Let'us Talk the Man Called Brymo

Brymo

You as a poet or a literary/art enthusiast, when they mention Brymo in your presence, the image that strikes your mind is that of a poet like Alexander Pope or Jonathan Swift. These two great figures of the 16th century, the Restoration Period in the hierarchical periodization of literature, are known for two things: timelessly relevant thematic preoccupation and brave artistic ingenuity.

Looking into the contemporary phase of Nigerian music scene, with an insightful look into Brymo's music artistry and spirit, especially his gradual rise to stardom as an artiste of Maikori's Chocolate City; his wonderful collabo with Ice Prince in Oleku and the rest, you wonder why does Brymo not choose to be a literary figure -perhaps a poet- rather than being a mere artiste?

In the course of this reflection you will be like if Brymo would be a singer -after all, music is a distinct and unique part of art -why does he choose to sing in the period when epochal influence on pop, hip-hop is total bunkum and immorality? Why does he launch his career by the time the general acceptability of any genre of music is arguably defined by how long you can constitute street mediocrity on microphones?

Morning Star (for Ayòdélé Eagles Ìbíyemí)

 

Ayodele Eagles

I

Feisty bird of flapping feathers

king in the congress of aves:

you are Eagle! Your brawny hips,

your sturdy claws have toured

you round the lunar year

of another blessed age again

so you can soar above the galaxy

above the rain and its rain-bow;

so your voice can re-sound deep down

like echo travelling with fright of freedom.

II

From Ìkirè I stand on the moon

of your birth telling the tale of

your heroic arrival. They say you are crimson

-an ember clad in colour of scarlet

some say black -a coal coated in colour of darkness

but I say no:

your garment is that of green, colour

singing the anthem of liberty and hope

who then says our land has not got a warrior

as intrepid as lion, fighting the course to victory?