Read Time:3 Minute, 31 Second
(For those that have slept, and those still awake) A is for Achebe, Man of The People, who oiled the wheels of the world with words so things don't fall apart. A is also for Adichie, the prodigy with no effigy. B is for Buchi, who told the tale of the unsung women. B is also for Badmus, word preacher, whose Scriptures of Verses brew a Storm in My Head. C is for Cyprain, who seeped into the veins of my childhood fine needles of words. C is also for Chukumerijie, the panting leopard who leaps words into action. D is for D.O. Fagunwa, the bullroarer who rode in his pen horse for an Expedition To The Mountain Of Thought. D is also for Dele, the town crier whose large bell rings out: Do Not Die in Their War. E is for Elechi, who had words as slave to do his bidding. E is also for Eriata, who wraps the little under his wings. F is for Flora, the Lake Goddess whose water of words sprang far, across shores. F is also for F. Awodiya, descendant of warriors who uses a pen to stilt the deer. G is for G. Okara, who played the words from both the Piano and Drums. G is also for G. Oboido, whose Wandering Feet on Pebbled shores reached the sea of words. H is for Hauwa Ali, who shook the veil of tradition with stories till it tore. H is also for Hussani, Usain's double in the sprint of words. I is for Imam, whose words were a Water of Cure to the people. I is also for Igoni, a barrel full of stories. J is for J. Munonye, the Bridge to a Wedding of letters. J is also for Jonathan, chef of the joint Itanile , where home cooked stories are served. K is for K. Onadipe, who dipped his bleeding fingers, full of characters, to fill an empty page. K is also for Kolade and Kukogho. Perhaps, I should say the last name again. L is for Ladipo. L is also for Logan. If you look around, you'll find there's a pen inside everyone. N is for N. Nwankwo, The Gambler with words. N is also for Niyi, I kneel before thy hill, O Father Poetry. O is for Okigbo, Archpriest of the Idoto river. O is also for Olisakwe, Eyes of the Goddess, who frowns at patriachy's footstool. P is Pepper Clark, the shrill voice in the jungle of words. P is for Pamilerin, whose print of poetry found itself in the caves of mental health. Q is for the q in Iqwo, who ate the words right from her grandmother's bottom pot. R is for Romeo, whose rooms of words are a castle a boy can find himself. S is for Sufola, who got chained to the Sweet Trap of words. S is also for Suddie; the versatile sage. T is for Tutuola, who drank daily words of wine. T is also for Tares, Walcott's acolyte, with his boat full of nets of pages. He returns with fishes of verses. U is for you, dear Editor, whose eyes must be starved of melon of sleep, yet you carry on. V is also for V. Jumoke, who joined together streams of Small Silences till they became a river of loud voices. W is for Wole, the Dance of The Forest cannot be complete without the Iroko tree. X is for all those names that may have slipped by my memory, and are unprinted on these pages. Y is for the Y in Biyi, angel of the camera who has gone to capture God's face. Y is also for Yemisi, who retold the mortar and pebble story. Z is for Z. Truth be told, there's nothing left to say than Z is for Z.