–Halima Ahmad

He laid the long pipe to his lips
and blew such sweet, commanding notes.

We clapped,

we danced,

and ran like children after the wondrous sound.

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

Like fowls in farmyards

when the scattered barley hits the ground,

Ku zo ga daula wa zai ki,

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

Kowa ya bari, ta gota shi.

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

And step for step we followed, dancing with a hopeful, laughing heart,

Jar miya, nama sai mun koshi!

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

Fura da nono ba mai zari,

Shadda, leshi ran Sallah ba datti.

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

For he promised us a joyous land,

a pleasant, gleaming sight,

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

Yunwa, boko haram, mun huta shi!

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

Cin hanci, rashawa duk ba ma yi!

Alo alo, mu ci dadi!

But in the years that followed,

just as hope felt truly won,

The music stopped. We stood there bare, stripped by a cruel sun.

We saw the promised vision die, the vermin plague arise,

And what’s dead can’t come to life.

Alas for us who followed!
Alas, the Pied Piper’s tune!

So let you and I be wary of all men… especially pipers.

Alo alo, mun ci wuya!

(After Browning & Magana Jari Ce)