Thursday 23 January 2014

If You Allow Me



If you allow me to pull down a rainbow
I will draw your sketch
And put it back to the sky

If you allow me to entrust your love
I will make my heart a bed of roses
Sustaining fragrances of promise

If you allow me into your heart
I will tour the depths of your veins
And set a genuine serenity of love 

If you allow me into your shade
Like the plants of my garden
I will produce enough oxygen
To give you fresh aeration

17th April, 2007
01:37pm

Wednesday 22 January 2014

ADVANCING CREATIVITY IN KANO


One of the glowing activities of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kano branch is its monthly creative writers’ forum. The month of December marked the end of 2013 fora conducted throughout the year. The forum was characterised by displays of excellent creative works and analytical exchange of ideas. The event was held on 28th December, 2013 at the American Corner, Murtala Muhammad Library, Kano. It had in attendance some of the pioneering and new members. Some of the dignitaries at the event were Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Kallah (ANA Kano Secretary), Dr. Faruk Sarkinfada, Aliyu Abubakar, Isa Muhammad Inuwa, Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Maryam Ali Ali, Tijjani Muhammad Musa, Aminu Salisu Giginyu(Treasurer) and Al-Mustapha Musa Iliyas (Ex-officio).
The day witnessed a long session that was divided into three rounds.  Bello Sagir Imam was the chair of the occasion. In the first round, four entries were presented. Muttaka Idris Abasha presented a poem entitled “Love”, Badamasi Aliyu Abdullahi and Nazeer I. Kallah presented poems “The Poet” and “Distant Hearts” respectively. The session was rounded off with a short story “The 24Hours President” by Bakano A. Murtala. The short story was the continuation of the story that was presented last month.
The second round had five entries, starting with a poem entitled, “Walking Step” by Lawal Salisu Ahmad. The young writer came up with very interesting rhymes that show his creativity and passion for poetry. One of the stanzas of his work reads:

Imagine! How today’s kissed
While tomorrow’s love rise,
As nights suns like a sunny light

Dr. Faruk Sarkinfada presented another poem entitled, “The Will” with its four stanzas. The first stanza of his work shows his anger on the way things are happening in a land ruled by the brutal leaders. The poem which is just like a Will in a poetic way, passed a message to his love ones not to worry about anything that may happen in the cause of struggle. The third stanza of this poem reads:

Weep not my wife, and my children
My friends, my students and siblings
Just uphold my flag and strive on
Pick my pen, read the pages I wrote
And reveal what I may withhold

Yaseer Kallah presented two poems at a time, “When I Walk Away” and “My Pride”.  In the first stanza of the poem “When I Walk Away” looks similar to Sarkinfada’s “The Will”, as the stanza read as:
When I walk away
Don’t cry too hard
The rolling current of life
May wash us apart
In good days and night
It will stride us back

But the content of the two poems differs between fight for injustice and battling to win love.

The next presentation is another interesting poem entitled, “Two Letters, Two Laughters!” from Uyila Rakabuba, a pen name of famous Aliyu Abubakar. The poem was a response to dramas that are taking place in the country between giant Elephants. Rakabuba opened his poem with Ugandan proverb that says: It’s amazing how to friendly dogs can’t share a single bone.” The second stanza of his poem read as:

Two letters, both aiming at the scrotum
Each a perilous, stinking sputum
The first, more venomous, yet dinkum
The second, clueless, utter bunkum.

The second round was closed with a poem by Bakano A. Murtala entitled, “Kano: An Embodiment of Heritage-1”. It was a collection of three poems written on the socio-cultural heritage of Kano. One of the poems entitled, “This, is the Kano!” read as:

An emblem of culture
An embroidery of heritage
The tourist’s treasured wish
A 14th-21st century Islamic domain
A pride of Hausaland
The dialect of Hausa language
A starting star of the Hausa-Seveners!
The brain behind the Blue Men of the Desert

The third and the last round had eight entries. The first presentation entitled, “Love Each Other” was a poem presented by Musa Abdullahi Sufi, while Dr. Faruk Sarkinfada presented a poem, “My Queen” which is a love poem. “I Lost Myself” is another emotional poem that expresses love and was written by Maryam Ali Ali. Tijjani Muhammad Musa presented two poems, “Word Unwritten” and “Poets are Prophets”. Other entries in the round are, “Malam Sidi” by Ahmad Lawal, “Red Bricks” by Ahmad Salisu Ahmad and “This Body” by Isa Muhammad Inuwa.

“Love Each Other” by Sufi was written and presented in London to celebrate an event that has to do with youths and global peace. The poem was commended for its original message by an Africa man. The first three stanzas of the poem were read as:

Love each other indeed
Help understand each other with trust
And trust one another with love
Where trust and love exists violence defect

To love each other is natural
To fight each other is unreal
Shake hands and smile to each other
My fellow youth I urged

We are made for each other
While depend on each other
Only loving each other made us we




In the other poem, “Poets are Prophets” by Tijjani had a very interesting content that explains poets as prophets. The writer doesn’t mean the prophets those that revealed divine revelations; but rather reveal words of wisdom that reshape humankind.  The last two stanzas of his poem explained his stand, the stanzas read as:

Now, don’t get me wrong
I’m not saying poets are prophets
Revealing faultless divine revelations

Far from it, some are orthodox, straight
Others are, well… Free minded, themselves
Atheists, Jews, Christians and Muslims
Blacks, whites, all colors of the rainbow
Most are gifted, males, females, hybrids
Sprutting forth words from all
The continents

In Inuwa’s “This Body” observed human body in relation to its soul. The poem further went to observe life after death, and what a body expect in heaven. The first two stanzas of his poem read as:

This body is nothing
But my soul’s sack
Ferrying me hither, thither
Within spanned lifetime

And it will die
It will thaw and wither
Into the life under-earth

The programme ended with vote of thanks from the branch Secretary, Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Kallah. The Secretary appreciated the contribution of the American Corner for providing venue every month; he also commended the contribution of Rakiya, the former coordinator of American Corner and Nura Mudi who took over from her. The Association appreciated the contribution of its member, Aliyu Abubakar who provided refreshment during the event. On behalf of the Association, the Secretary thanked Musa Abdullahi Sufi for sponsoring Hausa Poetry Contest to mark one hundred years anniversary of amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria. Closing prayers were offered by Dr. Faruk Sarkinfada.


By

Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Kallah
africanglobalpoet.blogspot.com













Tuesday 21 January 2014

Revolution


When people are pushed to the wall
And hands struck to open a truth
When the truth becomes the truth
Lies remain lies

When liars at the top
Meet the bottom crooks
And clash
Like a cluster bomb
Revolution is in the air
There is no going back.

11th June, 2003


My Dream



My dream is somewhat too ambitious
It may be as hard to achieve
As flying with a kite in a windy day
It could be smooth to achieve
Like breathing fresh air in the suburbs
If vision and determination is charged

My dream is for a charismatic leader
Endowed with a vision and a mission
Strong and fearless
Truthful in every word and deed
Highly contented and satisfied

A leader who is in for a change
To do away with all the dead wood
Hangers on national resources
Sucking the poor without respite

A leader who treats pen robbers
With the calamity of a hurricane
A leader who makes life better for all.

Friday 17 January 2014

ANA KANO PRIZE FOR HAUSA POETRY CONTEST



The Kano State branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has organised Hausa Poetry Contest to mark one hundred years of amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria. The competition was sponsored by one of its members; Musa Abdullahi Sufi. The association called for entries on subjects related to Nigeria, its prospects, challenges and way out.
The announcement of the winners was held on 5th January, 2014 during Dandalin Marubuta at the Murtala Muhammad Library, Kano. In his speech, the branch Secretary, Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Kallah commended the contribution of Musa Abdullahi Sufi who sponsored the prizes. According to him, his contribution would definitely help in encouraging young writers to produce qualitative creative works that can restore the glory of this country. He also believed that the prize will mark an avenue for others to emulate by endowing prizes.
Just like every month, the event was celebrated with presentations of short stories and poems by members of the Association.

Before the announcement of the winners, the contestants presented extracts of their works. While presenting the results, the panel of judges explained procedure they followed to pass judgement. Yaseer Kallah emerged as first place winner with his poem entitled, “Bulaliya”. The winner received prize of N20, 000. The second and third position went to Kabiru Shua’ibu Hannu Daya and Danladi Haruna with poems entitled, “Gida Najeriya 2” and “Gaskiya Daya Ce” respectively.  The second position won prize of N10, 000 while third position went home with N 5, 000. On behalf of the other winners, Kabiru Shu’aibu Hannu Daya thanked the Association and the sponsor of the prizes for creating opportunity to emerging poets. He said the prizes would not doubt boost their skills to produce qualitative works.
Finally, the sponsor of the programme, Musa Abdullahi Sufi expressed satisfaction with the way the programme was conducted. He said there are a number of talented poets who are left unnoticed in the society, but sponsoring programme like this would help in discovering them and promoting them. He later called upon people to support the talents of these young people by doing anything possible to see them excel in various endeavour. 

By
Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Kallah
africanglobalpoet.blogspot.com