Short Stories And Poems
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- The Way You Make Me Feel
- Shackles Of Fear
- The Day She Was Called Home
- I Was Surprised
- An Ode To All Mums
By: Nambangi Justin Okolle
Inspired by: Our Daily Lives.
Hey, Hey, I can’t let you go
Hey, Hey, I just can’t let you go
My thoughts are full of you
So, I just can’t let you go.
In my darkness you brought light
In my failure you brought success
In my frustration you brought hope
In my weaknesses you brought courage
So, I just can’t let you go.
When I was down you pushed me up
When I sank you ‘floated’ me
When I was sad, you made me laugh
When I was hungry you fed me
So, I just can’t let you go
Oh Baby, push on, push on, push on
Ya Baby, push on, push on, push on
Think I am mad? No, no, no
Think I am crazy? No, no, no
Just that I can’t let you go
Yes Baby, courage, determination,
patience, and faith are all I know
By Edimo Andrew
Oroko, Oroko, my Oroko, Stand up
Conglomerate your courage to
unshackle the shackles of fear
that has imprisoned the man in you
Rendered you lukewarm in issues
affecting your person and region.
Oroko, Oroko, Oroko, my Oroko,
Arise against the plundering of your
God given natural resources,
The pauperization of you people,
The diabolic plan of divide and rule
That disunites and keep you in bondage
To the benefit of the alien
At the detriment of your people.
Oroko, Oroko, Oroko, my Oroko,
Be welcoming and accommodating
But not when your women are violated
Be kind, hospitable and loving
But not when your kindred is brutalized
Collaborate and work with the government
But not when the government rapes
your natural resources and careless
about the well being of kinship group.
Oroko, Oroko, Oroko, my Oroko, originate
Oroko, Oroko, Oroko, my Oroko, wakeup
Get out of slumber and fight for your rights
End the era of complacency to the government
That exploits your resources at your detriment
Oroko, Oroko, Oroko, my Oroko "tokowa",
Craft a new road map of hope and purpose for
Tomorrow’s generation so that the annals of
history will forever archive your opposition
The human rights abuse that was used to demean
your kins which your generation altruistically
worked so hard to overcome
For the prosperity of the generations unborn.
By Iya Bake Forseh
The day she was called home.
His almighty looked around and
Found an empty desk in his office
That needed to be filled.
He looked down on earth and found so many candidates
But only one was highly qualified for the position.
He stretched down and took her for the position.
He whispered into her ears
I know they need you but
I need you more he told her.
I know you were suffering and
I know you were in pain
I saw your path was difficult and
I condense the road for you
The day I called, you slept so peaceful
I saw the pain drift away.
On the night the Angel came for you,
the earth cried as Angels put you on their wings.
The heaven rejoiced as you came in
And the earth is sadden by your absence
Death A new chapter of life
The day she was called home.
By Tata Okolle Justin.
I was surprised when I saw rams putting on earrings
I was surprised when ewes wore pants in place of skirts
I was surprised when fenced dogs developed wings
When my blue plate now had a yellow colour, I was surprised
I was surprised when pillows became storehouses for ‘garri’
I was surprised when roasted plantains and papaya juice served for breakfast
I was surprised when goats went for a driving test and pigs were successful
When rats easily transported bibles to their burrows, I was surprised
I was surprised when chickens had beaks stronger than those of cocks
I was surprised when plastic plates fell and were broken
I was surprised when coconuts could diffuse through concrete walls
When rams, ewes, dogs, pigs, rats, chickens and cocks lived together, I was not surprised.
By Justine Okolle
Many would maltreat, insult and batter you
Many would push you out and call you bad names
Many would underestimate you and even say you are wicked
Many would consider you as a cart always behind the horses.
But for sure, some still see you differently
They see you as the foundation of all buildings
They see you as a universal soil harboring all other matter
They see you as that gravitational force pulling all objects.
There is just no gift better than a mum
There is just no star brighter than a mum
There is just no honey sweeter than a mum
There is just no spice which adds flavor better than mum.
Mum, the taste of your milk sticks in my mouth forever
Mum, the bed of your arms and laps reminds me forever
Mum, the sound of your kisses triggers me forever
Mum, I promise that you will be in my heart forever.
SPONSOR AN OROKO CHILD:
A SHORT PLAY. (written and directed by Iya Dr. Mercy Mabian)
The chief is in his palace with his wives and children. His family is seated on the floor around him.
Elder Lobe enters the palace, bows and says…
Elder Lobe: “Your highness!!! May you rule forever. Chief Okolle, the prices of cocoa, coffee, and spices have declined terribly while the prices of salt and oil have increased so much that we are unable to pay our children’s school fees.”
Chief Okolle’s first wife Molima walks in and bows in front of the chief.
First Wife Molima: “My husband, father of my children, Chief Okolle, May you rule and live forever.
Your subjects are troubled because their children have been driven from school due to lack of school fees. This morning, your own children: Itoe, Lobe, Nakomo, Bie, Nabinda, Masoma, and Mbongo were also sent home because of school fees.”
Molima starts crying----the chief affectionately taps his broom on both her shoulders. She bows and takes her seat beside him still crying.
Immediately, the second wife gets up from her seat, turns to the chief in a flirting manner (knowing that she is the chief’s favorite, and says
Second Wife Lokando: “Your Highness!! My Darling Husband, Lord of my life and father of my children, May you live and rule forever. My sister talked about her children and left my children. My children Mosere, Efamba, Musango, Elangwe, Ete, Mende, Wase, and the apple of your eye Bokwe have all been sent home for lack of school fees.” She turns away from the chief trying to cry. She faced the chief again and with a harsh tone continues.
Second Wife Lokando: “Your Highness! It will be a disgrace to you if your children do not receive an education.” “You will be a laughing stock in all Oroko villages.”
The chief stands up, walks quietly towards the second wife, embraces her and whispers in her ears.
Chief Okolle: “Don’t worry my dearest, everything will work out okay…Our God will not fail us. Our children will receive an education” (Kissing her on the forehead, he continued) “You are still my favorite.”
He looks into her eyes and smiles. Lokondo returns the smile, bows, and walks towards her seat while the chief continues…
Chief Okolle: “Most of the children in my village even my own children can not attend school because of school fees. What can I do?
O! My GOD!!! What can I do?” (Showing some emotion of sadness’) “Motale!!! Motale!!! Motale!!!”
Motale runs in the room breathing heavy, falls on his face, and says…
Motale: “Yes. Your Highness!!! Chief Okolle. May you rule and live forever.”
Chief Okolle: “Assemble the people!!!!
Motale leaves the palace beating the drum calling the villagers to assembly at the chief’s compound.
Chief Okolle: “I have called you here because we have a serious problem. We are unable to pay our children’s school fees.” "What can we do?"
The villagers are nodding their heads in agreement; others are demonstrating signs of agreement. Silence fills the compound.
Chief Okolle turns to Motale and says...
Chief Okolle: “Motale!!! Go to Dikome Balue village and find out if the chief is having the same problem.”
Motale leaves the room. The people are talking among themselves about the issue. A woman comes running and screaming with joy and dancing.
The chief’s first wife Molima approaches her.
Molima: “Iya Barike!!! Iya Barike!!! What happened eh? What happened?”
Barike: “My son is back OOO!!! My son is back OOO!!! She continues dancing. My Elangwe is back from Whiteman’s country.”
Molima: AH!!! Ha!!! Iya Barike? Your Elangwe who went to Whiteman’s country and we were so happy eeeh. Please bring your son OOO to meet the chief”
Barike still dancing runs to get her son. Motale returns falls on his knees and says…
Motale: “Your Highness!!! Chief Okolle. May you live and rule forever. Chief Mambe of Dikome Balue is having the same problem.
Several of the children in the village have been driven from school because of school fees. He asks that you inform him when you find a solution.”
Barike returns with his son. Bodyguards block them from getting close to the chief.
Chief Okolle: “Stop!!!” Everyone bows. “Who is that?”
Elder Lobe steps forward and says…
Elder Lobe: “Your Highness!!! Chief Okolle. May you live and rule forever. This is our son who is in America. He just returned yesterday for holidays.”
Chief Okolle hands his broom to the scholar Elangwe and says…
Chief Okolle: “Speak my child!!!!”
The American scholar Elangwe bows and says…
American Scholar Elangwe: “Your Highness!!! Chief Okolle. May you live and rule forever.
American Scholar Elangwe: “I am very happy that our people are thinking about the future of the children. It is true that children are the leaders of tomorrow.
If the children are not educated today, we will miss the boat. We, Oroko people oversea have heard how the school children are driven from all Oroko schools because of tuition and how the parents are unable to afford the tuition. We have created a sponsorship program to support the children in the villages attending primary or secondary schools by paying their tuition.”
The American scholar bows and leaves
The chief Okolle laughs very loud
Chief: “Ha! Ha! Ha! Our GOD is very Wise. HE has solution for every problem. Motale!!! Motale!!! Motale!!!”
Motale walks in the room bows and says…
Motale: Your highness!!! Chief Okolle. May you live and rule forever.
Chief: still laughing. “Call my Elders!!!”
Motale beats the drum and the elders walk in and say…
Elders: “Your Highness!!! Chief Okolle. May you live and rule forever.”
Chief Okolle: “Our children overseas will solve our problem. They have created a sponsorship program to pay the school fees of our children.”
Chief Okolle turns to Motale and says…
Chief Okolle: “Motale!!! Go to Dikome Balue and tell the chief the good news. Every Oroko Village should hear this good news.”
The Elders keep looking at each other smiling, others praying.
Elders: “O!!! Thank God!!! Thank God!!! Our problem has been solved.”
Chief Okolle’s first wife starts singing and dancing. Everyone joins in.
The Players
Chief Okolle--------------------------------Chief Victor Ngomo Obie
Motale---------------------------------------Tata Joseph O. Itoe
Elder Lobe---------------------------------Tata Evaristus Nanje
Elders--------------------------------------( 2) Iya Hannah Elangwe
(3) Iya Ebenye Nanje
(4) Iya Bridget Nanje
(5) Iya Stella Aboko
(6) Iya Doris Nanje
First Wife Molima------------------------Iya Loveline Itoe
Second Wife Lokando-----------------Iya Getrude Ngoe Children------------------The children dressed in African outfits
American Scholar Elangwe------------ Tata Henry Aboko
American Scholar Elangwe’s Mother—Iya Bertha Kinye