Not My Business - Niyi Osundare Summary & Analysis [African Poetry]

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African Poetry: Not My Business by Niyi Osundare Summary, Setting, Author's Background, Themes, Language, Style and Likely Theory/Essay Questions for JAMB, WAEC and NECO Literature Students Syllabus.

It is no longer news that the above selected poetry is among the selected texts for literature students in the WAEC, NECO and JAMB Syllabus.

Well we have decided to help students by providing some insights such as summary and poetic devices and analysis of the poem to aid them understand and prepare ahead of their examination.

Poem Text

"Not My Business" by Niyi Osundare

They picked Akanni up one morning
Beat him soft like clay
And stuffed him down the belly
Of a waiting jeep.

What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?

They came one night
Booted the whole house awake
And dragged Danladi out,
Then off to a lengthy absence.

What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?

Chinwe went to work one day
Only to find her job was gone:
No query, no warning, no probe –
Just one neat sack for a stainless record.

What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?

And then one evening
As I sat down to eat my yam
A knock on the door froze my hungry hand.

The jeep was waiting on my bewildered lawn
Waiting, waiting in its usual silence.

Author's Background

Niyi Osundare is a renowned Nigerian poet, dramatist, and literary scholar. He is known for his commitment to social justice, political activism, and the use of poetry as a tool for change. Born in 1947 in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria, Osundare has published numerous collections of poetry that critique oppression, dictatorship, corruption, and societal indifference. His works often emphasize the responsibility of individuals in resisting injustice. Not My Business is one of his most famous poems, warning against the dangers of ignoring oppression until it affects us personally.

Setting

The poem is set in a society under dictatorship or authoritarian rule, where people are arrested, tortured, and oppressed without warning or justification.

• Physical Setting: The events take place in ordinary locations like homes, workplaces, and the streets, showing that oppression can happen anywhere.
• Political Setting: The poem reflects a time of political instability, government brutality, and fear, where citizens live under constant threat but choose to ignore the suffering of others.

Summary of "Not My Business"

The poem criticizes societal indifference to oppression by telling the story of three different people—Akanni, Danladi, and Chinwe—who are victims of injustice. The speaker initially dismisses their suffering, believing that as long as he is not directly affected, he should not care.

• First, Akanni is arrested, beaten, and thrown into a military jeep. The speaker remains indifferent, asking, "What business of mine is it?"
• Next, Danladi is taken from his home at night by force, disappearing for an unknown period. Again, the speaker does not care, as long as his own personal comfort is not disturbed.
• Then, Chinwe loses her job without explanation. The speaker remains unconcerned, repeating the same selfish question.
• Finally, the speaker himself becomes a victim. As he prepares to eat his yam, he hears a knock on the door, signaling that his turn has come. The waiting jeep, a symbol of oppression, is now meant for him.

The poem teaches a powerful lesson: If people ignore injustice when it happens to others, it will eventually reach them too.

Stanza Structure and Analysis

The poem consists of five stanzas, written in free verse, meaning there is no fixed rhyme scheme. The repetition of key phrases strengthens the message of indifference and its consequences.

Stanza One (Lines 1–4)

• The poem begins with Akanni being violently arrested, described with the simile "beat him soft like clay", emphasizing brutality and helplessness.
• The jeep symbolizes oppression, as it takes away those who oppose or fall victim to the regime.

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Stanza Two (Lines 5–7)

• The speaker dismisses Akanni’s suffering, saying, "What business of mine is it, so long they don’t take the yam from my savouring mouth?"
• Yam is a metaphor for personal comfort and well-being, representing selfishness and indifference.
• The speaker chooses not to care as long as he is not affected.

---

Stanza Three (Lines 8–11)

• Danladi is forcefully removed from his home at night, showing the fear and unpredictability of oppression.
• The phrase "booted the whole house awake" highlights the aggressive and sudden nature of military raids.
• Danladi "disappears for a lengthy absence," a reference to forced disappearances under oppressive governments.

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Stanza Four (Lines 12–14)

• The speaker again ignores Danladi’s fate, repeating, "What business of mine is it, so long they don’t take the yam from my savouring mouth?"
• This repetition reinforces his selfishness and detachment from reality.

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Stanza Five (Lines 15–18)

• Chinwe loses her job without warning or explanation, representing economic injustice and government control over people’s livelihoods.
• "Just one neat sack for a stainless record" → Suggests that even the innocent are not safe from oppression.

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Stanza Six (Lines 19–21)

• Once again, the speaker remains unconcerned, repeating the same phrase.

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Stanza Seven (Lines 22–26)

• The turning point of the poem occurs when the speaker himself becomes a victim.
• As he sits to eat his yam, he hears a knock on the door, symbolizing his impending arrest.
• The jeep is waiting for him, just as it did for the others.
• The repetition of "waiting, waiting" in the final line builds tension and inevitability.

Themes in "Not My Business"

1. Indifference to Oppression

   • The speaker ignores others' suffering until he becomes a victim himself.
   • The poem teaches that silence in the face of injustice enables oppression.

2. Abuse of Power

   • The poem portrays arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and economic injustice.
   • The government or oppressive forces act without accountability.

3. The Consequences of Selfishness

   • The speaker prioritizes his personal comfort ("yam") over others' suffering.
   • Eventually, his turn comes, proving that nobody is truly safe.

4. Social and Political Corruption

   • The poem reflects a dictatorial society, where citizens live in fear.
   • The use of violence, job termination, and nighttime raids shows how governments control and silence opposition.

Language and Style

• Repetition:

  • The phrase "What business of mine is it, so long they don’t take the yam from my savouring mouth?" is repeated three times, emphasizing selfishness and societal indifference.

• Symbolism:

  • "Yam" → Represents personal comfort and selfishness.
  • "Jeep" → Represents oppression and authoritarian rule.
  • "Knock on the door" → Symbolizes the inevitability of injustice reaching everyone.

• Imagery:

  • "Beat him soft like clay" → Creates a vivid image of brutality.
  • "A knock on the door froze my hungry hand" → Shows fear and realization.

• Tone:

  • The tone is casual and indifferent at first, but becomes tense and fearful at the end.

WAEC/NECO Likely Questions on "Not My Business" by Niyi Osundare

SECTION A: Comprehension Questions

1. What is the central message of the poem?
2. How does the poet use repetition to reinforce his message?
3. What does the "jeep" symbolize?
4. Explain the phrase "a knock on the door froze my hungry hand."
5. How does the speaker's attitude change throughout the poem?

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SECTION B: Thematic Questions

6. How does the poem explore the dangers of indifference to oppression?
7. Discuss the theme of abuse of power in the poem.
8. What lesson does the poem teach about social responsibility?

These questions are designed to test comprehension, thematic understanding, literary appreciation, and critical thinking skills