Best "New" African Poets Anthology 2020

Justincox1

Description

Best New African Poets 2020 Anthology, which can be in part titled the Covid Diaries is the 6th volume of the yearly anthology of contemporary African poets, Best New African Poets (BNAP). In this anthology the poets tackle the covid pandemic, some with fear, some with pain, some with anger, some with forebodings of danger; you sense the feeling of insecurity in all of the entries around this issue. This is understandable. As a humanity we have had to go, and we are still going, through one of the most terrible times in our existence, as millions get swept away in this tidal danger. But we will vanquish this monster, we will come out stronger, in the meanwhile as we fight this monster we continue celebrating our humanity in love poems, in spiritual poetry, in politics and governance, in developmental agendas, in foods, in day to day connections, which will outstay this menace. Best New African Poets 2020 Anthology has over 352 pieces from 140 African poets from among other African countries: Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Comoros, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroun, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana etc, and those of African Diasporas in Portugal, Brazil, the UK, USA, China, etc�

Sujets

• Collections
• Collection

Informations

• Publié par: Mwanaka Media and Publishing Pvt Ltd
• Date de parution: 22 juin 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781779255761
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

îght this monster we continue celebrating our humanity in love poems, in spiritual poetry, in

He sees in it the human character, its aws, the link between this world of the living and

BALDDINE MOUSSA

Best “New” African Poets 2020 ANTHOLOGY: Anthologie Des Meilleurs “Nouveaux” Poètes Africains 2020 Antologia Dos Melhores “Novos” Poetas Africanos 2020

Edited & Compiled by: Tendai R Mwanaka, Lorna Telma Zita and Balddine Moussa

BEST “NEW” AFRICAN POETS 2020 ANTHOLOGY/ ANTHOLOGIE DES MEILLEURS “NOUVEAUX” POÈTES AFRICAINS 2020/ ANTOLOGIA DOS MELHORES “NOVOS” AFRICANOS 2020 Edited and Compiled by: Tendai Rinos Mwanaka  Lorna Telma Zita Balddine Moussa

Mwanaka Media and Publishing Pvt Ltd, Chitungwiza Zimbabwe * Creativity, Wisdom and Beauty i

Publisher:Mmap Mwanaka Media and Publishing Pvt Ltd 24 Svosve Road, Zengeza 1 Chitungwiza Zimbabwe [e-mail] [e-mail] https://www.mmapublishing.org www.africanbookscollective.com/publishers/mwanaka-media-and- publishing https://facebook.com/MwanakaMediaAndPublishing/ Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective [e-mail] www.africanbookscollective.com ISBN: 978-1-77925-574-7 EAN: 9781779255747 ©Tendai Rinos Mwanaka 2021 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or be stored in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views ofMmap.

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS/ TABLE DES MATIERES/ TABELA DE CONTEUDOS About editors……………………………………………………xiv Bio notes of contributors……………………………………….xv Introductions…………………………………………………xlvii Bnap collaborations: Covid 19 collaboration……………………2 African Foods Collaboration……………16 To love or not to love……………………20 English poetry part 1 HOME:Annette Mbapa ‘Diva’ Ikongo (Tanzania)…………………31 LESSONS FROM NATURE:Annette Mbapa ‘Diva’ Ikongo DANCING IS POETRY:Andrea B. Matambo (Zambia)....................33 Penultimate hag:Wayne Spiwe Chizhanje (Zimbabwe)...........................35 The decision:Wayne Spiwe Chizhanje The buja customs:Wayne Spiwe Chizhanje IN THE DARK:Arisno Nwankwo Isaiah Ogbonnaya (Nigeria)............41 MUSING:Arisno Nwankwo Isaiah Ogbonnaya MOTHER-EARTH:Arisno Nwankwo Isaiah Ogbonnaya Draft 2020-08-27, 23:21:Kabelo Sithole (Zimbabwe)................................44 YOU TAKE:Kabelo Sithole In the times to come:Onward Mutapurwa (Zimbabwe).........................46 Blunt senses:Onward Mutapurwa Am I Still a Woman?:Sebastian Jalameso (Uganda)………………48 Sex or Gender?:Sebastian Jalameso INNOCENT SOULS:Amani Nsemwa (Tanzania)………………50 DEAR CAROLINA:Amani Nsemwa Message to African poets:Ankwasa Harlord (Uganda)………….53 THE GRACE:Emmanuel Tumwesige (Uganda)…………………….54 Marry me not:Emmanuel Tumwesige RIP:Lisa Jaison (Zimbabwe).....................................................................57 A lover is needed : Walid Abdallah (Egypt)..........................................58 Poem 1:Kenneth Kibet Cheruiyot (Kenya)....................................................60 Poem 3:Kenneth Kibet Cheruiyot

iii

Bar:Godfrey (Kenya)................................................................62Wakoko S. Fool A Fool: Beniah Takunda Munengwa (Zimbabwe).............................63 PHOTOSENTENCES:Prince Kamaazengi Marenga I (Namibia)......65 OVIZIRE VYO MAMBO/Shades of Words - From Where Do Poets Speak?:Prince Kamaazengi Marenga I This Land:Prince Kamaazengi Marenga I A Typical Movie Moment:Yvonne Nezianya (Nigeria).......................69 DYING IS LIKE BEING NAKED ON A LIT STREET:Yvonne Nezianya MY SCARS ARE LINES MARKING MY VICTORY:Yvonne Nezianya WHEN I MET YOU:Kuleza John Lembi (Malawi)………………72 THE ENDLESS TEAR:Kuleza John Lembi Nthawira:Charles Duncan (Malawi)……………………………….74 Questions:Charles Duncan Lessons:Charles Duncan Leap Year:Shannon Hopkins (South Africa)........................................77 It Is Time:Shannon Hopkins Asleep:Shannon Hopkins Therapeutics:Blessing Omeiza Ojo (Nigeria).....................................81 Greetings:Blessing Omeiza Ojo Subtle Ways to Birth Heavy Words:Blessing Omeiza Ojo MY DRUNK HUSBAND:Carolyne M. Acen (Uganda)......................84 58 YEARS LATER:Carolyne M. Acen UNMARRIED:Carolyne M. Acen A nation in Despair:Sunday Afolayan (Nigeria)...............................88 If we aren’t humble, we’ll surely stumble:Sunday Afolayan War Museum of my Soul:James Onyebụchi Nnaji (Nigeria)................93 Death of Ikemefuna:James Onyebụchi Nnaji God’s Baptismal Name:James Onyebụchi Nnaji OUR EARTH! OUR SONG!:Chiadikaobi Obasi (Nigeria)...............96 THE AMAZING PALM:Chiadikaobi Obasi black Monday:Goodenough Mashego (South Africa)…………………99 Anemone Coronaria:Goodenough Mashego CIRCUMCISION:Blessing S Chigunda (Zimbabwe).....................107 COME BACK HOME:Waliyullah Tunde Abimbola (Nigeria).................108

iv

A Litany of Wistful Wisps:Richard Mbuthia (Kenya) .................109 Bangui: Oozing Drops of Red:Richard Mbuthia Coronation of Terror:Richard Mbuthia prologue:the dart of dark words:Nosakhare Collins (Nigeria)...........112 weeping:Nosakhare Collins is name in prayer:Nosakhare Collins Orators:Martin Chrispine Juwa (Malawi)................................................115 Betrayal:Martin Chrispine Juwa Awakening:Martin Chrispine Juwa Wishes:Emmanuel Chitsanzo Mtema (Malawi)...................................118 Sketching:Emmanuel Chitsanzo Mtema Mannequin:Joseph Hope (Nigeria)..................................................121 A dirge like vote of thanks:Joseph Hope VENUS FLYTRAP:Dorcas Wairuri Maina (Kenya)........................125 UNTOLD GRATITUDE:Dorcas Wairuri Maina My sister is my mother:Kirsten Deane (South Africa)....................127 Hunger:Kirsten Deane A TIME OF TURMOIL:Ojonugwa John Attah (Nigeria)................129 DO YOU REMEMBER?:Ojonugwa John Attah DEMOCRACY IS DEAD:Ojonugwa John Attah YASSI (OPEN):Mabel Chah (Cameroon)…………………………133 [variation][in][bracket]:Chenjerai Mhondera (Zimbabwe).................134 baR falL:Chenjerai Mhondera rhetorics//to//war//:Chenjerai Mhondera EVISCERATED:Ntensibe. Joseph (Uganda)……………………137 MY DEAR:Ntensibe. Joseph I WILL SPEAK:Ntensibe. Joseph One Day of Rain:Kayode Adesimi Robbin-Coker(Sierra Leone).........141 The Silence Between Two Echoes:Kayode Adesimi Robbin-Coker We Named it Freetown:Kayode Adesimi Robbin-Coker Africa My Land, My Pride:Falana Idowu Zion (Nigeria)................146 Beyond The Hopeless Night:Falana Idowu Zion If Death Is Dead:Falana Idowu Zion FREE:Shalom Samson (Nigeria).....................................................150 Simon says:Shalom Samson PLOT TWIST:Shalom Samson First Friend:Nica Cornell (South (Africa)………………………….153

v

Confession:Nica Cornell BOVI:Ofem Ubi (Nigeria)..............................................................156 UNKNOWN ARTIST:Ofem Ubi VELVET:Ofem Ubi Zimbabwe:Gamelihle Ncube (Zimbabwe)………………………….160 Since I've been loving you:Gamelihle Ncube TIMES OF DISCORD:Adeyemi Suyi-Adedeji (Nigeria)....................163 THE MENDICANTS:Adeyemi Suyi-Adedeji THE LIVING ROAD:Adeyemi Suyi-Adedeji CHIMURENGA SONGS:Wilson Waison (Zimbabwe)…………167 Eventide at Murumba:Charles Okoth (Kenya).................................168 MEMORIES OF MY FATHER:Charles Okoth THE CHILD AND RIVER UBOTO:ADEPOJU Isaiah Gbenga (Nigeria).....................................................................................................171 HOW MY GRANDMA SEES AFTERLIFE FROM THE BALCONY:ADEPOJU Isaiah Gbenga NIGHT OF LITTLE LAUGHTERS:ADEPOJU Isaiah Gbenga Our Journey to the Struggles Now….:Seyi Segun Stephen (Nigeria)......................................................................................................174 Who Will buy my thoughts?:Seyi Segun Stephen Death concurred:Lucius Ndimele (Nigeria)..........................................178 In the beginning:Lucius Ndimele Haiku:Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (Ghana)..................................................180 My name is...:Gangaidzo Janet Kufa (Zimbabwe)..................................181 THE PROPHESIED CASTIGATION:Hannington James Rugumayo (Uganda)......................................................................................................182 NO LONGER AT EASE:Hannington James Rugumayo #Covid19Millionaires:Isaac Kilibwa (Kenya).......................................186 He Calls Her Siri:Isaac Kilibwa I BLAME MY GRANDFATHERS:Gideon Kirui (Kenya).............189 TO MY OFFSPRING:Gideon Kirui CHOICES:Gideon Kirui In my trap:Nalwanga Racheal (Uganda).................................................194 The Woman with Whom I Have a Son:Biko Iruti (Kenya)............195 Teach Me How to Keep a Woman Happy:Biko Iruti My Wife's Pot Has a Big Mouth:Biko Iruti Darkness at Noon:Iyad Yuka (Kenya).................................................203

vi

Crossing Bridges:Iyad Yuka What Beast?:Iyad Yuka MIND OF STRESS:Jolly Oloit (Uganda)………………………...207 THE NIGHT VOYAGE:Jolly Oloit AFRICAN WHIRL:Jolly Oloit COVID-19:Joy Odewumi (Nigeria)………………………………...210 Boudoir putsch:Oscar Gwiriri (Zimbabwe)………………………..211 Tribute to Chiwoniso Maraire:Oscar Gwiriri Volunteer :Oscar Gwiriri The Curse:Kudzai N. Manzira (Zimbabwe)……………………….214 BROKEN DREAM:Kudzai N. Manzira liquid route:Umar Yogiza Jr (Nigeria)…………………………….216 fReE jAzZ:Mlondi Kwasa Ndlovu (South Africa)...................................218 African Space Program:Mlondi Kwasa Ndlovu Otherwise:Mlondi Kwasa Ndlovu SEVEN DAYS UP!:Sharon Kagoya (Uganda)......................................221 BLACK:Sharon Kagoya SEVEN NIGHTS WITH YOU!:Sharon Kagoya My God is a kaffir:Keketso Mashigo (South Africa)..............................224 The God Complex:Keketso Mashigo 29 Broke No More:Keketso Mashigo Men's Pride:Energy Mavaza (Zimbabwe)..............................................230 I blame me:Energy Mavaza A Better Place:David Olatubosun (Nigeria)………………………..232 MOMENTS:Obed Obedgiu Kwokuboth Jalmeo (Uganda)......................233 DANCING IN THE RAIN:Obed Obedgiu Kwokuboth Jalmeo 2050:- Lessons:Obed Obedgiu Kwokuboth Jalmeo OF DEATH AND ORIGIN:Testimony Jésùtófúnmi (Nigeria)..........238 ILLUMINATION:Testimony Jésùtófúnmi OGBANJE:Testimony Jésùtófúnmi BEHIND THE SCENE (A hurt nation):Oluwadunsin G. Elegba (Nigeria)......................................................................................................241 Pantomimists:Denis Waswa Barasa (Kenya).........................................242 Tic Toc Tic Toc (The Painkiller):Denis Waswa Barasa Resident Life President:Denis Waswa Barasa DEAR BELIKISU:Peace Ufedojo Haruna (Nigeria)............................247 SHE CALLS ME HONEY:Peace Ufedojo Haruna

vii

amenhotep the third:Archie Swanson (South Africa)……………...249 DOUBLE ENCOUNTER:Mbarga Manga Jean Marie (Cameroon).......251 AFTER THE DARKNESS:Linnes Chamadenga (Malawi)……….252 The Elect:Leah Pius (Kenya)……………………………………..254 Will You Stand?:Leah Pius Ramadan in Banjul:Obinna Chilekezi (Nigeria),………………….256 Banjul this afternoon:Obinna Chilekezi Early morning rain:Obinna Chilekezi everybody is a bridge:Anton Krueger (South Africa)...........................259 Another poem:Anton Krueger … … … Falling …:Anton Krueger The rainbow:Wampembe Lukonde (Zambia)……………………...263 Beirut:Wampembe Lukonde My little arid orchard:Wampembe Lukonde Static hour glass:Austin Kaluba (Zambia)………………………..266 We all can’t breathe (for George Floyd):Austin Kaluba Ipaki (dead chief escort):Austin Kaluba Translational poetry UMA IMPI ISIPHELILE:Nhlanhla Siliga (South Africa)...............270 WHEN THE FIGHT IS OVER:Translated by Nhlanhla Siliga IKHAYA LAMI:Nhlanhla Siliga MY HOME:Translated by Nhlanhla Siliga ỌDÚN OGÚN-OGÚN:Waliyullah Tunde Abimbola Nigeria).........273 YEAR 2020:Translated by Waliyullah Tunde Abimbola NGUVA YAKWANA:Simbarashe Chirikure (Zimbabwe)………….274 Time up:Simbarashe Chirikure(Translated by Oscar Gwiriri(Zimbabwe)) CHISHAMISO:Simbarashe Chirikure Perplexed:Simbarashe Chirikure(Translated by Oscar Gwiriri) MUNAMATO WEMUROMBO:Simbarashe Chirikure A Pauper's prayer:Simbarashe Chirikure( Translated by Oscar Gwiriri) A Re Jeng Setswana:Mojalefa Samson Mlambo (South Africa)...........280 Let’s Enjoy Tswana Language:Translation by Mojalefa Samson Mlambo Mma-Lefatshe:Mojalefa Samson Mlambo

viii

Motherland:Translation byMojalefa Samson Mlambo Handione mushe:Fidelis Tinotenda Makunike(Zimbabwe).................286 Mukoka hove:Fidelis Tinotenda Makunike Zvino wodii?:Fidelis Tinotenda Makunike Engola:David Martin Aliker (Uganda)...................................................289 Engola:Translation by David Martin Aliker Oulanyah:David Martin Aliker Oulanyah:Translation by David Martin Aliker Bollo Kwii:David Martin Aliker Voting:Translation by David Martin Aliker  ﻥﻳﻁﻟﺍ ﺔﻳﻧﻏﺃ: Ines Abassi (Tunisia).………………………………….300 Song of Clay:Ines Abassi(Translated by Kareem James Abu-Zeid (Tunisia)) ﺓﺩﺣﻭﻟﺍ ﻥﻳﺭﺎﻣﺗ:Ines Abassi Exercises in Loneliness:Ines Abassi(Translated by Kareem James Abu- Zeid) ﻝ ّ◌ﻙﺷﺗ : Al Abbasi (Tunisia)………………………………………….311 Taking Shape:Al Abbasi(Translated by Ali Znaidi (Tunisia)) ﻁﻳﻟ : Al Abbasi A Bastard:Al Abbasi(Translated by Ali Znaidi) English poetry part 2 Icecream:Catherine Bahiirwa (Uganda)..................................................317 Letter to Papa:Catherine Bahiirwa Insecure woman:Catherine Bahiirwa Not Every Wind:Emman Usman Shehu (Nigeria)................................320 Make Up:Emman Usman Shehu Tiding:Emman Usman Shehu on alcoholic mothers and fatherless girls:Thato Tshukudu (South Africa)……………………………………………………………323 Dinner at my friend’s house:Thato Tshukudu magic tricks that hide depression:Thato Tshukudu I, TOO, AM A MAN:Ramito Lazarus Makwenda (Malawi)………326 TO MY BESTIE'S BOYFRIEND:Ramito Lazarus Makwenda

ix