Favourite Poems of 2007

One Ghana, One Voice has had a great 2007. Founded in February and launched in March of this year, we have gone on to feature 39 poems by 27 poets. Our poets have been a diverse group, coming from all regions of Ghana (except Brong-Ahafo, a goal for 2008!). We have also featured poets from Europe and North America, as well as other parts of Africa.

In celebration of the writing produced this past year, over the last few weeks we have asked people to write in about their favourite poems they have read on this site thus far. Here are the results - click on the names to read the poems. We hope you enjoy this look back at 2007, and that you keep reading in 2008!


Readers' Picks:

Sankofa by Edith Faalong (Issue 1.26, September 15th - 21st, 2007)

Comments on Sankofa:

"What a beautiful poem. There is immense power behind these words, the power of the Ghanaian cultural heritage. Such powerful words, they made me shiver." - Elena

"Bravo! An incredibly enthralling piece from a promising poet. Call it contrast, the piece carefully plays with words in comparing true African Values with those of the West. This is indeed estimable. I am particularly proud of you. More grease to your elbows. Write on..." - Sulemana Iddisah

Animal by Prince Mensah (Issue 1.18, July 21st - 27th)

Comments on Animal:

"It says all most people living abroad want to say. I re-read it many times and enjoyed it." - Mariska Taylor-Darko

"I think that the poem, 'ANIMAL' deserves a lot of discussion. People who travel outside their countries of origins, especially Africans, face the envy and animosity of their fellow countrymen." - Anonymous

Anthem of the Black Poet by Mbizo Chirasha (Issue 1.33, November 3rd - 9th, 2007)

Comments on Anthem of the Black Poet:

"I like this guy's work because he is a natural, beautiful, completely African poet. His work is always very deep. He is true even if it means being a bit brutal; Mbizo never disappoints with his work. His descriptions are detailed and straight. He captures Africa with swift, sweeping words and lays it out in brilliance." - Edith Faalong

"This poem moves, it flies and take the reader with it. It is a masterpiece!! It does speak with Mother Africa on it's breath and I enjoyed it to the fullest!!!" - Mitzi Kay Jackson

Staff Picks (Rob and Julian):

Atonement by Vida Ayitah (Issue 1.8, May 12th - 18th, 2007)

Comment on Atonement:

"When we published Atonement, it was so topical, coming soon after the Ghana @ 50 celebrations. The way it blends the past and present, celebration and disillusionment, is very compelling. This poem really set the tone for some of the great poems that would follow on the site - and it stands as one of the best." - Rob Taylor

Thoughts by Selorm Agbleze (Issue 1.14, June 23rd - 29th, 2007)

Comment on Thoughts:

"Thoughts is deep and makes your emotions rise. It is a poem for people who understand and appreciate poetry; a deep poem which requires a lot of thinking." - Julian Adomako-Gyimah

Beach by Prince Mensah (Issue 1.28, September 29th - October 5th, 2007)

Comment on Beach:

"Beach is one of my favourites because of how it is so beautifully written - how it brings you right into that palpable moment at the shore, while still operating on intellectual levels." - Rob Taylor

Did we miss your favourite poem? Weigh in in our comments section.

See you in 2008!

Anthem of the Black Poet - Mbizo Chirasha

the succulent breast of mother africa oozes with the milk of black renaissance
the rich womb of africa germinates seeds of black consciousness
the black blood bubbles with identity of africanness
the sweat of my brows flows with the revolutions from slavery to independence

i am the black poet
i am the black poet
black valleys bloom with flowers of nehandaness
african horizons shine with the rays of nkurumahness
black streets coloured with rainbows of mandelaness
black soil creamed with the wisdom of mugabeness
black spears sharpened with the conscience of bikoness

i am the black poet
i sing of black culture bleaching in oceans of coca cola
i sing of black culture fried in cauldrons of floridization
i sing of black culture gambled in the dark streets of sunset hills
i sing of black culture burning in computer ages

i am the black poet
i sing of kings and their people
i sing of black kings and their people
i sing of the dead souls of black history
i sing of the rising spirits of black renaissance
i sing of the rising souls of black consciousness
i sing for the rising spirits of pan-africanness

i am the stone you left for the dead
i am the tree bark oozing with the blood of age
i am the riverbed flowing with the mucus of age

i am the affidavit of black empowerment that requires your stamp
i am the title deed of black emancipation that needs your signature
i am the memorandum of black reparations that needs your fingerprint
i am the certificate of black repatriation that needs your identity card

i am the stone you left for the dead
i am the tree bark oozing with the blood of age
i am the river bed flowing with the mucus of age

my mind is a drainage pipe pumping out acids of mental suppression
my mind is a drainage pipe pumping out cyanides of racial discrimination
my mind is a drainage pipe pumping nitrates of economic dispossession

i am the stone you left for the dead
i am the tree bark oozing with the blood of age
i am the riverbed flowing with the mucus of age

my gun is the rose of our freedom
my bullet is the nectar of our reconciliation
my bomb is the petal of our democracy
my gun is our 1980 celebrations
my bullet is our 1987 political revision

i am the stone you left for the dead
i am the tree bark oozing with the blood of age
i am the river bed flowing with the mucus of age

is abortion a solution to overpopulation
is demolition a solution to pollution
is corruption a shortcut to poverty reduction
is balkanization a shortcut to colonization
is condomization a shotcut to hiv mitigation

HIV/AIDS has become a business
an import and export product like coca cola in america and nokia in berlin

i am the stone you left for the dead
i am the tree bark oozing with the blood of age
i am the the river bed flowing with the mucus of age

Author Profile - Mbizo Chirasha

Biography:

Mbizo Chirasha was born in 1978 in Zvishavane District in Zimbabwe, and was inspired by his social surroundings at a young age. As a young man, Mbizo quickly gained prominence as a performing poet and writer both in Zimbabwe and internationally. His works are published regionally and around the world. He has turned to a career as a consultant/creative writing facilitator and arts entrepreneur. He is, amongst other things, the founder of the annual "This is Africa Poetry Night" and the founding director of the Young Writers Caravan of Zimbabwe.

Five Questions with Mbizo Chirasha:

1. The African leaders you salute in this poem, and many others, have quite varied reputations in the West. Some, like Mandela, are praised, while others, like Mugabe, are demonized. Why do you think this is?

I understand how Mandela is loved by the west and why my President is demonised. I praise what Mandela does to sacrifice his life for blacks at Robben Island and I hate his double standards of becoming a darling to people who reduced black life to that of dogs in Africa. As for my president I dont have much to say. He is a great statesman of Africa without favour or denial. Viva Mugabe.


2. I think many outside readers would be surprised by your statement that "HIV/AIDS has become a business." Can you speak more on what you meant by that?

Several HIV NGOs have given monies to advocate for victims but this money is used to buy mansions, posh cars and hotel rooms. The subject of AIDS is more about the economy. While victims are suffering, some people are getting jobs at the expense of the victims. Does it mean HIV is a genocide or a sickness?


3. What do you believe, generally speaking, is the state of Black Culture in Africa today? Is it growing stronger? Weakening?

African culture is really dwindling because of globalization, industrialization, Africa-to-Europe migration, colonization, GMO foods and NGOs. All these have affected the cultural fabric of Blacks. Those who are out of their minds can argue with this, but it is reality.


4. Do you write only for yourself, or do you have an audience in mind? If you have an audience, who is in it?

My audience is any reader who reads my poetry, then it depends how he or she takes the work, but I feel it's the right time for people to learn to appreciate the truth. In my works on African culture, I am not against races or people, but systems that betray Africa.


5. Coming from a country of great natural resources that is crippled by economic and poltical crisis, do you have any advice for Ghanaians upon their discovery of oil off the coast?

Politicians in Ghana and poets/cultural activists must control what belongs to them. That oil is theirs and they must be the inheritors of thier resources at whatever cost. People must stop being stooges and writers must write against second and third colonialistic winds.

Contact Mbizo:

Email: mbizoc(at)yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.mbizopoetry.blogspot.com/

Mbizo's Past Profiles:

Issue 1.17, July 14th-20th, 2007

Decade of Bullets - Mbizo Chirasha

Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou
See a procession of young mothers chattering their way
From water fountains in grenade torn sandals
And blood laced bras

Somalia, Somalia, Somalia
See the moon disappearing in a mass of gunsmoke
Guns splitting the stars from the skin of night

Rwanda, Rwanda, Rwanda
This is a wound from which the pus of grief flows freely
Meandering through rockmasses into the valley that lost its freedom

Timbuktu, Timbuktu, Timbuktu
I hear a rush of footsteps of sorrow
Rugged peasants carrying their compounds to far away valleys of flowers.

Author Profile - Mbizo Chirasha

Biography:

Mbizo Chirasha was born in 1978 in Zvishavane District in Zimbabwe, and was inspired by his social surroundings at a young age. As a young man, Mbizo quickly gained prominence as a performing poet and writer both in Zimbabwe and internationally. The themes of his poetry include children’s rights, politics, social lives, gender issues, praise and protest, culture and African pride. Mbizo’s poems can be read in print, but are even more powerful when performed by the dynamic poet himself. With a vision of using his poetry to promote peace, healing, stability, and cultural freedom, Mbizo is a poet with commitment, talent, and a desire to perform whenever and wherever he can.

Five Questions with Mbizo Chirasha:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing and perfoming poetry since the 1990s, from my secondary school up to now. I have been involved in perfomances for diplomats, students, politicians and NGOs. I have organised workshops and consulted on projects.


2. Who are your favorite poets? Which poets have most inspired and informed your work?

My favourite poets are Allan Hope/Mutabaruka and Ayi Kwei Armah.


3. What is your opinion on the state of African poetry today?

African poetry needs to be developed. The development begins with poets themselves. There is good talent but it is not exploited, so poets need to uplift each other and remind each other of lifting their nations through voice and the bringing up of new talent.


4. What do you think is the role of poetry, and literature in general, in the politics of Africa?

Poetry plays a strong part in African politics in bringing peace and stability: informing society of political gimmicks, protecting African states from imperialism. Poets are prophets, directing politicians on the way to good governance. Poets are a mirror, and alot can be done.


5. You have been very active in the development of the arts community in your native Zimbabwe. Do you have any advice for those attempting to build Ghana's arts community?

The Ghanaian arts community can also take on capacity building programmes on the marketing of art and host festivals of poetry. Ghana is an African country rich in talent. Nkrumah was talented so poets must revive that principle.

Contact Mbizo:

Email: mbizoc(at)yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.mbizopoetry.blogspot.com/