E Mu Numba
E mu Numba
E mu Numba
Pick your number
Right in your dream
Or from the whispers
Of the mad woman who lives
Sane by the garbage heap.
E mu numba
The young and old
Whose riches have been foretold
By numbers in red and blue
Crucified on the walls of the lotto shops
And on large crimson screens.
E mu numba
Those naira notes swallowing machines
Only defecate ribbons of papers
With the destiny of woes in print
Naira by naira keeps disappearing
While new numbers keep appearing
Can’t you see you are going mad
Starving foolishly on fad?
You now ask what numbers people see in their dreams
What time people’s appointments were fixed
And what number the mad woman by the road bellowed
They are jacking your pot while you keep dreaming of a jackpot.
E mu numba
Brother pick yours too
Like it were some diamond stone
Or some investment notes
Since your father passed it on to you
So you should be proud passing it on to your kids.
O ya r-e-s-i
Baba o ni k-a-l-o-k-a-l-o
Get more water to fill the basket
While you starve your children
Feed the machine with your savings
And wait foolishly for your cravings.
Houses are bought over
On every conspicuous corners
To summon people like you
That dream of riches
From the betting houses
To offer to it your loyalty of lasting penury.
How much have you made?
What bond binds you to this altar?
To sell of your innocence and humility
While you keep returning with more offerings.
Remember when the devil gives you a hen
Be ready to slaughter an elephant at his den
Copyright © Muyideen Ayinla | Year Posted 2016
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