By Ochuko Tonukari I have come to thee this day With my purity before me And indeed I am your child, The son of a priest in this temple I have come that thou mayest protect me From all things evil If thy can’t, who else will? Hail Mother of the River Whose … Continue reading Empress of the River
By Ochuko Tonukari I just went to sleep But I am still here Like a spirit roaming the night Thirsty, hungry, wailing Seldom stopping to rest I dwelt in the unknown Like a ghost in the Imidaka forest A game for the boy’s pentathlon Night-prowling beast, A lady in black apparels, Traversed … Continue reading Intruder of Doom
By Ochuko Tonukari I have come again Through the rivers that meet I have sailed through ancient times Into the belly of the bluest fountains I have found the womb of midnight In the dreamlike pathway of divine ages Somewhere through wilderness’ memories In the morning of another incarnation A voice from distant lands foretold my destiny … Continue reading Mother of Alchemy
By Ochuko Tonukari I grew up at a time when significant aspects of Urhobo culture were at the brink of extinction. Even so, there was a burning desire in me to find out about Urhobo … Continue reading Chief Omokomoko Osokpa: the Pioneer of Urhobo contemporary Music
By Ochuko Tonukari Not too long ago, an exciting debate came up in our local church. It was such that we heatedly discussed ways in which parents need to re-examine placing gender stereotypes on their children, specifically boys. There were many eloquent speakers in the church that day but frankly, I was somewhat impressed … Continue reading How to raise the kind of Men we would like to Marry
By Ochuko Tonukari One thing I discovered recently is that, there are many girls out there who are hooked up to guys who really do not care a hoot about them. They keep ‘killing’ themselves over a man who, as it were, has his heart somewhere else. Meanwhile, there are a good number of sincere … Continue reading Giving the Guy who wants the job a chance
In the crack of yesterday’s sunrise I torment myself with many idiotic memories All men past the age of twenty have learnt Somewhat of the tricks of women The pretty playful nothings That weaken the will And sap the force of the strongest hero My best books warned me against women Truly, … Continue reading Memories of My Heart
Writing of the type I know is different from other school subjects. In math, physics, chemistry, and biology, every student is supposed to study the same things and come up with the same answers. But in writing, if everyone writes exactly the same thing, that’s not good — that’s copying, not writing. Everyone’s writing needs … Continue reading Why I Disagree with Prof. Ojaide’s labeling of New Poets as Copycats (2)
One thing I realized lately is that the future of African writing is in the hands of writers who are not only ardent readers but those who are in touch with their African root. There is no better way for the new African writer to hone his writing skills than reading the works of established … Continue reading Why I Disagree with Prof. Ojaide’s labeling of New Poets as Copycats (1)
By Ochuko Tonukari Your memory Like a ghost Haunts me endlessly Tossing dewdrops And coming down my cheeks I long for your corporeal presence I dreamt of the fire and sweetness of your love Under that chaste, passionate drizzle Its skin limpid piercing my pitch dark craves Severing my soul of the slave of … Continue reading The Journey’s End
By Ochuko Tonukari I lay back staring at my lip-stick stained designer card Overcome with the sensational feeling of exhilarating memories Between reading the foregoing lines My body gave a slight tremor being an overwhelming reaction to the intense pleasure of remembering Of knowing that out there, someone cares Treasures me Kesiena, a symbol of … Continue reading Twosome World
The Impact of the Inferno There has not been an incident of such magnitude in Nigeria since 1956 when oil was discovered in Oloibiri in the Central Delta. About half of the cassava farm was completely razed and the rubber and bush also were partially burnt. A huge chunk of farmland had now been taken … Continue reading Tears on the Burning Field (2)
By Ochuko Tonukari “This is terrible, it is really terrible! I can’t believe these are human beings…” That was how Navy Commander Walter Feghabor, the then military administrator of Delta State gave vent to the emotions that gripped him as he stood spellbound before the human bodies burnt beyond recognition in the wake of … Continue reading Tears on the Burning Field (1)
Recently, while at Warri, I watched a most exciting and soul-lifting movie titled ‘Pay It Forward’ which helped to shape my understanding, brought a watershed, turning point in my life and gave me a new insight into the meaning of the word ‘hero’. The movie is about 11 year-old Trevor. His social studies teacher Eugene … Continue reading My Everyday heroes
By Ochuko Tonukari One of the men I respect most in my short sojourn on planet earth just celebrated his 93rd birthday and I feel I should try to find out more about what was responsible for his greatness. This was what motivated me recently to read his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”. Indeed, it … Continue reading The Pleasure of meeting Nelson Mandela through his Book