Ode to Nkrumah - Reggie Kyere

I met him! Yes, I bumped into Nkrumah
in my history book.
We sat down for coffee around the corner.
He had his black,
I went for my usual white and
down I gulped it with a mild cough.
I got myself an autograph.
He was one fine black brother.
Fathia's love, no wonder.

Back at junior high,
my history teacher, Mr. Humble Pie,
asked "Who was Nkrumah?"
"He was a black man,
most coloured of them all," I answered,
"He flashed his manhood when
others had turned eunuch,
when fear kicked them
flying over the couch."

A traitor to the white,
he pinched against them the
art they helped him master,
education.

Son of Nkroful, most anointed of them all.
He pinched them with self rule, now!
His compatriot roared,how!
They knew not his mission
'cause he was milles away from their vision.

A patriot, most charismatic of them all.
His tears and sweats ousted the intruder
for the Ghanaian to regain power.
He bequeathed unto my ancestors the name "freeborn."
With this ode his name I adorn.


"Ode to Nkrumah" is part four of our four-part series of poems on Kwame Nkrumah. Previous postings from the series can be read in our Archives.

Author Profile - Reggie Kyere

Biography:

Kyere Ofori Reginald was born in 1987 in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. He has an elder sister and a younger brother, and recently completed Philips Secondary Commercial School in Kumasi.

Five Questions with Reggie Kyere:

1. What inspired you to write about Nkrumah? What about Nkrumah makes him an interesting subject for poetic study?

My admiration of great men inspired me. He is a cheetah in a colony of leopards when it comes to today's African leaders.


2. How do you think Nkrumah has been, and will be, remembered by history? How do you think he should be remembered?

He's had schools and others named after him, has portrait on Cedi notes, etc. I think there should be a day like "Nkrumah Day". I also believe he should receive coinage.


3. What role do you think poetry can have in shaping our understanding of history?

Our history can be read and sung to us through poetry like a lullaby.


4. What do you think Nkrumah would say of the state of Ghana today?

Not bad. We have a long way to go, we just need the proper mindset.


5. Do you think that it's possible for someone like Nkrumah to rise to a position of leadership in Ghana today?

They all come into office looking and sounding like Nkrumah. Nobody knows what happens to them. Hopefully we will get someone like Nkrumah again.

Contact Reggie:

reggiekyere(at)@yahoo.com

Train to Ethiopia - Reggie Kyere

Excuse me ma'am, wanna catch me a train to Ethiopia.
Some dreadlocked fella said it's the land of no coloured swine,
but those who are black, honest and fine.

Wanna catch me a train to Ethiopia,
Heard on its street Malcolm, Kwame and others ply,
their eyes falling on new leaders acting sly.

Wanna catch me a train to Ethiopia.
There, I shall rest my black bones among my own breed,
for from where I came, men are blinded by evil and greed.

Author Profile - Reggie Kyere

Biography:

Kyere Ofori Reginald was born in 1987 in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. He has an elder sister and a younger brother, and recently completed Philips Secondary Commercial School in Kumasi.

Five Questions with Reggie Kyere:

1. Why do you think the image of Ethiopia sticks so firmly in the minds of many Africans? How much of the connection do you believe to be based out of Rastafarianism?

I think it is mostly based on Rastafarianism from my own point of view. I also believe Rastafarians are the proudest black people you can ever find.


2. When you speak of Ethiopia in your poem, are you references the real country, or the mythological idea, of Ethiopia?

I speak of the Ethiopia where the black person was proud of his race, where black leaders cared more for the masses than their bellies. I speak of the Ethiopia where the black person stood for his rights and against every form of oppression.


3. We here at OGOV know that you are working hard to make contact with other writers in Kumasi. Have you had any success?

Not yet. Still searching.


4. In your last profile, you pointed to Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, both African-Americans, as your primary sources of inspiration. What drew you to America-based and not Africa-based writers? How much of the poetry you were taught in school was African, and how much European and North-American?

Let's say, African-American poetry really got me to like poetry. I was introduced to mainly African poetry at school, a few at the primary level and others at my final year at senior high. I presume it was just for examination purposes. African or African-American, we are all black.


5. Last time we chatted, you mentioned the lack of poetry books (and interested readers) in Kumasi. Is there anywhere in town where you can reliably access poetry books?

I guess the regional library.

Contact Reggie:

reggiekyere(at)@yahoo.com

My Mother's Heart - Reggie Kyere

My father shot my mother!
In the heart.
Never woke from the trauma.
Her shroud seamed by betrayal.

My mother's heart, all the thread
on Athene's spindle could not
make up the stitches she had on.

Like a cub, roaring up,
out of the colony
dreams will soon be king of the jungle.
Carefree, she loved freely.

In my mother's bosom, there,
her remains sit.
Dry, barren, cannot love,
never will.

What good is the heart
if it cannot love?
Bleed pain, I guess.

Some women love once,
they confess.

Author Profile - Reggie Kyere

Biography:

Kyere Ofori Reginald was born in 1987 in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. He has an elder sister and a younger brother, and recently completed Philips Secondary Commercial School in Kumasi.

Five Questions with Reggie Kyere:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

I really got into writing poetry this year, about four months ago. I'm a real amateur.


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

I love Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes. The first poem that got me to like poetry was Hughes' "Mother to Son". I'm only starting writing, but these two are my initial influences.


3. What do you hope to accomplish with your poetry?

To show the youth the beauty in poetry - I call it "soul food". And also to address the feelings and challenges of Africans.


4. Are you involved in any sort of writing communities? Are you connected with other poets in your community?

Other poets? I don't see them. I really don't know about any writing communities, though I'd love to get involved with one if it does exist. The people around me don't like poetry, they would rather buy video clips than buy poetry books. I don't really blame them. The poetry society in Ghana and the Ghanaian education service have failed to promote it.


5. What do you think can be done to strengthen the writing community in Ghana?

Heightening the interest in poetry at the grassroots: at the junior high schools, then the senior high schools. The harm has already been done, we should focus on bringing poetry back to life.

Contact Reggie:

reggiekyere(at)@yahoo.com