By Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
Arise and hail
The great Nigerian
Nationalist of vision
Bukar of mission
Yamtarawala of our time.
Arise and glorify
Allah the Glorious
Universe He controls
Yamtarawala He guides.
Arise and salute,
Muhammad the guider,
Generosity, a pillar
To Khadijas, a master,
Yamtarawala greets.
Arise oh my people,
Attention and listen
Be ready we visit
Yamtarawala of great.
Arise and be aware,
When thunder claps,
The signs are vivid, clear
Ponder —decipher.
Arise and learn,
The day he’s come
10th number is great
12th is even bright.
1942 of gold, prime.
Arise, let’s tour,
King’s College of honour,
Usman’s son tested the gruel.
Arise and be focused
ABU is more than a name,
PhD is not a joke,
Yamta —gallant, brave.
Arise, come and hear,
The short of courage,
Bravery, candour
Yamta the legend,
Biu is free and famed.
Arise for the man
The last as he stands
Bukar Namiji adored
Man with pen armed
Yamtarawala of light.
Arise, come in haste
Behold the elephant grass,
Knows no drought,
Knight in fitted armour.
Arise, stand still
For a true nationalist,
Tireless, cleaner record
Vanguard of all time.
Arise, thumbs up
For Shakespeare is back
With overflowing ink,
Scoring brighter scores.
Arise and honour,
Double edged pen.
Hausa, English, double journey
Ajami —triple sojourn.
Arise for the master,
Doyen, man of letters,
Literary guru striking,
Pen gripped nay sword
Saving, shielding, enlightening.
Arise, come and count,
Hatching Hopes, a biography
Folktales, a compendium,
In Biu, there is history
Yesterday, today and all time.
Culled from Songs for Bukar Usman