Some Things Sting as Bad as Death Itself.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
[Frankly, they are too weak and disgusted to speak today. All they are doing is shaking their heads.]

Oboma H is my very good friend. We went to nursery, primary and secondary school together. We almost went to College together until at the last minute, I went to the U.S.A instead of Canada.  But that hasn't changed many things. This girl is one of the best dancers you will ever meet, as an aside, and we have had about as many awesome memories and disagreements as possible and these things only made us stronger.

Then, Oboma lost her father recently.

It's hard for her, especially because she was really close to him and she talked about him all the time. Oboma called her dad 'Father' with a very interesting Kalabari twist to the word, (so it has the same stress pattern as 'Oga'). So, we all referred to him as Father. She's hurting but she's as strong as I would never have expected. I'm literally tapping strength off her and her mother. It's unbelievable and it's a miracle.

                                                               Bomsy and Father.

Oboma's dad was extremely warm and kind (as is her mum) and since I've related with them for more than ten years now, they would always ask about me and vice versa. Extremely funny and his age did not show on his health. He would walk into a room ever gracefully with his walking stick and he would sit with everyone. He would NEVER sit up front or on the high table until he was called up. NEVER. And he was ALWAYS called up :) I know he's resting in peace and really, much of him lives in his children, his wife and those that knew him.

Oboma, be strong. You have lovers. It's not today we started going through thick, thin and BS. So, no be today e go end. God has you.

So, I didn't have to write a post to comfort my friend. Until I saw this:

The text reads (verbatim):

"Gurl you're dumb...so what if you lost a dad are you the first? Feel free to delete the comment and me from your list."

I know you already know, Bomsy, but just as a reminder, you're the furthest thing from dumb. You're strong and beautiful and a fighter. And your dad is in a better place, looking down on [Paul Barde] and wanting to whoop him.

Your response was what made me realise that this guy was opening things you were trying to allow heal.

So, I plead in the nicest way possible...people, bico, be sensitive to others. I would not have done an entire blog post about this but in view of all that has been going on in recent times, I'm sick-to-my-stomach on the amount of insensitivity some of us have. 

Don't do it.

If what you have to say will not constructively release warmth and prayers and kind wishes so that someone who is going through pain can heal, then you don't have to speak. You really don't.

Oboma, you will heal. Allow this Barde, Paul to wallow in his foolishness. According to IphyIgboGurl, 'you know what they say about when you argue with a fool'.

To all those in pain because of death (or, for example, rape) or statements that sting like them, God be with you and focus on the few warm words this generation has to offer. It's a pity.

Shout out to all those who have taken matters into their own hands  since waiting for 'Monday' was a complete waste of time, especially Sugabelly for making use of her Engl-Igbo skills to fish out those first names. Some heroes come in flimsy forms. 

Bless,

NakedSha.

What Nigeria Does for My Heart

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: A kì í fini joyè àwòdì ká má lè gbádìẹ.
English: One cannot be given the title “eagle” and yet be incapable of snatching chickens. - Yoruba Proverb.
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Nigeria is where I was born and grew up so there are so many things that go on that I'm used to, unlike a visitor who would be intrigued by a mother carrying a baby strapped with a wrapper on her back or by a nomad man and his herd of the cattle in the middle of the street or by a family that chooses to close down an entire street to throw a lavish funeral or traditional wedding ceremony.

Nigerians have been fighting for a long time. All we've known how to do is have our defenses up and be ready to protect ourselves since we have very little protection from elsewhere. This is very evident in the customer service and the general attitude from commercial transport workers and the road users. However, Nigerians are extraordinarily resilient people and against all odds, the spirit of family and oneness exists among everyone. It’s no wonder so much wealth and so much poverty have been able to co-exist. The man in the cramped, Indomie-panted storey building in the heart of Lagos keeps hoping that one day, he will be like his neighbor in the skyscraper along the Eko Marina. Once, I was returning from Rebuilding Lives and there was a Keke NAPEP driving at top speed across the Third Mainland Bridge. That in itself is not unusual but there were seven people inside the Keke and one man hanging onto it from outside. By the time I got out my camera, it was too late to get a picture. L But Nigeria is home to many contradictions and Nigerians will thrive no matter what is thrown at us.

The climate for Arts, Literature and Theatre is being restored slowly but surely. I am grateful for this. I was able to attend a good number of such events. I’m glad for the accessibility, even though there’s a lot of room for improvement.

The LifeHouse on Sinari Daranijo street, Farafina Trust (and Kachifo Limited), Silverbird Group, Taruwa, etc are some of the innovations that deserve credit for hosting book-readings, concerts, literary workshops and thorough libraries; mostly for free.

NakedSha and Aderonke Williams Adeosun (read her published story here) at E.C Osondu’s book-reading for Voice of America.  

I was in Port Harcourt city twice this summer. If you were born in Port Harcourt or have lived there at all, you understand that there is only one way we eat bole (roasted plantain). This food originated in the West amongst the Yorubas but is eaten there with ekpa (groundnuts). In the south, however, fish is first coated with palm oil and pepper, and  roasted alongside the plantains. Then a special sauce is prepared and the entire meal is covered in this sauce. In PH city, bole is a meal. I had missed bole and fish (as well as isi-ewu, ekpang kukwo, native soup and isam (periwinkles)) and I enjoyed all these while I was there.

Bole and Fish

Rivers Native Soup

When someone travels, they usually do not unpack their bags entirely while they visit the new place until they have returned home. Nigeria is that place where my suitcase is always fully unpacked. It’s where I can let my anchor down because I know that I – or my heart, at least – will be there for a long time. I miss it every day even though I’m having a fantastic time where I am now. I miss the praise and worship in church, the weddings, the laughter, the food, the family, the richness and diversity of culture and the never-ending traffic [well, maybe not]. Before I make sense of time, I’ll be back home to where the inspiration for my stories never ends.

Unlike Furtado: I’m like a bird, I want to fly away. BUT, I know where my home is and, I’ll be back to where my soul is.

^^ Morning of day 1: I wanted agege bread so badly. My sister and I went all the way to the main junction to find some.

Bless,
NakedSha.

My Face on the Cover Page of Knowing Words.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: A kì í fi ẹ̀tẹ̀ sílẹ̀ pa làpálàpá.
English: One does not ignore leprosy to treat a rash - Yoruba proverb.
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This semester, this picture is featured on the cover page of one of the (CU Boulder) Program for Writing and Rhetoric freshman level textbooks - Knowing Words.

This is so thrilling.

The entire cover looks so pretty.

It's beautiful. I was credited on the first page of the book and it's interesting to see my full name in print, even though the only business I have with the book is the front cover.

#IntoMyLetterBoxACopyOfThisBookGoes.

So thankful :)

On another note, I have quite some to write about Nigeria and my trip which ended two days ago. I need a couple days to finish up my other engagements for friends'  blogs and BBP will have my attention.

God bless,
NakedSha...

"...do you also sleep with the Eastern builders’ wives..."

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Eng: You cannot fatten a pig on the market day - Nigerian Proverb.
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Hello,

I'm sorry about my well spaced out posts in the last few weeks. As soon as I return to my scheduled life, I'll be back on here.

The other day at the close of work, I asked a colleague if he would like to write a poem...

Me:  Guy, let's do a flash poetry exercise
Guy: What's that?
Me:  We write short poems in a short amount of time.
Guy: Uh huh...
Me:  So, you choose a word and we each write a poem that relates to the word in, say, eight minutes. Then we share poems.
Guy: Let's do it!

It was so much fun, we ended up doing four poems each and then we had to go home. Guy confessed that poetry is beautiful. GUY...CONFESSED that poetry is beautiful. Okay!
The rules were that the poem had to have eight lines, be written in eight minutes and contain the randomly  chosen word.

Here are the ones I wrote:

1.

Chosen word: Inadvertent 

It is only wise that I return home,

To where my sadist father’s bones rot

And my bitter mother’s skin moulds

- Where my heart deserted long ago

………………………………...................

I am their child: at most, they fed me

Though our scores are on hold for beyond here

For now, it is inadvertent that I face my silent fears

And return to put their ghosts to rest.

2.

Chosen word: Evolve

Oh! How Alero has become a woman,

In 72 inches of skin like new honey…

… And with a waist lined with spring like her mother’s,

Her mother - My husband’s first lover.

…………………………………………………

Temisan, my own child, walks unlike a horse

And talks unlike a lady ready to give palmwine to a man.

When this ‘thorn’ in my garden will evolve into a flower,

I do not know.

3.

Chosen word: Window

More than before, these days,

Your jalabia cloak smells of hibiscus incense,

Like the ones the Eastern women make.

More than before, you travel to the East,

To “sell your windows to the Eastern builders”

And perhaps, drink with their wives.

Do you also sleep with the Eastern builders’ wives,

While they burn hibiscus incense?

4. 

Chosen word: Prayer

With this warm dinner, I beg you my husband,

Never wake me up again for prayer.

My faith is like the receding desert

And my heart is in despair.

.....................................................................

Only last week, I rocked my child to sleep

And combed her black, bushy hair.

And I prayed and prayed for her ill to flee

Is dead, like my only child, the answerer of prayer?

[We decided to rhyme on the fourth one. If you've read anything of mine, you'll see that I abstain from rhyme 

as much as possible. This was not the easiest or 'funnest' one to write.]

P.S: Guy is Guy's real name.

Thank you and God bless,

NakedSha.

Inside my head {3}

...Omonoba...
our people say:
Yoruba: Ibi tí òjò-ó ti ńpa igún bọ̀-ọ́ jìnnà; ta ní rán igún níṣẹ́?
English: The vulture has endured the drenching rain from a great distance, but who sent the vulture on an errand? - Yoruba proverb.
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* Pet peeve -> 'O' is a letter and '0' is a number. Phone numbers start as Zero-eight-zero-five... NOT O-eight-O-five... aaarrgghhhh

* Everyone wants to be deep and profound these days. I'd much prefer to hear simple words -  forget the deep quotes. They are stale.

* Let my heart be close to my God more than my lips are close to my God.

* My shades-of-grey spectrum is widening. The black-and-white spectrum is thinning out.

* When God gave me my family he was saying...'err, here are your unconditional lovers. If you find others along the way, great! If not, this should be just fine. '

* To my earthly father: I'd weave you a special aso out of my tears, choruses, poetry and thank-yous if I could. Then, you could wear it on Sunday and the world would help me sing your praises. Mine would never be enough.

* Chocolate and strawberries taste great.

* When I die, check my letter box for my Testament. In summary, DO NOT bury me - cremate my skin and bones. Don't keep my ashes, you don't need it. Give my organs to whoever needs them most and share the little I owned among my family - given and chosen.

* Was McCandless stupid and arrogant? Think before you answer this. Frankly, I'm still thinking.

* E ba mi ki ra fun baba ati mama at'egbon at'awon aburo mi.

Oda aro.

NakedSha.

25 Real-time questions

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: “Ó mọ́ mi lọ́wọ́” ní ńdi olè.
English: “It is an exact fit for my hand” leads to thievery. - Yoruba proverb.
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1. Do you have any pets?
-> Not at the moment.

2. Name three things that are physically close to you...
-> Peach Pleasure Jamba Juice smoothie.
-> My planner
-> My Ecology and Evolutionary Biology textbook.

3. What's the weather like now?
-> Very bright! I'm thankful for this week - bliss.

4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed?
-> Haha.

5. What time did you wake up this morning?
-> 6:30 am. My body needs to learn how to sleep for a little longer. : /

6. When was the last time you showered?
-> This morning, a.k.a three hours ago.

7. What was the last movie you saw?
-> Nollywood movie - Mirror of Life parts 1-4 (smh).

8. What does your last text message say:
->  'What does wahala mean?'
      I had responded to my friend's text by saying, 'Alright, no wahala' and she asked the question.

9. What's your ringtone?
->  My phone's mostly on vibration mode.

10. Have you ever been to a different country?
-> Yes. I've been to eleven others, and I lived in three of the eleven.

11. Do you like Sushi?
-> Oh My Self! I absolutely like sushi. I've had Hapa sushi three times this week (and it's only Tuesday).

12. Where do you buy your groceries?
-> Boulder Beyond Organic Farm, Lagos Market, Sprouts, KingSoopers, Whole Foods.

13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster?
-> Nope.

14. How many siblings do you have?
-> I have two fantabulicious brothers and one sugary-potato almost-twin sister.

15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
-> Laptop.

16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
-> You won't even believe it so make we shun am.

17. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
-> Haha, none. I have a funny little tale about glasses in my childhood.

18. Do you color your hair?
-> No. At least I haven't yet.

19. Tell me something you are planning to do today?
-> Meet with my Ecology and Evolutionary Biology study group for question and answer session for Wednesday's exam.

20. When was the last time you cried?
-> I cried last week after Skyping with my dad. It kills me to know what my hometown (Port Harcourt) has become.

21. What is your favorite Pizza topping?
I absolutely do not like Pizza. It's not inedible for me but it's a last I'm-about-to-die-of-starvation resort for me.

22. Which do you prefer - hamburgers or cheeseburgers?
Hamburgers. I HATE cheese.

23. Have you ever had an all-nighter?
Yes, during Freshman year. Stupid idea. I know my body much better now.

24. What is your eye color?
Like that of burnt mahogany.

25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
In Nigeria, yes. In the US, all I taste is high fructose corn syrup. Mttccchhheeww

From MyneWhitman

Please, pass it on!
God bless and all the best with finals.

If only I had a boombox:

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Kí ní ḿbẹ nínú isà tí yó ba òkú lẹ́rù?
English: What is there in the grave to frighten a corpse? - Yoruba Proverb
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I doubt I've ever done a music post on here so I thought I'd do one.

My music style is very broad but with time, my friends can easily tell what I like. Here are seven of the songs currently playing on my iPod:

1.

This song is saying it will be well as we go to where we are going, it will be with joy and with peace that we go to where we are going. Doors will open, paths will open and we will find favor with authority. According to this friend, this song sounds like "NakedSha". :)

2.

3.

This song is generally a call to dance.

4.

This song is a child lamenting that he / she now has two fathers; one is in the room, one just came back from the farm. The mother has been unfaithful.

5.

I cannot do justice to the analysis of this song that Gbenga Awomodu made here.

6. 

7.

Check out these artistes; they have more than one great song and they have an idea of what music is.

Bless:

NakedSha.

A State of Seclusion, one of Confusion.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Eng: A hunter who has only one arrow does not shoot carelessly. - Nigerian proverb.
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Hello beautiful people. I did say it was a good week...It's okay, the next post will be a written one.

I took the first two pics in FL last week, of Ar.Aboki. Ar.  Thanks man for being my subject. I've had the others for a while. They all have one theme.

SOLITUDE

Solitude [sol-i-tood, -tyood] - The State of being or living alone; seclusion. 

NakedSha.

Chronicles of a coconut face...

NakedSha

Life is short. Breathe fast sometimes, breathe deep other times. You can't do both at the same time.
- NakedSha

Agege Bread has Competition...

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Kékerè nìmàle-é ti ńkọ ọmọ-ọ ẹ̀ lóṣòó.
Eng: The muslim teaches his children how to squat from their youth.  - Yoruba proverb.
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I absolutely do not spare myself when it comes to good food. I also take pictures of many things I cook and/or eat. Somethings are quickly butting heads with Agege Bread. Here goes competition.

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY!

^^Hapa on Pearl Street. - Menu Item #17

^^Hapa on Pearl Street - Menu Item #3a

^^Home-cooked asaro

^^Hapa on Pearl Street, Menu #13

^^CU Boulder Persian Station

Let you mouth water...Bless.