Naija Poetry | Lost Rhythms

Seyi Ojenike

Biography: ‎SEYI OJENIKE is a poet who finds creative inspiration in his rich Yoruba heritage. Shaped by literary giants Wole Soyinka and Niyi Osundare, his poetic voice resonates in his contribution to the book "Things Fall Apart: The Centre Cannot Hold," a collaborative work between the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria commemorating W. B. Yeats' Nobel Prize centenary.

Seyi Ojenike's Profile

Seyi Ojenike

Wednesday 24 May 2023

Lost Rhythms

In the echoes of forgotten tales,

Africans dance to foreign beats,

Their feet entangled in alien steps,

Their souls swaying to borrowed tunes.

They forsake their own melodies,

Assembled over centuries of existence,

Trading vibrant rhythms for hollow echoes,

Blinded by the allure of distant shores.

Colonial whispers still linger,

Breeding insecurity, sowing doubt,

Their cultural fabric worn thin,

In pursuit of acceptance, they discard their roots.

The richness of ancestral wisdom,

Fades in the shadow of borrowed customs,

Their minds colonized, their spirits suppressed,

In a relentless pursuit of assimilation.

Oh, Africa! Awaken from this slumber,

Embrace the heartbeat of your own drum,

Rekindle the flames of ancient fires,

And let your voices rise in unison.

For the strength lies in your diversity,

In the tapestry woven by countless tribes,

Unfurl the banner of cultural pride,

And reclaim the essence that is truly yours.

Let the rhythms of the Motherland resound,

From the savannas to the bustling cities,

For it is in embracing our own unique cadence,

That Africa will find its voice once more.

Trending Now

Most Rated Poems

Recently Joined

FPG Feeds

>