My Mother and My Village Earth

About the Book

My Mother and My Village Earth is a collection of one hundred poems born of love—love for God, humanity, Africa, and the earth that nurtures us all. Drawing richly on the sights, sounds, and memories of village life, Fr Benjamin Usakule Garba celebrates the beauty of creation while confronting the wounds inflicted by greed, corruption, injustice, religious extremism, violence, and failed leadership. Nature and humanity speak with one voice throughout these pages. Birds, flowers, insects, rivers, forests, mothers, children, and the land itself become witnesses to both the splendour and the suffering of our world. Through satire, contemplation, prayer, and lyrical reflection, the poet challenges the conscience, honours the dignity of ordinary people, and reminds us that the earth is not merely where we live—it is our common mother and our shared inheritance. At once deeply African and profoundly universal, My Mother and My Village Earth is an invitation to see the world with fresh eyes, to love it more deeply, and to leave it more just, more peaceful, and more beautiful than we found it. “In these pages, Father Benjamin speaks for the voices of an entire continent — the struggles, hopes, wounds and resilience of Africa’s many stories. Each poem speaks with courage and tenderness, reminding us that conflict cannot silence truth and that beauty endures even in the hardest places. This collection is both a mirror and a call — a testament to the strength of those who stand up for justice. He speaks with love, frustration, passion and sadness about the land of his birth!” – Philomena Crossley

About the Author

Fr Benjamin Usakule Garba was born in Jambiri Village, Bauchi State, in north-eastern Nigeria. He received his early priestly formation at St John Vianney Minor Seminary, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, and later studied Philosophy and Theology at St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos. Ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Bauchi, he has devoted his life to pastoral ministry, scholarship, and creative writing. He currently serves in the Diocese of Salford, United Kingdom. A poet with a contemplative and prophetic voice, Fr Benjamin’s writings draw inspiration from African village life, Christian faith, nature, philosophy, and the enduring dignity of the human person. His works often challenge injustice while celebrating hope, compassion, and humanity’s intimate relationship with the earth. He is the author of the play Arrows of Love (2021), the poetry collections Whispers from the Sahel (2023) and Musings in the UK (2025). My Mother and My Village Earth is his third volume of poetry.