Joro, Jara, Joro: An Ode to Fela Kuti

Hours flow, traffic stops abrupt. 

Corrupt zombies go straight

joro, jara, joro

corrupt zombies kill

419 gone children run 

joro, jara, joro

We walk until the blisters 

run through.

Joro, jara, joro

harmattan winds blow my heart stops 

abrupt horns spur my pace

quickens. Suya carts beckon

joro, jara, joro

Big boys smoke igbo small boys

buy garri. Hurry home till 

it all falls apart, the hymn she sings

Joro, jara, joro

though her pain wet my steps 

joro, jara, joro

once more we march

against the snakes 

swallowed whole

Joro, jara, joro

mindless no more.

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234- phone code for Nigeria 

Zombie- song by Fela Kuti about how the police are mindlessly controlled and used against the people 

Joro, jara, joro- no explicit meaning but Fela was mocking the way the soldiers walk mindlessly 

419- slang for Nigerian scammers the pursuit of these people led to the October 20th massacre 

Harmattan- cold winds from the Sahara 

Suya- spicy meat

Igbo- weed

Garri- starchy food