Tag: MIOMBOPUBLISHING

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Amnesty Arts Project Artists at Risk Connection Bangladesh Poetry Association Brave Voices Poetry Journal Cameroon Poetry Elke Lange, Freedom of Expression Freedom of Expression, FreeMuse IHRAF Literary Arts Activism Mbizo Chirasha Munia Khan, Nsah Mala Pen America Pen International Protest Poetry Resistance Poetry Speaking Truth to Power

THE AFTERMATH.

The Brave Voices August Edition is such an amazing platform for young but resilient poetic griots , solemnly holding on to their faith and remain composed to face the AFTERMATHS with due diligence despite the hellholes of the COVID 19 pandemic. writings boldly articulates inspirational messages of hope and courage to adapt to the new normal .In this installment , ten poems were selected; the bigger number of poems is from the hosting country Botswana and the other six from Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda As the editor for this month I would love to thank all contributing poets who responded to this great call and give salutations to those who made it to the top 10 and encourage that we hold on together in these difficult times of the COVID19 menace as we face the realities and complexities of the new normal . As a poet I take it that poetry is a powerful medium to express our feelings with for attaining freedoms and that it is a formula to connect the mind, spirit, soul and other humanity realms. TOGETHER WE RISE-( Gorata Ntshwabi Brave Voices August Edition Guest Editor and Brave Voices Botswana Associate)

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Amnesty Arts Project Artists at Risk Connection Brave Voices Poetry Journal Cameroon Poetry Freedom of Expression FreeMuse IHRAF Literary Arts Activism Mbizo Chirasha Nsah Mala Pen America Pen International Protest Poetry Resistance Poetry Speaking Truth to Power

Talking Poetry, Nsah Mala An African Poet Patriot

Mala boldly interrogates the present day African with a poetic whip in his hand. his pen is his whipping sjmbok. The poem “Refugees” reflects the rot that stinks in African rondavels: “Out of their abodes, something pulled them: natural – earthquake, flood, eruption, tsunami… man-made – strike, coup, war, terrorism… War and terror are the worst of them all.” The poem grapples with pain, displacement, identity crisis and lack of belongingness. And these are contemporary African crises, which have become generational, even after the calamities of slavery and colonialism. These tragic crises mainly come from within; they are perpetuated by warlords, poor governance, terrorism, banditry, despotism and corruption by the post-independent African leadership. In the same poem, the poet also points out how the angry finger of God contributes to nature-caused tragedies: earthquakes, floods, eruptions and tsunamis. These natural tragedies are not only threatening the African child but also go beyond African borders