2010 was one heck of a year for me. I will not talk about the many changes and transitions i went through that year.....Yet. I'd rather recall one moment of "great" (forgive what may appear cocky) inspiration. I didn't feel confident about this work, but a few respected creatives have read this poem and encouraged me to publish it.

May/June 2010, on my previous job, one that I totally loved!!! we were planning a film forum for women. Headline was:

"AFRICAN WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT FUND AND LUFODO

ACDEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS PRESENT: AFRICAN WOMEN IN FILM FORUM.

THEME -NOLLYWOOD: WOMEN AND THE DYNAMICS OF REPRESENTATION".

We had guests from around the world. Besides the preparing the budget et al, part of my job was to contact them for travel details, pictures and profiles for the brochure. One of the speakers was South African based film maker/actor, Akin Omotosho whose photograph inspired me to high levels.

The picture was of a man facing the camera (of course), and backing an empty theatre. The rows of empty seats and that hard wooden stage floor spoke to me! I saw Omoye on that stage, shoes clicking, voice vibrating, pacing, everyone listening to me.

What that thought birthed was.......

LISTEN

listen...
footsteps, walking towards you.
throngs of feet travelling a long journey.
needing a resting place; a stool, a mat, a stone.

listen...
heartbeats reaching out to you.
torrents of dreams and aspirations, depending on you.
searching for guidance, leading, direction.

listen...
Hear the sounds from distant lands
Pay attention to the sound of the wind.
Bringing their cries with it.

Listen!

No one will stop talking if you don't listen.
Words will keep flowing from our mouths, our hearts, in our tears, through our anguish, in pain, in our disappointment, in sorrow, in death! WORDS!

Mere words you say? (Chuckle)

Oh, but you will listen.
'Cause when you're talking to your clan of detractors and distractions, you will hear.
While you're dancing at your yacht parties and orgies,
You will hear.
At your mock meetings and false fora,
You will be hearing our voices. Prodding you, urging you, calling you.... LIAR!

When you dine with you wives,
You'll hear our widows wailing.
When you chat with your children,
You will hear our orphans, sniffing (sniff). Silently, steadily.
When you sleep, you will hear the sounds of dissent, seeping through your ears into your subconscious.

And until you listen, we will never stop talking...
Until the sound of our voices produce words...
And our words form beings.
Then our beings will become bodies...
And the bodies will have soul...
The soul of the body will have heart...
A heart that fears nothing but the inability to do what's right.
He will not fear you; she will not tremble at your voice, these sounds of our voices.

And one day, when they multiply, they will come knocking, beating down your door, demanding an explanation; asking you,
Sir, Ma'am. Why. Don't. You.... Listen?

- Omoye Uzamere.
June 2010.