Chapter 2: Shame and Mockery

We Naija people don already lose one hundred times straight.

If we lose again, the elders go just wipe Naija comot from this world.

Wahala dey scatter for Middle Belt; our people dey suffer, dey die anyhow.

Now, na me be the last Naija representative for this final battle.

I waka go the stage slow-slow, small smile just dey my mouth corner.

My heart dey knock like bata drum as I waka, but I still keep that small smile—Naija pikin no dey fall hand.

Na only me still remember the gods of old Naija.

All Naija gods, abeg—make una help your pikin.

I touch ground with my right hand, whisper, “Sango, Amadioha, Ogun, abeg—no shame your pikin today.”

E don reach time to take back our glory.

For this battle of destiny, every country suppose summon their own gods come fight.

But us for Naija, we don forget our history and culture.

All those treasures and stories wey dem dey pass down from mouth to mouth, people don forget am finish.

Nowadays for Naija—

When ship wan move, people dey pray to Poseidon make e protect dem.

When thunder dey, dem dey call Zeus make e show power.

Naija people dey vex, but nothing dem fit do.

Our big Naija land don turn to world laughingstock.

All other countries dey eye us, dey ready to fight collect our things.

That proud eagle shape for our map—our national symbol—don dey shake, wan fall.

If we lose this last one, Naija go vanish forever.

Many people don already tell their family goodbye, dey ready die.

For everybody eye, Naija don already lose.

Laughter dey everywhere, full of mockery and wicked joy.

Dem even dey discuss for open how dem go share Naija property after we lose. Dem dey even talk who go chop Naija jollof rice, who go claim our suya as their own. You go hear dem dey talk about who go get Niger Delta oil, who go carry Benin bronze, who go run Lagos port. E pain reach bone.