THE GIANT OF AFRICA

 

Photo Credit: iStock

By: Akintayo Deborah

Nigeria, I hail thee!

The giant that roars,

And his subjects cowers,

To the land and the people, 

That soar high like an eagle.

From the Shekere of the South,

To the Kakaki of the North,

O! The desert glory of the Yusufari,

And the wonders of Yankari.

Sparkles that shine,

Sliver that shimmers,

Gold that glitters,

A Nigerian Owanbe?

Yes please.

Colours that outshine the sun,

Food prepared as a Kings banquet,

And wine flowing like the ocean,

With rhythms that make you feel fly.

In the bustling streets of Lagos,  

Where dreams like rivers flow,  

Voices rise in vibrant chorus,  

As the seeds of tomorrow grow.  

Every corner tells a story,  

Of laughter, pain, and grace,  

In unity we find our power,  

In diversity, our embrace.  

Through the trials and tribulations,  

We rise like the phoenix from ash,  

With hope lighting up the shadows,  

Together, we make a splash.  

So let the world hear our anthem,  

A melody rich and true,  

Nigeria, a land of resilience,  

In you, our hearts renew. 

As the sun sets over Abuja,  

Painting skies in hues of red,  

We gather around the firelight,  

Where stories of old are said.  

Of heroes who fought for freedom,  

And those who dreamt of peace,  

In our unity lies our strength,  

A bond that will never cease.

But remember!

Not everything that shines is gold,

And even a plum red apple,

Can be filled with maggots,

The walls can be heaven,

And the home hell,

Nigeria, the folly of some,

And yet the fortress of many,

Nigeria, I hail thee.