Rare Courage

(A tribute to The Black Scorpion, Gen. Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle, 1936 – 2014)

Born in cosmopolitan Kaduna

Embraced by Ógbómóshó[i] and B́achámá[ii]

Nursed with the juices of Dangana[iii]

Jack plugged to the fiery nature of Mama[iv]

And Papa’s [v]lofty dreams and coded Magana[vi]

Mentored on the principles of Mazan Fama[vii]

Inspired by visions of a glorious Nigeriana

Noble fighter of the ignoble carcinoma

Adekunle joined the Nigerian Army

Doing greatly until he stood as a brigadier

Earning respect in the war economy

Sold to feisty courage like a true soldier

And serving a good model to all that volunteer

Never accepting the incapable Negro dummy

Yielding to labor like a dedicated mountaineer

And his efforts paid off in securing our synonymy

Man of strategic mobility

Attending to business with dispatch

Joining forces with reasoned adaptability

And inner abilities that make up the patch

And the world saluted your rare courage

Defined by the necessity to quell the rage

Earning laurels in the Congo and delta stage

Knocking down walls that fear arrange

Until unity and faith, peace and progress merge

Networking the nation till greatness emerge

Lending Nigeria spaces that we can enlarge

Escaping failure and unnecessary damage

(C) 2014, Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi

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[i] A major town and the name of a famous Yoruba clan in South Western Nigeria, known for culture and enterprise.

[ii] A major tribe in North Eastern Nigeria, famous for their warlike nature and outstanding courage.

[iii] Hausa word for reliability and dependability.

[iv] The general use word for mother.

[v] The general use word for father.

[vi] Hausa word meaning talk or speech.

[vii] Hausa expression meaning men of endurance and courage, referring to performers against all odds.