Akinwande in English Britannica
He is not from America
But an erudite African
Speaking pen like pelican
A staple hymn in Nigeria
Oozing intelligence beyond his literary area
Oluwole in Africa hymn
Is rooted like a beam
Short spoon dinning with the devils
Vituperating against resident evils
Frictionally plaguing his beloved home
He flew into half of a yellow sun home
Troubleshooting African giant and seceding land
Yet was lambasted and incarcerated by giant band
Towards the demise of the sixties
His feats and feet walked the cities
Wole in Nigeria happenstances
Poke many erring apex thrones and circumstances
Mostly with his pointed arrow pen
Fostering them to build the pen
Or demand their immediate vacation
Through marching placards and vituperation
His sneeze makes them shiver
Within not without unyielding quiver
Soyinka in world books
Was wanted and detained in midnight rains
Severely wiped marked in trial of brother Jero among crooks
Yet the Egba and Isara-Ijebu deity reigns
Frightening even the Lion and the Jewel
Hijacking the air studio to broadcast in towel
The journey in the crypt of a region malpractice
Before a collapse of the regional masterpiece
Professor Wole Soyinka of Africa home
Requiem of a futurologist happy tomorrow
For his unborn children and home
A tomorrow that may not come
A leaf from happy offshore neighbours he plead to borrow
His child’s demise cause him no tears
But cried blood within for his poor child
As he did in April in Nyanya years
Good he follows with every Nigerian child
Religious but not religious
Savouring antelope game makes him joyous
Churning books from pen and bullets from his cold metal
Causing learning ones hot mental
His inks many swore are hardly comprehended
Except the headmasters and the big headed
Because he came on the sixth day of the tenth moon of nineteen thirty four
Millions fear for his home wondering availability of his fur
Men who could act and bring the devils down
When this dearest dare devil must set forth at dawn.
[An Ode to an Ijebu man by Hope Idieli celebrates emeritus professor Wole Soyinka)