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Messiahs by Odia Ofeimun
They are not doing a bad job,
the Messiahs
are still riding high,
the ferried winged horses
of their triumphant entry.
The Christs
are still performing miracles
in the marketplaces,
heralding the masses with imperatives,
feeding the hungry
with 21-gun salutes
for victories that are yet to be won.
They are not doing a bad job;
the Messiahs have rescued the dance
from our houses.
Their harvest reports say
the barns explode with tubers of plenty;
all the trees are watered
with scented alcohol.
Now they grow fatter than they ever did
in the other dynasty.
Their harvest reports manure the earth
with hawking question marks,
as if they were answers,
as if we were born
to feed on only harvest reports.
On horseback,
they issue the word: we dance.
When our Sunday best becomes rags,
we spread palm fronds on the roads
for their motorcades.
(Blessed are they that come.)
And we must hire praise-singers,
talking drummers. Be happy.
And why must we be sad
when the Messiahs are with us,
to hound us and butt-gun us
into greater tomorrows.
General Introduction
The poem Messiahs is penned by the renowned Nigerian poet and political activist, Odia Ofeimun. Born in 1950, Ofeimun is a significant figure in African literature, particularly noted for his strong socio-political commentary. His works often reflect the turbulent political landscape of Nigeria and the broader African continent, grappling with themes of power, corruption, and the disillusionment of the masses. Messiahs, written in 1973, belongs to a period in Nigerian history marked by military coups and authoritarian rule, following the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). Ofeimun’s style is marked by its biting satire, poignant metaphors, and a clear-eyed critique of the socio-political realities of his time. Messiahs is no exception, as it dissects the concept of leadership and the false hopes offered by those in power.
Title
The title Messiahs immediately invokes religious connotations, suggesting saviors or divinely anointed leaders. In Christianity, the Messiah is seen as a redeemer, a figure who brings salvation to the people. However, Ofeimun uses the plural form, implying multiple messiahs, which hints at the poem’s satirical tone. The title sets up expectations of deliverance and salvation but quickly undermines them, as the poem reveals the so-called "Messiahs" to be far from the saviors they claim to be. Instead, they are depicted as false leaders who exploit the people's hopes for their own gain.
Themes of Messiahs by Odia Ofeimun
1. False Leadership and Hypocrisy:
The central theme of Messiahs revolves around the concept of false leadership. The poem critiques leaders who present themselves as saviors or "Messiahs," yet fail to live up to the lofty expectations they set. These leaders are depicted as hypocritical figures who perform grandiose actions—such as riding on "ferried winged horses" and "performing miracles in the marketplaces"—but ultimately achieve nothing meaningful for the people they lead. The "21-gun salutes for victories that are yet to be won" is a poignant example of this hypocrisy, where ceremonial gestures replace genuine progress. The poem underscores the disillusionment that arises when leaders are exposed as frauds, highlighting the dangers of placing blind faith in individuals who claim to have all the answers but deliver empty promises instead.
2. The Illusion of Progress:
Ofeimun explores the theme of illusory progress through the metaphor of "harvest reports" that "manure the earth with hawking question marks." The leaders in the poem issue reports that suggest abundance and prosperity, with "barns explode with tubers of plenty," and "all the trees are watered with scented alcohol." However, these reports are deceptive, masking the reality of the people's suffering. The phrase "as if we were born to feed on only harvest reports" captures the frustration of the masses, who are expected to be content with empty rhetoric rather than tangible improvements in their lives. This theme highlights the discrepancy between the leaders' claims and the actual conditions faced by the populace, emphasizing the dangers of accepting superficial indicators of progress without questioning their validity.
3. The Exploitation of Religious Imagery and Authority:
Another significant theme in the poem is the exploitation of religious imagery and authority by political leaders. Ofeimun uses religious references—such as "Messiahs," "Christs," and "miracles"—to depict how these leaders co-opt religious language to legitimize their rule and manipulate the masses. By comparing political figures to messianic saviors, the poem critiques how religious symbols are used to create a façade of righteousness and divine approval, masking the leaders' true intentions. The line "Blessed are they that come" mirrors the biblical Beatitudes but is used sarcastically to underscore the hollowness of the leaders' claims to moral authority. This theme exposes the cynical appropriation of religion by those in power, who exploit people's faith to maintain control and avoid accountability.
4. Oppression and Control:
The poem also addresses the theme of oppression and control, as the "Messiahs" use their power to subjugate the people rather than uplift them. The imagery of "butt-gun us into greater tomorrows" and "hounding us" suggests that the leaders maintain their authority through force and intimidation. Instead of providing true leadership or fostering genuine progress, these leaders oppress the populace, using violence and coercion to enforce their rule. The poem suggests that the "greater tomorrows" promised by these leaders are nothing more than a continuation of the same oppression, with no real improvement in the lives of the people. This theme highlights the destructive nature of authoritarian rule and the ways in which power can be wielded to suppress rather than serve the public.
5. Disillusionment and Cynicism:
Disillusionment is a pervasive theme in Messiahs, reflecting the poet’s—and by extension, the people's—cynicism toward the leadership of the time. The repetition of the phrase "They are not doing a bad job" is laden with irony, indicating a deep sense of disappointment with the so-called "Messiahs." The people's initial hopes for salvation and progress have been dashed by the leaders' failures, leading to a widespread sense of disillusionment. This theme captures the emotional and psychological toll of repeated betrayals by those in power, as the people become increasingly skeptical of any promises made by their leaders. The poem reflects a broader sense of despair and hopelessness, as the populace realizes that the leaders who were supposed to deliver them from hardship are, in fact, perpetuating it.
6. The Role of the Masses in Perpetuating Their Own Oppression:
A more complex theme in the poem is the role of the masses in perpetuating their own oppression. The people are depicted as complicit in their subjugation, as they "spread palm fronds on the roads for their motorcades" and "hire praise-singers, talking drummers." These actions suggest that the masses, whether out of fear, resignation, or misplaced loyalty, continue to honor and celebrate their leaders despite the lack of real progress or justice. The poem critiques this passive acceptance of oppression, suggesting that the people themselves bear some responsibility for allowing false leaders to maintain their power. This theme raises questions about agency, complicity, and the challenges of resistance in the face of authoritarian rule.
Odia Ofeimun’s Messiahs is a rich and multifaceted exploration of leadership, power, and the dynamics of oppression. Through its themes of false leadership, illusory progress, the exploitation of religious imagery, and the role of the masses in their own subjugation, the poem offers a scathing critique of political authority. It reflects the disillusionment and cynicism of a people repeatedly let down by those in power, while also challenging the readers to consider their own role in the perpetuation of such systems. In doing so, Messiahs remains a powerful and relevant commentary on the nature of leadership and the responsibilities of both leaders and the led in shaping a just society.
Literary Devices
1. Irony:
Ofeimun employs irony throughout the poem to highlight the disparity between the expectations from the "Messiahs" and the reality they deliver. For instance, the line, "They are not doing a bad job," is deeply ironic. The phrase initially suggests competence but is undercut by the subsequent descriptions of empty victories and hollow promises.
2. Metaphor:
The poem is rich with metaphorical language, such as "the ferried winged horses of their triumphant entry," which evokes the image of a grand, almost divine, arrival. This metaphor is ironic, as it contrasts sharply with the ineffectual and self-serving nature of these "Messiahs."
3. Allusion:
The poem alludes to biblical imagery, particularly in its references to "The Christs" and "Blessed are they that come." These allusions serve to critique the political leaders by comparing their false promises to the true messianic hope offered by Christ, further emphasizing their hypocrisy.
4. Personification:
The "harvest reports" are personified when Ofeimun writes that they "manure the earth with hawking question marks." This personification suggests that the reports, which are supposed to signify prosperity, instead sow doubt and confusion, reflecting the people's growing disillusionment.
5. Symbolism:
The "21-gun salutes" and "palm fronds" symbolize empty rituals and superficial displays of power. The 21-gun salute, typically reserved for significant victories, is mockingly offered for "victories that are yet to be won," symbolizing the hollow nature of the so-called achievements of the leaders.
6. Repetition:
The repetition of the phrase "They are not doing a bad job" serves to reinforce the ironic tone of the poem. Each repetition deepens the reader's understanding of the extent of the leaders' failures, contrasting their self-presentation with the grim reality.
Language and Diction
Ofeimun’s diction in Messiahs is both formal and satirical, employing a blend of religious and political language to underscore the critique of leadership. The choice of words such as "Messiahs," "Christs," and "miracles" draw heavily from religious contexts, setting up expectations of holiness and righteousness. However, these words are juxtaposed with phrases like "hawking question marks" and "butt-gun us," which are more grounded and colloquial, reflecting the gritty reality of the people's experience. The contrast between the elevated, almost divine diction used to describe the leaders and the crude, violent language used to depict their actions creates a sharp critique of the gap between their image and reality.
Mood and Tone
The mood of the poem is one of disillusionment and cynicism. The reader is drawn into a world where the leaders, once seen as saviors, are revealed to be self-serving and oppressive. The tone is predominantly satirical, with Ofeimun using biting irony and sarcasm to expose the failures and hypocrisies of the so-called "Messiahs." The use of religious language to describe these political figures adds to the tone of mockery, as the leaders are depicted as unworthy of the titles they have assumed.
Context
Messiahs was written during a period of political instability in Nigeria, following the Nigerian Civil War and during the early years of military rule. The poem reflects the disillusionment many Nigerians felt as they witnessed the failure of successive governments to deliver on their promises of peace, prosperity, and progress. The "Messiahs" in the poem symbolize the military leaders and politicians who came to power promising to save the nation but instead perpetuated corruption and oppression. The poem can be seen as a broader critique of post-colonial African leadership, where the initial euphoria of independence gave way to a harsh reality of neocolonialism and internal exploitation.
Conclusion
Odia Ofeimun’s Messiahs is a powerful critique of political leadership, using religious imagery and satirical language to expose the hypocrisy and failure of those in power. Through his use of irony, metaphor, and allusion, Ofeimun paints a portrait of leaders who, far from being saviors, are self-serving and oppressive. The poem reflects the broader disillusionment of a nation that has been repeatedly let down by its leaders, offering a timeless commentary on the dangers of blind faith in authority figures. In doing so, Messiahs remains a relevant and poignant reflection on the nature of power and the responsibilities of leadership.
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