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Syndication
Traffic on a Lagos Expressway
Posted January 12, 2007 · Charles O
A poem by Charles E. Oyibo
A veritable motley—those Lagosians,
Igala, Igbira, all creeds and persuasions.
Confined in space by the obdurate traffic,
Of that bedraggled Lagos Expressway (sic).
Street hawkers, bus conductors, sweat-imbued,
O-sho-di straight, no stop o, Oshodi, Oshod…
No bother about that dead street light,
Brother, better upgrade to panoramic sight.
The cadaverous Yellow Fever appears presently,
Directing, controlling, gesticulating wildly.
Abracadabra, he makes as swift a disappearance;
Lo, the Mercedes v-boot just made a clearance.
‘Omo ale!’ snarls the Peugeot driver, violated;
Others rant and curse, verily desecrated.
The swearing and raving come to naught;
Mercedes man has long reached his cot.
What traffic? Padi, cut through that petrol station!
In fact, complicate this knotty reticulation.
Maneuver here, maneuver there,
Walahi, worsen this web of festering ire.
Hallelujah, that car just moved an inch or so;
Maza, maza, let’s go for the close, go, go.
Ah, too quickly, too close; the brakes fail,
Wham, the Fiat slams into the Beetle’s tail.
Horns blare, doors fly open and slam shut,
‘You don hit my car!’ howls Mr. Beetle, nerves taut.
Behold: the cacophony of assault and expletive,
In English, Kanuri, Urhobo, and Tiv.
© 2006. All Rights Reserved by Charles E. Oyibo.
Comments
Bros, sad to say things haven’t changed! Lagos traffic is truly a ‘tongues’ inducing experience. Literally i think you have a strong Soyinkaesque orientation. Keep it flowing man. Peace!
Added by idiare on Apr 01 at 04:39 PM
U can’t begin to imaginw what traffic is like these days! Particularly in Victoria Island. Getting to work is a stress inducing event, i’m almost certain someone will have a heart attack on that marina road one day. Big ups for the poem anyhow
Added by Oritsega on Apr 01 at 04:40 PM
Beautiful! it reminds one of what makes Lagos so UNIQUE! it’s sad yes, that we cant be more organised, but excuse me!,Lagos wont be Lagos without the chaos. and strange though it may seem, I do enjoy the madness that is Lagos.
Added by DoreenMaria on Apr 01 at 04:41 PM
When last did you experience this? If you haven’t returned home since you left the n i must commend your memory. And who says “It’s sad...” The beauty of Lagos is in its uniqueness as a mad, not sad, city where everyone is potentially a ‘were.’
Nice poem, really. Soyinka-styled writing, but with a burst of modernity and without criticism nor antagonism; just expression.
Beautiful.
Added by Chijioke E Ezeh on Apr 04 at 04:57 AM
It took me back, back to streets of Lagos. You can’t feel it , if you have not lived it. Lagos would not be without the “Traffic on Lagos Expressway” .
Jah Bless.
Added by Sade - Fan on Apr 01 at 04:38 PM