We have all lost our senses

Look! Look!
The earth bows to the gallops of the white man’s iron horse.
His yellow hair folds in curls like shriveled leaves.
See how his bleached skin finds solace in a long whip,
Making merry with black buttocks and weary limbs.

Hear! Hear!
Lagbaja’s tongue now twists in dialects of alien spirits.
“Halo! Halo!” a cry branded by the white man’s teachings.
Hear how the river groans at the sight of “holy” christening,
While Sikiru’s head dances around, hawking away her dignity.

Eat! Eat!
The buds no longer rejoice in the blessings of fresh iyan.
Now the tooth entertains the munch of dried grass on rotten foil.
Taste how our leaves now wrap around the foreign culture,
While eba finds no rest in fingers sharpened like a hustling vulture’s.

Breathe! Breathe!
The nose forgets the scent of fresh palm oil and roasted corn;
It chokes instead on the smoke of the white man’s iron horse.
Breathe deep the stench of factories and burning foil,
While diseases flock around like scattered pus.

Feel! Feel!
The skin has grown accustomed to the weight of chains like ileke.
Kodilia’s blouse now chokes her stomach like a gagged hen.
Feel the atmosphere as it mourns the death of ancestral spirits.
At last, we have all lost our senses!

Aishat Oshiokpekhai

Aishat Oshiokpekhai, known by her pen name VoiceofDede, is a third-year law student at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. She is a writer and spoken word artist recognized for her evocative storytelling and commitment to advocacy. Her work engages deeply with themes of gender equality, justice, resilience, and identity, using emotionally resonant narratives to inspire reflection and action. Passionate about amplifying marginalized voices, Aishat integrates her legal training with her artistic practice to challenge perspectives and promote meaningful social change. Through her poetry, she continues to give voice to the silenced and strength to the unheard.