For Nigeria or The day We held Freedom in Our Hands

 We followed the beating drums to dance out our hearts

stomping wildly with abandon against the earth, the ground raises dust around us in response

hands thrown up in ecstasy, in pain, in relief

the night rang loud with our cries, we didn’t let them sleep

voices thrown together in beautiful discord

stories trailing afterwards, quiet, real and true

who were we to be after the war had been won?

what were we to see now that our journey had begun?

see there, yes there beyond the palm trees that refuse to bend to the winds of time and oppression

see there as our enemy lies fallen

we did it! that wound on it’s head was from our blows

we did it! it’s evil reign, we overthrew… we did it!

so we cannot be silent, we cannot stand still

wake up the neighbors and let them come