Nigeria Poetry Magazine –

"Jollof Rice" by Mayanna Maya

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Title image shows a well-dressed man standing motionless on the street while a yellow vehicle blurs past him.

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Published September 15th, 2024

Jollof Rice

by Mayanna Maya

I have seen it
Yellow and pretty
In all its glory.

Whisked into mouths
Turning bellies sour
When eaten with too much rush.

I have also seen it
Turn brothers to enemies
Countries in fighting
All for the question:

Whose is yummy?
Whose is the most spicy?
Whose is the most tasty?
Whose jollof rice is the most Jollof?

Really so it is
With everything
The wars and fighting
begins with, mine is the pinnacle.

Pinnacle of what?
Aren't we all really caught in Earth's rust
Turned and burnt in her crust
Like the very bottom of jollof's pot?

In place of bickering about
Whose is the golden?
Won't a spoonful of harmony
Be best paired with this plate of jollof?


About the Poet
Mayanna Maya resides in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Read the poet's biography on Mayanna Maya's Artist Page.

This poem is included in Poetry World #10, published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.

Previously published in Nigeria Poetry Magazine:
Burning Scroll
by Grace Orobosa

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- Visit the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
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