and we have four generations of my family in this city.

Long essay. But just providing the context for why your poem got my attention so powerfully.

Ibadan yio gbe wa oh! Ibadan to gbo nile to gba'lejo. Ibadan to gb'ole to gbole. Ilu Ibadan ko ni baje. Amin Aase!

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Etisalat. Enjoy high speed mobile broadband on any of our Easyblaze plans. Visit www.etisalat.com.ng for details.

From: "'Adeshina Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series"<usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>

Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 22:14:20 +0100

To: <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - iPoem 6: Ibadan Invited Me...

Ibadan invited me

...and I came,

enchanted,

into its

troublesome embrace

a non-Mesiogo:

my legs ached

my brain throbbed

my hair greyed

my loins flourished

and still Ibadan held me

in its troublesome embrace

It's more than a score years already

more than the life time

of most meaningful affairs

Is it still morning yet

in this romance?

I am a non-Mesiogo

yet Ibadan embraced me

Adeshina Afolayan

Sent from Samsung Mobile

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