see how The Lion ascends the nineth throne
with the crown sitting regal on his head
your roars scare the wicked
as your pen fights the evil
the great shepherd of letters and emblem of culture
the oldest Abiku in the lands of the living
the guardian and preserver of African wisdom
in the papers of the gods
your voice still threatens the predators
even in the ageless of your frame
Do you still agree that “Ism to ism for ism is ism; of isms and isms on absolute ism”?
I laughed when you first uttered those words to me
in the empty class of Osogbo Grammar School
a year after you were crowned the Laureate
on that day when I was tender and you had blossomed
blossomed to the fullness without spilling into waste
already a world citizen by way of letters
the first son of Africa to be worshipped by Nobel
then I joined the worshippers at your shrine
your shrine, full of nothing but letters and wisdom
where you rule on the stool of knowledge
love, justice, liberty and prosperity for all
while you looked askance at power and scorned the mighty
for the right of the poor whom alone you worship
as Ogun would always do to protect the weak
I wish you happy birthday and many happy returns
for humanity to be further blessed with your towering presence
with Africa as the first Mother infant to suck your roots, fruits and proofs
happy birthday, King Kongi, may your harvests remain the most bounteous
Kunle Adegoke, SAN, a Learned Silk, Rights Activist & renowned Comrade practice Law in Lagos
