Gabriel Okara Biography

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Once upon a time – a poem by Gabriel Okara
Gabriel Imomtimi Gbaingbain Okara, the son of and ijo chief, was born on April 21, 1921 in Bumodi Nigeria. A largely self-educated man, okara became a bookbinder after leaving school and soon began writing plays and features for radio.
Okara’s poetry is based on a series of contrasts in which symbols are neatly balanced against each other. He incorporated African thought, religion, folklore, and imagery into both his verse and prose.
His creations…
His first novel, the voice (1964), is a remarkable linguistic experiment in which Okara translated directly from the Ijo (ijaw) language, imposing ijo syntax onto English in order to give literal expression to African ideas and imagery.
His later work includes a collection of poems. The fisherman’s invocation (1978), and two books for children, little snake and little frog (1981) and an adventure to juju island (1992)
In Once upon a time by Gabriel Okara, he contrasts society’s affects in adulthood in comparison to his personal struggles in relation to everyday life. The poem is directed to the speakers son. Its about how people can change and form into being like everyone else, but in a deceiving way.
I quote: “There was a time indeed they used to shake hands with their hearts; but now that’s gone son. Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search my empty pockets.” My interpretation of that line is people have forgotten true happiness and can only find it through money. They also cannot find it within themselves to be true to others in their hearts.
Why does society say “feel at home,” and “come again” if they sincerely do not mean it? Well, we learn to tell white lies when it comes down to being courteous hosts. The
Own words:
Gabriel Okara the son of the ijo chef was born on April 21, 1921 in Bumodi Nigeria. Okara, as largery self-educated man,
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