THE EASTAFRICANPOET

A couple of months ago, I attended the hippest, illest and funkiest artistic forum in town; WAPI .It was about the youths(you and I) being addicted to money, alcohol ,and lots of other vices. Now I am not a schools counsellor ,but nothing can be closer to the truth than that.We are growing up chained to addictions that we cannot help ourselves out of;materialism,porn,drugs,booze,behavioural addictions...that list is as long as a spoilt kids shopping list. All of us are slaves to something that feels so good executing but leaves us so empty after.Its so difficult to give up vice,so very difficult..but the harsh reality is that you either stop or succumb,the latter bringing with it self-hate,low esteem and a whole lot of negativity. This is for those in a black tunnel with only a flicker of light as hope,just crawl ahead..... SLAVE. IT ACHES AND NAGS INSIDE ME SO HARD THAT I HAVE GOT TO LET IT GO. SEE IT BURNS INSIDE ME LIKE THE URGE INSIDE A MASTURBATORS MIND TO GO SOMEWHERE...

As seen through Che Guevara,Nelson Mandela,Steve Biko,Dedan Kimathi,Julius Nyerere,and the saints that had their blood spilled for the sake of a free world,living or dead... UNCHEAP. Maybe one day we will get out of this slumber or the slumber will get out of us, anyway none of the two matter,no fuss. What we actually need is just emancipation rid our beautiful minds of this constipation constipation of the brains which only brings pains pains without gains.. and isn't pain supposed to come with gain? We talk freedom but our feet cannot move an inch because of this chains at our ankles. At times I wonder if its so easy to attain it why is that its the most expensive if not exquisite, like a presidential suite or a relentless pursuit for this fruit.. the tasty and ripe fruit called freedom. see it doesn't come cheap we sow then wait to reap. it comes with a price,a hefty one we shall lose a lot thats one blood might get spilled or maybe none but only if we keep resigned to fate ...

What can I say?What should I say?What ought I say? Its Tuesday 20 November and Its 6:52pm.I get off a" citi hoppa " and I am inside TheJunction in a minute.I head straight to Nu Metro,nice place,really classy.I like.I mill around the CDs especially the local ones and I am thinking I should get myself one of these, kwanza that baskeli one by the very fly Valerie ."Save bro,save," I remind myself. I corner one smiley attendant and I'm like,"Is the Poets club happening?I was here last Tuesday and I realised I was a full week early..." "Screen 3 upstairs,"she replies curtly. " Thanxx " I take three stairs at a time and I'm inside screen 3 in a flash where I find one brother doing some good mellow poetry.Not so bad.. Next comes a guy Ive seen gracing WAPI he does some good spoken word and promises to deliver the remaining bit next year,hope we can remember; let alone wait.. After those two poets its a movie ! A movie? I ...

THIS IS ABOUT A MAN WHO HAS A STREET NAMED AFTER HIM, A STATUE IN HIS HONOUR AND LOTS OF POVERTY IN HIS HOMESTEAD.DID HE REALLY REST IN PEACE? ..HONOURED.. GREAT MAN HONOURED RIFLE IN THE RIGHT HAND TRADITIONAL MACHETE IN THE LEFT,LEFT? THICK SHOULDER LEVEL LOCKS ON HIS HEAD DREADED LOCKS ON A DREADED MAN. HE WILL BE WITH THIS GENERATION AND THE NEXT. STRONG MAN IN DEEDS. ONE WHO PUT FEAR IN THE MILK LIVERED AND MILK SKINNED MEN. ALL. FROM THE GREAT SNOWCAPPED ONE TO THE RANGES, ALL HIS PEOPLE KNEW HIM, IN GOOD AND BAD LIGHT. HE HAS BEEN HONOURED IN DEED,IN BRONZE. A GREAT HONOUR THEY SAID.HONOUR? "MAMA"AND"WAJUKUU"WALK IN TATTERS. THE BLOOD LINE OF A GREAT AND HONOURED MAN... CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, CARE FOR THE CENTS AND THE FULL SHILLINGS WILL BE OK. "MAMA" AND "WAJUKUU" CELEBRATE TODAY, TOMORROW NIGHT, THEIR TUMMIES WILL ONLY BUT RUMBLE.

In celebration of our fine ebony skins and souls;we are beautiful,now and forever. BLACK MAN. From the same by dennise gordon Black man from Africa what have you become? your manhood threatens them and keeps you on the run.... yo,Blackman in Africa where does yor future lie? its with your women and children not the guns that make them cry...... Blackman in the world no,history hasnt been so nice remember your back wont break no matter how hard they try..... RUN! run! Blackman run! grab or steal your freedom emancipate your mind then run. roam around and blossom wildly you will find home, boy for now.. run! "AFRICAN KNOW YOURSELF" Femi Kuti

Its nice to be in love,its even nicer to be loved;no doubt.One feels light,free and happy.But again this beautiful thing can injure one so bad especially if its not working and one of you is putting in more than the other. I dont know much about it but I have met it and it was heavenly. Please catch these lines,enjoy and if you can appreciate.. To and for Grace. its been a long long time got this message for you girl but it seems I was never on time still I wanna get through to you girl on time..(on time).. I want to give you some love. Bob marley.(Turn your lights down low) STILL UNTIL A DRUM IS STRUCK; IT ISNT A DRUM. UNTIL A FLUTE IS BLOWN; IT ISNT A FLUTE. AND UNTIL THESE WORDS ARE UTTERED, THEY REMAIN BUT ARMOPHOUS BITS OF MY MEMORY. SO I WILL HAVE THEM RYTHIMICALLY LEAVE MY MIND THROUGH MY TONGUE TO CONVEY SENSE. I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS, SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT. THAT I STILL NEED YOU,HOWEVER LONG IT SEEMS MY GRIP STARVES FOR SO DEARLY AND M...

Do you ever think so hard and cant get a thing?Then all over a sudden like a strong hunger pang,an idea you so much wanted to get a grip on grips you..it happens to me,like that blissful dream that you cannot remember in the morning.Surely it happens to you too,sort of like a deja vu.Now you get it.. This about poetry,the beauty of it,its liberating powers and the grip it gets on someone(like a vice on a wokmans bench).Speaking of poetry..check out this tiny baby here.. FREE! If we were born free, why do we walk around in chains? why do we have these shackles on our ankles that are so much a part of us,like our skins? I dont know. maybe you know, maybe he knows or she knows or they know. but one thing I surely know is that I dont know. Simple.

I'm giving up my virginity to poetry,now and now,I wont wait for tomorrow or any other single minute,its now.It isn't painful,its lovely,ecstatic and heavenly.Kindly join me,and lets rise and rise and rise and ride in the clouds above..