Alternate Vision

Imprisoned three times by past Nigerian military dictatorships, Chris Abani survived Kiri Kiri to tell some intense and inspiring tales. He recently gave a talk on a "shared humanity" at TED.

Ode to Joy, by Chris Abani

John James, 14
Refused to serve his conscience up
to indict an innocent man
handcuffed to chair; they tacked his penis
to the table
with a six inch nail
and left him there

to drip
to death
3 days later

Risking death; an act insignificant
in the face of this child's courage
we sang:

Oje wai wai,
Moje oje wai, wai.*

Incensed
they went
on a killing rampage

Guns
knives
truncheons

even canisters of tear-gas,
fired close up or
directly into mouths, will
take the back
of your head off

and many men
died singing,
that night.

Notes caught,
surprised,
suspended
as blows bloodied mouths
clotting into silence.