POEM 4
Niyi Osundare – Not my Business
They picked Akanni up one morning
Beat him soft like clay
And stuffed him down the belly
Of a waiting jeep.
What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?
They came one night
Booted the whole house awake
And dragged Danladi out,
Then off to a lengthy absence.
What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?
Chinwe went to work one day
Only to find her job was gone:
No query, no warning, no probe –
Just one neat sack for a stainless record.
What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?
And then one evening
As I sat down to eat my yam
A knock on the door froze my hungry hand.
The jeep was waiting on my bewildered lawn
Waiting, waiting in its usual silence.
LITERARY ANALYSIS OF NIYI OSUNDARE’S “NOT MY BUSINESS”
Title Analysis: The title, “Not My Business,” sets the tone for the poem by emphasizing a sense of detachment and indifference. It reflects the speaker’s initial mindset, which is characterized by a lack of concern for the injustices happening to others as long as their own comfort remains unaffected.
Theme: The primary theme of the poem is the danger of apathy and the consequences of ignoring societal injustices. Osundare highlights how indifference towards the suffering of others can ultimately lead to one’s own downfall. The poem also explores themes of oppression, authoritarianism, and the silencing of dissent.
Structure and Form: The poem is structured in free verse with no consistent rhyme scheme, which gives it a conversational tone. Each stanza ends with a refrain, “What business of mine is it / So long they don’t take the yam / From my savouring mouth?” This refrain serves as a constant reminder of the speaker’s self-centered attitude and indifference.
Imagery and Symbolism:
- Yam: The yam symbolizes sustenance, comfort, and security. The repeated mention of the yam suggests the speaker’s preoccupation with their own well-being, representing a broader human tendency to prioritize personal comfort over collective responsibility.
- Jeep: The jeep is a symbol of authority and oppression. It is associated with the arbitrary power of the state or an oppressive regime that can arbitrarily detain or harm individuals. The jeep’s presence at the end of the poem foreshadows the speaker’s eventual realization that their indifference cannot protect them from the consequences of the regime’s actions.
- Clay: The image of Akanni being “beat… soft like clay” is a vivid metaphor for the dehumanizing effects of brutality, suggesting how individuals can be molded or destroyed by oppressive forces.
Tone: The tone of the poem shifts from detached and indifferent to ominous and foreboding. Initially, the speaker’s tone is casual and unconcerned, but by the final stanza, there is a palpable sense of fear and impending doom.
Irony: There is a strong sense of irony in the poem, particularly in the repeated refrain. The speaker believes that as long as they are not personally affected, they have no reason to worry. However, the final stanza reveals the bitter irony that no one is immune to injustice, and by the time the speaker realizes this, it is too late.
Message: Osundare’s poem serves as a warning against apathy and selfishness. It suggests that when individuals ignore the suffering of others, they are complicit in allowing injustice to thrive. Ultimately, the poem argues that no one is safe from the reach of oppression, and that silence and indifference only embolden those who perpetrate injustice.
Conclusion: “Not My Business” is a powerful and evocative poem that uses vivid imagery, symbolism, and irony to explore the consequences of indifference to oppression. Through the experiences of the speaker and the fate of others in the poem, Osundare delivers a stark message about the importance of collective responsibility and the dangers of turning a blind eye to the suffering of others. NEXT POEM
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