WAEC & NECO Literature-in-English 2026–2030 | African Poetry
Not My Business Questions and Answers
Short-answer questions and model essay answers on Niyi Osundare’s poem, with stanza and line references.
These Not My Business questions and answers will help you revise Niyi Osundare’s poem for class tests, WAEC and NECO. Start with the quick questions to check your knowledge. Then study the model essays to see how to build a strong answer.
Line numbers follow the official WAEC text, which has seven stanzas and 26 lines. Before you begin, you may want to review the stanza-by-stanza summary.
Section A: Short Not My Business questions and answers
Try to answer each question before reading the answer.
1. Who wrote Not My Business?
Niyi Osundare, a Nigerian poet from Ikere-Ekiti.
2. How many stanzas and lines does the poem have?
Seven stanzas and 26 lines.
3. Name the first victim in the poem.
Akanni (stanza 1, line 1).
4. What do the attackers beat Akanni into?
Something soft like clay (line 2).
5. When do the attackers come for Danladi?
One night (stanza 3, line 8).
6. Why is Chinwe’s dismissal unfair?
She gets no query, warning or probe, despite a stainless record (lines 17–18).
7. In the refrain, what must nobody take from the speaker?
The yam from his savouring mouth (lines 6–7).
8. Which vehicle carries the victims away?
A jeep (lines 4 and 25).
9. At the end, what freezes the speaker’s hand?
A knock on the door (stanza 7, line 24).
10. Where does the jeep wait at the end?
On the speaker’s bewildered lawn (line 25).
Section B: Model essay answers
Each model answer has a clear introduction, separate points with evidence, and a short conclusion. Notice how every point refers to a stanza and specific lines.
Question 1: Discuss the theme of indifference in Not My Business.
Introduction. In Not My Business, Niyi Osundare condemns indifference to the suffering of others. Through a selfish speaker, he shows how silence allows injustice to spread.
Ignoring Akanni. The speaker sees the attackers beat Akanni soft like clay and stuff him into a jeep (stanza 1, lines 1–4). Yet he does nothing.
The selfish refrain. After each attack, he asks what business of his it is, as long as nobody takes the yam from his mouth (lines 5–7). His own comfort matters more than his neighbours’ lives.
Repeated silence. Even when Danladi disappears (lines 8–11) and Chinwe loses her job (lines 15–18), he repeats the same excuse (lines 12–14 and 19–21).
The price of indifference. Finally, a knock comes at his door, and the jeep waits on his lawn (lines 24–25). His silence has not protected him.
Conclusion. Osundare therefore presents indifference as foolish and dangerous. The poem urges readers to speak against injustice before it reaches them.
Question 2: Comment on the use of the refrain in the poem.
Introduction. A refrain is a line or group of lines repeated at intervals. Osundare uses a three-line refrain as the backbone of Not My Business.
Where it appears. The refrain appears three times, in stanza 2 (lines 5–7), stanza 4 (lines 12–14) and stanza 6 (lines 19–21). Each time, it follows a story of injustice.
Revealing character. Through the refrain, the speaker shows his selfishness. He cares only that nobody takes the yam from his savouring mouth.
Building irony. As the victims pile up, the unchanged refrain sounds more and more heartless. Readers begin to sense that his turn is coming.
A powerful absence. After stanza 7, the refrain does not return. Now that the jeep waits for him (line 25), he can no longer claim it is not his business.
Conclusion. The refrain therefore does more than repeat. It reveals the speaker’s attitude, builds suspense and, through its final absence, delivers the poem’s lesson.
Question 3: How does the poem reflect injustice under military rule?
Introduction. Critics widely link Not My Business to Nigeria’s years of military rule. The poem shows ordinary citizens suffering at the hands of a powerful and lawless system.
Arrest without trial. Men seize Akanni one morning and beat him without any charge (stanza 1, lines 1–4). Nobody explains his crime.
Night raids and disappearances. Attackers boot Danladi’s household awake and drag him away to a lengthy absence (stanza 3, lines 8–11). The euphemism hides the likelihood of long detention or worse.
Unjust dismissal. Chinwe loses her job with no query, warning or probe, despite her stainless record (stanza 5, lines 17–18).
Fear of the state. The silent, waiting jeep stands for the power of the government (lines 4 and 25–26). It can come for anyone.
Conclusion. Through these episodes, Osundare exposes the cruelty of oppressive rule and warns that silence only strengthens it.
Section C: More questions in the full pack
The complete Not My Business exam pack includes model answers to all of these questions, plus objective questions with answers.
Examine the significance of the title Not My Business. 🔒
Discuss the use of symbolism in the poem. 🔒
Comment on the significance of the names Akanni, Danladi and Chinwe. 🔒
What is the effect of irony in the poem? 🔒
Discuss the structure of the poem. 🔒
Examine the tone of the poem. 🔒
How does the poet use imagery to convey fear? 🔒
Discuss the ending of the poem. 🔒
Unlock all model answers
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Tips for answering Not My Business questions and answers in the exam
Begin with a short introduction that names the poet and answers the question directly. After that, give three or four clear points. Support each point with a stanza and line reference or a brief quotation, then explain what it shows.
Avoid retelling the whole poem. Instead, keep every paragraph focused on the question. For extra depth, draw on our guides to the themes and the poetic devices. Everything else is in the complete study guide.
Frequently asked questions
What questions are likely on Not My Business in WAEC?
Expect questions on indifference, injustice and the refrain, and on devices such as irony, symbolism and personification.
How long should my essay answer be?
Aim for four or five well-developed paragraphs, including an introduction and conclusion.
Should I quote from the poem?
Yes, but keep quotations short and always explain them.
Teaching this poem?
Get ready-made lesson notes, class tests and exam questions with marking guides for Not My Business and all 12 prescribed poems.
