Odiedo Stephen

“I speak to ANNI mother of the sun slaved ‘yond the OCEAN-STREAM to PALMARES of BRAZIL. In PALMARES your sons' and daughters' quest to break the chains of slavery soared heavenwards – then became as a heartsickness that heals not. Their suffering souls stand in serried ranks here at your remembering of the enslaved,” the impassioned POET-SOLDIER lauds the dead. “O mother of a son chained aboard the slave ship to the NEW WORLD, heal the souls of PALMARES, hear their cry. And BIAFRA, mother of the children that starved in that GENOCIDE-BY-STARVATION that overtook us all: here at the monument to the dead come your children.” “I thank mother BIAFRA that first spoke for the dead,” says ANNI.

"NIGERIA must be the Sanctuary of  the afflicted. The refuge of them that are fleeing persecution. NIGERIA must be the example for them look to this land. For BRAZIL of PALMARES may NIGERIA be the place of hope. For JAMAICA in the days of terror may this land be as a beacon of hope," says the POET-SOLDIER. "And to the sixty million and more that perished of that evil trade: may your suffering Souls find of NIGERIA balm for your Souls. And to you: HAITI CHERIE, know that NIGERIA feels your sorrows. And to the children starved in BIAFRA'S genocide-by-starvation, by the EUMENIDES, the kindly ones, NIGERIA names each of you by name. ANNI'S son: welcome to these memorials, be hardy of heart. Rise."

"Come ERINYES, come avenging FURIES, damn this NIGERIA till it repents in sackcloth my son's slavery," at the monument to the war dead ANNI seeks revenge. "I will recite of your son if ANNI turns her rage away from BIAFRA," the POET-SOLDIER speaks at last. "Not my son alone: NIGERIA'S war dead, slaves lost sixty million and more, them that starved to death, the girls slaved, murdered by the HARRAM: for thus I make the POET-SOLDIER my hierophant," ANNI mother EARTH replies. "Only if your ERINYES become the EUMENIDES, the kindly ones ever blessing by name NIGERIA'S war dead, the starved, the enslaved girls and your son," the POET-SOLDIER tells ANNI. "NIGERIA be the sanctuary of the afflicted."

"BIAFRA pleads with ANNI: turn your anger away from this land." "This land sold my son into slavery and in chains sent him to the NEW WORLD - and you plead for them? Have you seen the horrors I have in store for this called NIGERIA? Do you know its true name? The Slave Coast." "Let BIAFRA write your son's name on the TABLETS OF FATE - " "They are with the gods," counters ANNI." "Declining to write the dead himself, the POET-SOLDIER gave them to BIAFRA." "Only if the POET-SOLDIER writes my son's name himself." "Then ANNI becomes not BIAFRA'S bane but the balm." "For all NIGERIA,not BIAFRA only." "Then a new day dawns for us all." "Let POET-SOLDIER write my son's name on the TABLETS OF FATE."

"BIAFRA must entreat EARTH to temper her rage: them that suffer your rage did not load chains upon your son -" fearsome ANNI stops EZI-NNE right there: "they are scions of that treachery that enslaved my son. My rage against them all - generation upon generation." "BIAFRA brings ANNI redress - instead of damning all, may that for the sake of my children BIAFRA sings the song of harmony for your son: may his soul find the gates of bliss." "BIAFRA, BIAFRA: your words cannot undo these centuries that I have sorrowed." "Yet ANNI must feel for NIGERIA," "O, but I do: rage and more rage against the chains of slavery, against treachery, against this land." BIAFRA prays for the chained and the dead.

"NIGERIA'S HAG has waited centuries for this day to know who loaded my son aboard that slave ship to the NEW WORLD. That you've spoken my name has sent me here posthaste, EZI-NNE. Know - as you beseech the living to speak the names of your dead, that I too am a mother. Centuries it has been, but my mother's sorrow rankles as if it were but this morning raw. Daily I seek him - and them that sold him aboard that slave ship. My son. Sold. A slave. My rage burns fierce 'gainst NIGERIA'S man, woman, child. May you all know a mother's sorrow for a son enslaved or cold in your lap - dead. EARTH sends my glamour 'gainst NIGERIA: may your bones grow porous. So let it be written, so let it be done."

“BIAFRA never wins the rites for my lost children while NIGERIA’S HAG wails the OCEAN-SEAS for her son,” EZZI-NNE tells CASSANDRA, “so let us seek her first.” “We that are BIAFRA’S hungry children? NIGERIA will never speak neither death rite nor name of us, EZZI-NNE. It is right that you seek out the one that  - why do you call her NIGERIA’S HAG?” “UKRAINKA had best answer you, child.” “She be HAG-NIGERIA because she is older than earth. Even in my UKRAINE she is feared: BABA YAGA the ugly-beautiful one. On a foul whim she drowns all aboard your boat; else bless you beyond measure. Not easy to please, she comes in her rags of the HAG-MOTHER: YAGA of changeling ways.” “Let us find the HAG.”