Watching patiently, like an owl I sit.
I am awash with blood
Like the butcher’s cutlass;
In disgust, I spit upon this sands.
I have been here all along,
They even gave this land my name.
I danced and rejoiced when she was set free.
Yet, reserved I watched.
Shall she sing the anthem,
Anthem of her fathers?
I watched as the giant,
This giant corruption,
Wrapped his hairy hand
Around her slender throat.
I sighed as she thrashed.
I hissed as she kicked.
She began to sing,
The words of that old anthem,
This song that has no refrain,
This mad, sad song.
What happens on the land?
This river remembers;
The blood of the innocent
Is the music of my waves!
This is my song,
The song of the Niger River…
Written by: Chikatito Jones
Edited by: Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
