Reading and Summary of ‘Not My Business’ by Niyi Osundare Lesson Note

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

INTRODUCTION

Literature can be used to expose problems in society and encourage people to respond to injustice.

In Not My Business, Niyi Osundare presents a speaker who watches other people suffer but refuses to get involved because he believes their problems do not concern him. Eventually, the same oppression comes to his own doorstep.

ABOUT THE POET

Niyi Osundare is a Nigerian poet, playwright, essayist and literary scholar. He is known for using his literary works to address social, political and cultural issues. His works often focus on oppression, injustice, inequality and the experiences of ordinary people.

ABOUT THE POEM

Not My Business is a poem about indifference, oppression and social injustice. The poem presents three people; Akanni, Danladi and Chinwe, who suffer different forms of oppression. The speaker witnesses what happens to them but refuses to intervene.

His repeated attitude is that their problems are not his business as long as his own comfort and food are not affected. However, at the end of the poem, the oppressive force comes to his own house. This makes him realise that the suffering of others should not have been ignored.

MEANING OF THE TITLE

The title “Not My Business” represents the speaker's attitude towards the suffering of other people. He believes that as long as his own needs are not affected, he has no reason to concern himself with the problems of others.

The title therefore highlights indifference and selfishness. The irony is that what he considers “not my business” eventually becomes his own problem.

SUMMARY OF THE POEM

Akanni's Experience; The poem begins with Akanni being taken away one morning. He is beaten and forced into a waiting jeep. The speaker witnesses what happens but does not show concern.

Instead, he asks what business the incident is of his, as long as the people taking Akanni do not take the yam from his mouth. This shows that the speaker cares more about his personal comfort than the suffering of another person.

Danladi's Experience: The next incident involves Danladi. One night, the people come and violently wake up the whole house before dragging Danladi away.

Danladi is taken away for an uncertain period. Again, the speaker refuses to become involved. He repeats his belief that the matter is not his business as long as his own yam remains untouched.

Chinwe's Experience: The third victim is Chinwe. She goes to work one day only to discover that she has lost her job.

She is given no explanation, warning or opportunity to defend herself. Her dismissal is presented as unjust. Once again, the speaker remains indifferent because his own comfort has not been affected.

The Speaker Becomes the Victim: The final part of the poem brings a change. One evening, the speaker sits down to eat his yam when he hears a knock on his door. He becomes frightened because the same jeep associated with the earlier incidents is now waiting on his lawn.

For the first time, the speaker realises that the oppression he ignored has finally reached him. The poem ends without telling us exactly what happens to him, but the presence of the waiting jeep creates fear and uncertainty.

MAJOR CHARACTERS;

THEMES IN THE POEM

POETIC DEVICES

Effect: It emphasises the speaker's indifference.

Effect: It reveals his attitude and makes the reader question his lack of concern.

Effect: It helps the reader visualise the suffering of the victims.

Effect: It makes the jeep appear like a living creature that swallows its victims.

Effect: It shows that he is mainly concerned about protecting what belongs to him.

Effect: It exposes the danger of indifference.

MESSAGE OF THE POEM

The poem teaches that people should not ignore injustice simply because they are not the immediate victims.

It encourages people to show concern for others and speak against oppression. The poem also warns that when people remain silent while others are being oppressed, the same oppression may eventually affect them.

SUMMARY

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare presents the dangers of indifference in a society where people suffer injustice. Akanni is beaten and taken away, Danladi is dragged from his home, and Chinwe loses her job unfairly. The speaker witnesses all these events but refuses to become involved.

Eventually, a jeep comes to his own house while he is eating his yam. This shows that the oppression he ignored has finally reached him. The poem therefore teaches the importance of social responsibility, courage and concern for others.