“…Writing The Word Alone Took Me Back To Childhood…”: Stories From Young African Poets.

Last year, I composed a series of poetic études inspired by fruit — bananas, guavas, mangoes, you name it. Most of them were divided between physical descriptions of and the social symbolism of said fruit.

I couldn’t help but have a madeleine moment.

Just writing the word alone took me back to childhood when after grocery shopping trips, my siblings and I would rush to immediately claim one to two oranges each before my mum got to them; otherwise, there would be nothing left for us as she was, and still is rather fond of them.

All I had to do was close my eyes, and the words unfurled easily. I hope you enjoy my haiku as much as I did writing it.

ORANGES 

my mother's favourite 
she would peel and eat twenty 
all in one sitting

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Hannah Omokafe Dennis

Hannah Omokafe Dennis Is A 24-year-old Journalist, Voice-Over artist and UNFPA Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Advocate Living In Nigeria. She Currently Serves As A Community Manager In Konya Shamsrumi AndHas Some Of Her Written Works Published On Writer's Space Africa and audio stories on Genti media. She Enjoys Using Words And Her Voice To Tell Stories. She Tweets @Omokafe_forite.

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Hannah Omokafe Dennis March 20, 2024

Hannah Omokafe Dennis

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Hannah Omokafe Dennis Is A 24-year-old Journalist, Voice-Over artist and UNFPA Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Advocate Living In Nigeria. She Currently Serves As A Community Manager In Konya Shamsrumi And Has Some Of Her Written Works Published On Writer's Space Africa and audio stories on Genti media. She Enjoys Using Words And Her Voice To Tell Stories. She Tweets @Omokafe_forite.

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