There are books that tug at your heart and refuse to let go. The Ones Before You by Joba Ojelabi is one of them.
Each poem is a revelation, a meditation, a masterpiece.
Masquerade is a poem about identity. As basic as this important concept is, it is often misunderstood or taken lightly. Your identity is who you are, and you are the only person who wields the power to conjure this identity into whatever you want.
Nobody has the right to fit you into a box you do not fit in. Your identity is yours to carry, to be, to embody.
One thing I like about Ojelabi’s poems is the profound quote that ends each one.
Dear Masquerade,
This is your curse
You’d wear a thousand faces
But none will be yours.
My favorite poem from this collection is Aiku. I always go back to it. It has such wisdom that makes me think. I love poems that make me feel things and think and wonder.
But how can I live if I cannot die?
How do I dance if I know no music?
Think about it. Read those lines again, this time gently. And then think about it.
For me, poetry is a gift that keeps giving. A good poem will always propel you to think deeply, and I love who I am when I am reading poems because I learn so much about life and living. There are times I lack the language to express my feelings, and then I turn to poetry, and the words start flowing.
Ojelabi’s infusion of Yoruba into this book is magical. For someone who is interested in other people’s languages and cultures, I was in awe of how beautiful and rich the Yoruba language made The Ones Before You look.
This collection is rich in culture, language, and wisdom, giving words to the burning urge within you to spit fire. It is fire and yet water. It burns you and soothes you.
The Ones Before You is a poetry collection I will always go back to. Please get it and read it.
