“Soro Soke!”
Cover Image of Nigerian Flag from African Stories
Udo! The tears have turned red! And the liberation cries have been forced to become gnashing of teeth, weeping and wailing, anguish -- Choruses of agony sweeping through the cities of Lagos, crossing the fields of Ogun, and escaping the banks of the great river. Udo! The tears have turned red! You marched along with us as we chanted our songs of change and freedom; You told us you will be our shield; You said you will have no harm befall us, You lied! You escaped into the night when the shells came flying; You watched as battalions of state-sanctioned thugs slaughtered the masses; And now the voices of the fallen call out like resounding thunder! Udo! Their tears have turned red; You betrayed their trust! Their blood floods the streets of Alausa and Lekki; Their bodies pile up in shallow graves we will never find; Their lights dimmed before their candles could fully burn out; Udo! Our tears are now red! And our screams will be the siren that'll wake the world from its strung out slumber Udo! Do you hear?