WAEC & NECO Literature-in-English 2026–2030 | African Poetry
Setting and Background of Not My Business
The Nigeria behind Niyi Osundare’s poem, and why its warning still matters today.
Knowing the background of Not My Business helps you see why the poem feels so urgent. Niyi Osundare wrote at a time when Nigerians could lose their freedom, or even their lives, without warning. The poem captures that fear and challenges readers who chose to look away.
Line numbers follow the official WAEC text, which has seven stanzas and 26 lines. For a refresher on the poem itself, read the stanza-by-stanza summary.
The setting and background of Not My Business
Osundare never names a city or a year. Even so, the clues clearly point to Nigeria. The victims carry Nigerian names, the speaker eats yam, and armed men move about in a jeep.
The speaker also seems fairly comfortable. He owns a house with a lawn and enjoys his meals in peace. This detail matters, because it shows that comfort can make people blind to the suffering of others.
In the poem: The names in lines 1, 10 and 15, the yam in lines 6 and 23, and the lawn in line 25.
Nigeria under military rule
Soldiers ruled Nigeria for much of the period between 1966 and 1999. Under several military governments, security agents could arrest critics, journalists and ordinary citizens without charge or trial. A 1984 decree, for example, allowed the government to detain people it considered a threat to state security.
Many detainees simply disappeared for long periods, and families often had no idea where they were. Critics widely link the poem to this era. The beating of Akanni and the night raid on Danladi’s home reflect exactly this kind of treatment.
In the poem: Stanza 1 (lines 1–4) and stanza 3 (lines 8–11), especially the “lengthy absence” in line 11.
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Likely WAEC and NECO essay questions with model answers, plus objective questions with answers for revision and class tests.
Sudden dismissals
Military governments also removed public servants in large numbers. In 1975, one regime retired thousands of workers with immediate effect, many without any clear reason. Such purges left families without income overnight.
Chinwe’s story echoes this experience. She loses her job without a query, a warning or an investigation, despite her spotless record.
In the poem: Stanza 5 (lines 15–18).
A nation of many peoples
Nigeria is home to hundreds of ethnic groups, with the Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo as the largest. Osundare gives his victims a name from each group: Akanni, Danladi and Chinwe.
Through this choice, he shows that oppression targets everyone. Some critics also read the poem as a comment on ethnic division, since people may ignore suffering when the victim comes from another group.
In the poem: Stanza 1 (line 1), stanza 3 (line 10) and stanza 5 (line 15).
The poet’s own concerns
Niyi Osundare, born in Ikere-Ekiti in 1947, has long spoken out for free speech and social justice. His belief that to utter is to alter lies at the heart of this poem. The speaker’s failure to speak out is exactly what Osundare warns against. To learn more about his life, read our Niyi Osundare biography.
How the background shapes the poem’s themes
Each part of this background links to a theme. Military rule explains the injustice and fear. Sudden dismissals explain the attack on livelihoods. Nigeria’s many peoples explain the theme of national unity. For a full discussion of each theme, see our guide to the themes in Not My Business.
Why the poem still matters today
Nigeria has had civilian government since 1999, yet the poem’s warning has not faded. Reports of kidnappings, unlawful arrests and police brutality still appear in the news. Many people scroll past such stories because the victims are strangers. Osundare’s poem reminds every reader that tomorrow’s knock could come at their own door.
Using the background of Not My Business in the exam
On its own, background rarely earns marks, so always connect it to the poem. For instance, you might explain that the lengthy absence in line 11 reflects detention without trial under military rule. Short links like this show the examiner that you understand both the text and its context. For more help, visit the complete study guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the setting of Not My Business?
Nigeria, most likely during the years of military rule.
What is the background of Not My Business?
It reflects arrests without trial, disappearances and sudden dismissals common under military governments in Nigeria.
Why did Osundare write Not My Business?
To warn people that ignoring injustice against others will not keep them safe.
Is the poem still relevant today?
Yes. Its message applies wherever people ignore injustice because it has not yet reached 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.
