Naija American Girl: Chineke Nna

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Chineke Nna

Eastern Uganda- People dig for survivors of a landslide that wiped out three villages.

On allafrica.com yesterday I saw a story that made me gasp. Literally. Just a few days ago a mudslide in eastern Uganda buried hundreds of people alive. The story I read told heartbreaking cases of children who went to take shelter in a school all being buried. Three whole villages were wiped out. Villages called
Nametsi, Namakansa and Kubewo.

Now people are digging through the mud to find survivors. Na wa oh. Can you imagine? Natural disaters are becoming too common these days. Haiti....Chile.....Uganda....I just learned today that there was an earthquke in Taiwan today.

All I can say is "Chineke nna" ..... "Father God"......Help your people ooohh.......

3 comments:

OnoseFriday, March 05, 2010
WOW!!!! so hurrican katrina,the tsunami, earthquake in haiti,chile,taiwon,china, mudlide in uganda? this is most def. a sign...forreal.
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AdminFriday, March 05, 2010
It really is. People need to understand that this stuff is real. The world is coming to an end. Don't know exactly when, but it most definitely is. People, make peace with God! 'Cause you never know...
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Good Naija GirlSunday, March 07, 2010
I echo your words, bigtime. Praying for some miracles in this Uganda situation. So sad!
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Naija American Girl by Chidinma Ogbuaku

Naija American Girl,
complex mix of two worlds
who knows the things that cross your mind,
the solace you seek but seldom find?

Many people born in Naija,
their hearts burn so bad,
to come to America
and when they get Visa they’re glad

But for those of us born here,
Na wa for us oh!
Because of the many things
we should but do not know

“You mean you can’t speak Igbo?
You don’t cook fu fu?
Why are you not studying
medicine in school?”

And when we go to school
and the teacher takes roll
We hear a very familiar phrase
that we’ve all come to know

“I’m really gonna mess this one up,
please forgive me in advance,”
Then they struggle through our name
But they don’t have a chance

“Chi-chi-deen-num-muh… O-o-ga-bu-ah-ku..”
They struggle and struggle with all their might
and when they’re finally through

We raise our hand and let them know
just how to say our name
some of them will hardly try
which really is a shame

We can get down with black Americans
'till they start talking ' bout slavery
Then we feel the need to boldly interject
"Oh no, that wasn’t me!”

“My ancestors were never slaves,
they weren’t forced across the ocean,”
Then our black friends look us up and down
and start a small commotion

“Oh so what, you think you’re better than us?”
they ask with animosity
They roll their eyes and start to cuss
And we wished we’d just let it be

We can hang with our Naija folk
'till they start speaking their native tongues
We catch a few thing here and there
while they all joke and have fun

Now having a foot in two worlds isn’t 100 percent bad for few can do the things we can
We can switch our greetings from
“Ndewo, sir” to
"Ay, what up doe fam?!”

The line we walk is a fuzzy one
from what we do to what we say
It’s a very curious little thing
that really comes with age

Naija American Girl
complex mix of two worlds
Who knows the things that cross your mind,
the solace you seek, and sometimes find?

Chidinma Ogbuaku 2009