Osemwenoyenmwen Ogbemudia
Child of the Niger
Dancing dangerously on the river
Caressing the waves with her paddle
The bottom of her canoe massages the surface of the river
And like a happy lamb skipping over mountains
It skips over the waves
Gyrating like the beaded waist of an African maiden
Dancing to the admiration of her age group
During a moonlight dance
The waves cascade down the body of the canoe
As the sweat that flows down the brow of a maiden
After a dancing session
The water surrounds the canoe
Beads on its waist
Its surface shinning in the sun
An example of untainted African beauty
Child of the Niger
How does it feel dancing on the waves?
Why must you daily carouse on the Niger?
'As you feel on land
So do I on water
I do not fear the river
More than you the land fear