The Essential Onye Igbo

KWENU! Our culture, our future

The Essential Onye Igbo

Nwachukwu Matthew Ezewudo

…and they wonder who we are!

What powers assembled such a people?

For all the corners of this earth has felt us

We have taught the world the essence of hard work

By our struggles and perseverance, we wrought the miracles you see

Our philosophy remains that of aka aja aja…

But our story is fraught with tears and blood

And through history our non-belligerence has cost us much

From the transatlantic slavery plunder

Through the ethnic cleansing of ours in project Nigeria

The shocks and sufferings very much emboldens us

For our genius is that unyielding spirit

Listen, our destiny resides at the right hand of the almighty

And the fear of the Supreme Being molded our values ages past

Honesty and integrity are matters of honor so dear to us

We were prepared to die by oath than lie or cheat

Now, in a time of changing deities and values, we are threatened

For the love of materials steal our heats and our focus is hazy

We remain an amazing people, even with our faults

And Nri and Aro are our mystic cities

But we should worry about our children our future

For brigands and ndi uwa have infiltrated our ranks

So for lucre and food, our essence and vision is mortgaged

Look up to the heavens all, let us return to the ageless path of truth

See also: Nwachukwu Matthew Ezewudo: New World