Kashimawo! I sing the song of those coming I dance the music of those around I talk the language of those alive I walk the steps of those dead Kashimawo! I am that alive after my father’s 27th abikus Kashimawo! I struggle the poverty of the downtrodden I bestride the land of the living Kashimawo! I kept the mandate of my people I died the death of self I decay the hope of my people simmers Kashimawo! We will see We shall see It will be
Stephen Oladele Solanke, PhD, a Nigerian born in Lagos, holds an M.Ed (Educational Management), an MA and a PhD (English Literature) with specialization in Oral and African Literature. He lectures at Ajayi Crowther University, Nigeria. A few of his works are ‘Anthology and Analyses of Poems for Senior Secondary Schools’ (2001), ‘28 Poetic Voices’ (2005). His poems like “We Are”, “The Now”, “Moo” are published by Africanwriter.com and in The Woodland Echoes by The International Library of Poetry, America. In 1999, he won the Editor’s Choice Award for his poem “Moo”. He is also a contributor to the ‘Five Hundred Nigerian Poets’ anthology edited by Jerry Agada. He can be reached by email via myacada@gmail.com or Twitter where he is @sosolanke or his Facebook page Stephen O. Solanke.
