Worship of the Stalwart-of-the-Skies in the Open Space of the Skies

A translation of "Ofufe Okolo Igwe na Mbala Igwe"

No special proclamation is needed to present the skies:
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows the exploration of the skies,
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to hold fire in his mouth
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to devour balls of fire
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to emit fumes
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to make pathways with fires
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to climb the tops that belong to the squirrels
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to peep into the deeps of the spiritworld
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to fly like the kite
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to dive and carry away chickens
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to shoot the dane gun before publics
When they try to try themselves,
Stalwart-of-the-skies knows how to blow up his breath
Before the great Deity.



A Question Posed by a Kinsman to a Kinsman

A translation of "Ajuju Nwanne Julu Nwanne"

Kinsman, are you asking me where we'll gather together when this world comes to an end?
Do you think we'll meet again when this world comes to an end?
Forever and ever, do you think we'll gather together again
Under the sun?
Look, we hold different beliefs —
Our beliefs are like the left hand and the right hand,
Refusing to stay as one in this life's journey.
Your belief is bent, mine erect like the palm tree.
I hold onto local tradition, which is clear to me like the daylight
But you hold onto Western values, which have turned your life upside down
I stand firm on the ground, but you hang up there.
You walk the crooked paths of the Roman church
I walk the narrow path of the keepers of tradition
You'll return to the Whiteman's heavenly kingdom when your world ends
I'll rejoin Earth my great mother;
I'll rejoin my ancestors and ancient lords,
Those who from the sunlight lit fires,
Sun — the great Deity the Light that gives lights
I'll rejoin the people of the Light in Igbo,
You'll rejoin members of the Roman church in Whiteman's heaven,
I'll rejoin Igbo, the rugged Igbo in places.
Kinsman, how then could we ever gather together again in another world?



The Dance with Which the Lizard Freed Itself

A translation of "Egwu Ngwelle Jili Gbalukwa Onwe Ya"

It is the brave that fell from a great height and said if no one praised him
He would praise himself
It is the lizard that fell from a great height and said if no one praised him
He would praise himself
Do you lament that the river now flows backwards?
Do you lament that the riverside person is getting closer to the hill?
Do you lament that the wasteland has claimed all your wealth?
Don't complain to me anymore, don't complain to me anymore
For I have gone to the warfront and have secured my freedom,
Yes, Igbo has reached the warfront and has seen calamities.
I declare that I, Igbo, have fought against evil and have secured my freedom.

Ekleksographia:
Wave Two

October, 2009

Poems

Obododimma Oha translates Ogonna Agu

Obododimma Oha teaches Stylistics, Semiotics, and Creative Writing in the Department of English at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His poems have appeared in Otoliths, Fogged Clarity, Envoi, Shadowtrain, Agenda, Postcolonial Text, Portal, and several other literary journals and anthologies. With Anny Ballardini, he co-edited While the He/Art Pants, an online anthology of poems that focus on the 2008 American elections. Further details on his writing and teaching career are available at UDude.WordPress.com.