Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Before The Din Of Dawn

Ah!! very interesting. that means paul edwards introduction where he
makes this claim is wrong. i wondered since it seemed weird to me.
thanks
ken

On 1/28/13 1:54 PM, Chidi Anthony Opara wrote:
> "Above" in this context means "heaven". The Igbos believe that heaven
> is located above, just above, not in the sun or moon. The reference to
> Chukwu as "Onye bi na elu" translates to "He who lives above". As a
> child and as an adult in Igboland, I have never heard any elder allude
> to Chukwu living in the sun or moon.
>
> CAO.
>
> On Jan 28, 7:02 pm, kenneth harrow <har...@msu.edu> wrote:
>> chidi
>> in your praise for chukwu, can you help me out?
>> i am teaching equiano tonight, and he alludes to their african belief in
>> god who dwells in the sun.
>> in your poem, chukwu dwells above. would you agree that equiano's
>> statement about dwelling inthe son could be an accurate one (i know it
>> was more than 200 years ago, which might have been different then)
>> ken
>> On 1/28/13 4:24 AM, ChidiAnthonyOparaPoetry/Quotes wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> (Poem By: Chidi Anthony Opara)
>>> I come before you
>>> This hour before dawn
>>> Chukwu.
>>> You, who dwell above,
>>> Below
>>> Is your foot stool.
>>> You, whom the gods
>>> Genuflect in his presence,
>>> Before you I come
>>> Clean,
>>> Devoid of dirt.
>>> Your covenant with my forebears
>>> Bound me to come before you
>>> On this market day,
>>> At this hour
>>> To purge my soul of impurities
>>> Of the period past.
>>> I have washed my body
>>> And rinsed my mouth
>>> With the waters of onu ngara.
>>> No human is worthy
>>> To present sacrifices
>>> And libations in your presence.
>>> My sacrifices
>>> I have presented to the good gods,
>>> My libations
>>> To my ancestors.
>>> I stand before you in awe,
>>> Yet
>>> I must make my confessions
>>> Before the din of dawn.
>>> Reproductions in part or in whole, in whatever forms, of
>>> ChidiAnthonyOparaPoetry/Quotes except for non-profit information and
>>> education purposes, without a written permission from
>>> PublicInformationProjects
>>> <http://www.publicinformationprojects.blogspot.com/><http://www.chidianthonyopara.blogspot.com/>
>>> is not allowed.
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>> --
>> kenneth w. harrow
>> faculty excellence advocate
>> distinguished professor of english
>> michigan state university
>> department of english
>> 619 red cedar road
>> room C-614 wells hall
>> east lansing, mi 48824
>> ph. 517 803 8839
>> har...@msu.edu

--
kenneth w. harrow
faculty excellence advocate
distinguished professor of english
michigan state university
department of english
619 red cedar road
room C-614 wells hall
east lansing, mi 48824
ph. 517 803 8839
harrow@msu.edu

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