This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals Not my business Understanding the poem Subject:English Age group: Topic:Poems from other cultures EAL Nexus resource Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. © British Council 2014 Source | This resource was originally developed by Zdravka Davies and has been adapted by EAL Nexus.

Not My Business By Niyi Osundare Not My Business By Niyi Osundare

They picked Akanni up one morning Why does the poet use the Akanni’s first name? Who are they?

Beat him soft like clay What is happening to Akanni?

And stuffed him down the belly of a waiting jeep. What is the effect of the powerful verb stuffed? Why does the poet use the word belly?

W hat business of mine is it so long they don’t take the yam from my savouring mouth? It doesn’t matter what happens around him / her, if the narrator gets food then he / she does not care.

What would you do? A friend gets into a fight Someone in your class is being bullied You see someone being beaten up Would you help him/her? Would you walk away from it? What would influence your decision? Would you tell a member of staff? Would you ignore it? Explain the reasons for your course of action. Would you intervene? Would you ignore it? Explain your course of action.

Example If a pupil in my class was being bullied I would tell the Head of Year and ignore the bully because it’s always best to tell someone.

They came one night They again! Why is the effect of the poet using they again?

Booted the whole house awake What is the effect of using the strong verb booted? Why does the poet use the word awake to describe the house?

And dragged Danladi out Then off to a lengthy absence. Why does the poet use Danladi’s first name? What is the effect of the powerful verb dragged? What is the effect of the phrase off to a lengthy absence?

What business of mine is it so long they don’t take the yam from my savouring mouth? Why does Niyi Osundare repeat this question?

Chinwe went to work one day Only to find her job was gone Why does the poet use Chinwe’s first name? How will Chinwe be hurt by losing her job?

No query, no warning, no probe - Just one neat sack for a stainless record. Why does the poet repeat the word no three times?

What business of mine is it so long they don’t take the yam from my savouring mouth? Why does the poet repeat these lines again?

And then one evening As I sat down to eat my yam What do you think is going to happen next?

A knock on the door froze my hungry hand. What effect does the alliteration of hungry hand have? How do you think the narrator feels? Have you ever felt like that?

A jeep was waiting on my bewildered lawn Waiting, waiting in its usual silence. What do you think will happen to the narrator? Can you find another example of personification?