Nkese. Poem by Monkals Kalu

What a voice!
So warmly distinct
It can mend a broken soul.

Oh Nkese!
Your voice sits
So well on the melodies
Of the Efik sweet folksongs.

Effortlessly,
Your voice pierces
Silence and stirs up
Happiness in the air.

"Adiaha Akpan, mbok
Ada uyo emi ke mmon? "
Even the birds are in awe,
You can tell by their chirps.

Oh, Nkese!
You're way too young
For these songs you sing,
Though there are old, but
There are quite golden too.

"Eyen akanawan! "
Grandma must have thought you
The ways, and wisdom of the old,
Else, how could you have known
And sang so well, the wise songs
Of Chief Inyang Nta Henshaw,
Chief Peter Effiom,
Burstic Kingsley Bassey,
Demmy Bassey, Ekpe Ita and more?