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KWENU! Our culture, our future |
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Poetic Radicalism- Nostalgia! Stream Song
Johnbosco Ken. Amakeze
Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo[1] Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo
Were the call and the rejoinder And the song as we ran and walked Toward the far off Mkpukpa[2] stream To fetch of the pure sweet water Flowing from mouths of stones
Our ancestors drank of it And our fathers too and lived long Udenkwo, my father’s mother… Mma dere uli[3], wouldn’t spill Mkpukpa From the earthenware where she kept it
And a whip man with leave branches Would dictate the pace as he pursues Singing Abu bo abu-bo in a suspenseful rhythm While we ran all eyes, marking the pathway herbs Finger ready to grasp one if he sings… Say, ‘abuba akpu’[4] as his preference Lest he whips one as he still hunts for it
Such was the game of the stream path Neither the hot dry igwugwu[5] sand could impede Nor the mowing of the sacred Ehi[6] Mkpukpa Which sometimes charge down the stream Either to scare or rather to quench its thirst
Yet in the neighbourhood of breathless twinkle The long pathway subtly dwindles behind us And the song gives way to dauntless stones ahead As we chatter down o’er pebbles of symbolic textures Down and down the rocky, steeply stream
Over our heads stand trees in gangly clusters There here and there squirrels squeaks shrieking And many other unidentified chirps and sounds The small white plate or basket by the three crossroads Raising ones hairs and pulling off some wits Further, you can hear the water’s voices Tinkering and echoing in the womb of Mkpukpa So calmly, and cool even before the hottest sun
Little wonder the belief that spirits also visit Mkpukpa Thus at lonely early hours, especially at mgbachi[7] They trip to the friendly stream to bath, fetch and drink That no one ever dares walk down without iku ene[8] By way of shouting down half away into its heart “Let spirit’s children be gone, for man’s children is come!” And it’s believed with ears stretched sharply One could hear stalks and leaves ruffle as they disperse
Moreover, we would wallow into Ofia[9] Mkpukpa While awaiting turns if the toll is lengthy Looking for some edible bush-fruits and leaves One might pluck aku-ofia or the surgery utommirikpo[10] Or the rare ukasi used in cooking delicious egusi or oha[11] Priceless to grateful proud mothers at home
Yet, coming up would be like a cow climbing hills Clenching on trees and stones to hold up and on Although, I once fell off a crest into a foliage decked ditch! Such was the day a lad went home bruised without water But grandma would patch my gallon with her mma ekwu[12] And a chunk of smoked okpo[13] fish on my palm She squeezed onugbu[14] leave to heal my pains
Meanwhile we would stop over at some shades To ease off our stiffened necks and heavy legs At times to stifle a little quarrel or play kpokpo[15] Whereof cashew seeds are piled up by a few boys And whoever shoots out any number from the circle Taking in turns from a marked distance Would take all till all are spent!
We might as well rest again at the Mbara[16] Mkpukpa Or not, if we had beaten a bet of the unweakened! Here wandered the beautiful mad Ugoada[17] With dirty dreadlock and dangling breasts Often soliloquizing, and friendless in her solitude
Then we would walk home slowly and fast For though the eulogy at home spurred on and on Yet the Abu bo abu-bo calls more to stream duty Than the Nna m deeme, daalu oru[18] of pleased parents Such that even the sick would wish they were not unwell To run the run in the tune of the song of the stream
Johnbosco Ken. Amakeze www.springsong.gq.nu
[1] Abubo means leaves or herds in Igbo language [2] The deity Mkpukpa is a spring water at Nimo, Anambra State- Nigeria [3] Mma dere Uli lit. A beautified beauty! for she was so that the village folk called her Ugegbe{Mirrow} [4] Cassava leave [5] Sandy sand [6] Sacred cow [7] Around 12 at noon [8] To create attention [9] Bush [10] A hard nut and a yellowish-red berry [11] Ukasi and oha {soup} are edible leaves, and egusi {soup} is melon [12] A locally made kitchen knife [13] A species of the catfish [14] Edible and herbal bitter leave {Onugbu soup} is Nimo’s favourite [15] Cashew nut [16] Spacious playground where Mkpukpa’s feast is celebrated [17] Ugoada lit. means Eagle’s daughter- her beauty hid behind her not too old age [18] Lit. My father good job, well done!
©2006 Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
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