Alternate Vision

In pouring rain, we made it to Haji Ali, past the Masjid and the florists, through the dark, grimy lanes of Tardeo, to seek out the little establishment hidden behind the scaffolding. Hilsa fish steamed to perfection in mustard paste, wrapped in banana leaves, along side some chingri malai curry, mangshor jhol, fresh luchis, and washed down with some single malt. And, of course, there was mishti doi and paan to finish things off.

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.