Africa poetry poets

Xenophobia Can I call this an infection? Or that you are a copy-cat Since the ugly drums of xenophobia The river Gambia flows not to my smile Two of us had met And danced to the lonely lovers’ dance, sweetly without the sounds You and I,...

A big drop of tear by Obinna Chilekezi You left on my pillow That your big drop of tear An indelible mark Of your smile turned sour I tried last night to erase it And it turned red and blood As it stared colourlessly at me Drawing...

Banjul this afternoon by Obinna Chilekezi I can’t comprehend the weather as the sun goes laughing in this cold around the town. The skies are songless, but the roads are black-white with people-mix While blades of grass seem all flattened down. This cold imprisoning me to my jacket is killing,...

Remembering Gabriel Imomotimi Okara, 1929–2019 by Niyi Osundare "...my river’s calling too ... And each dying year brings near the sea-bird call the final call that stills the crested waves..." As is almost invariably the case with every visionary poet/artist, Gabriel Okara has his epitaph secreted...

Call For Poetry Submissions from African Poets by Vera Ignatowitsch Editor-in-chief, BetterThanStarbucks Better Than Starbucks is a poetry and creative fiction journal which publishes bi-monthly, or six times per year, both electronically and in print. We are continually looking for submissions...

It's a choice - poem on Nigeria election by obinna chilekezi See the rainbow the colours all aglow splash down our earth like riverfall... there is light beyond the tunnel! the cloned man resurrecting a dead hope, wasted years reborn as we walk to a next level...

This is December by Obinna Chilekezi Laughter runs through the season ahead as marigold flowers smile their way with yellow teeth along bush paths In this smiling season A drunk dressed festive staggers homeward Strutting and smiling Like the marigolds A moony dog barks and barks at the drunk Who in bleeding...

Rainbow by Obinna Chilekezi Stars shift in their sockets and the birds no singsong still distressing the stone terrace with winds fanning downward and upward. After that heated noon the rains bathe the sky and the sky smiles widely appreciating the rainbow that was born. Good morning, birds by Obinna Chilekezi Kuku...

African Books Network showcases a harvest of literary and cultural expressions in the best traditions of world class publishing - Global Titles, African Authors! The titles are wide ranging. From books of poetry, short and long reads to literary criticism and...

Hyena for a neighbour by Obinna Chilekezi ~ I ask only for this: To look deep into my eyes And see the fascinating feline Awaiting a prey. These eyes have seen weights Of burdens, endless source tears But everyone needs a beginning, A fresh start, with some fun. We all...