A 70km Sacrifice

Haskins, a Zimbabwean refugee made a 70 kilometer journey
to safety on foot. He has received a full academic scholarship
to study business at Botho University. 
Courtesy: UNHCR

Only cowards hate on school

And grow up becoming fools

Who argue with their tools.

School do make you cool

And helps in sharpening your tool

So that you don't take bull

From a crew screwed up so tight

You gotta loosen some screws

To get them walking upright.

You see, school don't end with books

School is the mastery of your skills.

School is taking personal drills

Long after the echoes of the school bell

Has receded into the mind's well.

That's why it's only you

Can put you through school.

This one's straight up personal:

You draw a line

And align your arsenal,

Then you step out with your head held up high.

Akpan

Rap Songs

Remember the time every rapsong

Featured the phrase, 'break o' dawn?'

Those days are so long gone

Reminds me I ain't so young no mo.

Back then school was so much fun

We thrummed our desks like wooden drums

And did our own rap sing-a-longs

World classroom blackboard hit songs.

We sang songs of a better world

All 'round school it was the same song;

Cruising the hood in our droptops

Taking walks smelling like big bucks,

The moments we shared was the bomb

And our bubble bust with that bomb.

School dreams are mere dreams that dissolved

The moment we stepped out the door;

That is what life and fate taught us

Experience witnessed to the dot.

It's the love of folks and dear God

And self that keep us keeping on.

Akpan