Operation Save the red haired ebony princess!
I fell in love with the Ibadan Malimbe on first sight not only because it’s a cute bird with a cute name. I think it’s also because of the emotional connection; I was born, grew up, and lived in Ibadan, Western Nigeria, for many years.
For some reason, Ibadan is the city that features in beautiful poems, just like Paris. The scientific name of the Ibadan Malimbe, Malimbus ibadanensis, sounds like music. Totally non-raucous. Soothing to my ears. As I reflected about the Ibadan Malimbe, I burst out in poetic hip-hop.
The Ibadan Malimbe is medium sized forest weaver, an endangered bird species endemic to Western Nigeria. This means it is found in (endemic) western Nigeria but it’s population is dying out (endangered). In a 2002 study, the Ibadan Malimbe was located in 19 sites. This study highlighted that, “the small range and continuing human pressure on remaining forest fragments make the outlook for this species far from secure.” In other words, we are losing this cute bird because we are destroying forests.
The first lines of the poem has the Ibadan Malimbe calling out to the remnant of its species and expressing its sadness and disapproval at the low level of importance attached to its existence and home, forests, by humans.
“Malimbe here
Malimbe there
Malimbe nowhere.”
Those who study birds are referred to as “Ornithologists.” In 2007, during my internship at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Lagos, I was privileged to interact with some Ornithologists. One of my fellow interns was interested in Ornithology. I was more interested in problems that were more human-facing and focused on behavioral and attitudinal change so I chose a project about waste management practices in a low-income coastal community in Ajah, Lagos . Besides, who has the patience to watch birds or the observational skill to differentiate one from the other. Not me! Shout out to the Ornithologists.
In the lines referenced above, the Ibadan Malimbe refers to the work of Ornithologists who have been tracking its populations. Ornithologists do not track bird populations for the sake of bird tracking. They do this because the diversity and population of birds is an indication of the health of that ecosystem.
The poem ended by the Ibadan Malimbe wishing its ghost could cry out and how the thought of that sends chills down the spine of some humans. Why not do good and avoid ghosts? Rather than scampering at the mention of the word “ghosts.”
The preservation of forests is dependent on all of us: individuals of all ages, communities of every size, governments at all levels. We can all do something now, encourage others to do the same by seeing the value in doing so, and teaching younger individuals how important caring for the environment and forests is for human flourishing. Let’s do this together. Sign up for updates for Igbo board game Kickstarter at playigbo.com and follow us on facebook too.