Africa poetry poets
Poetry
Xenophobia – a poem by Obinna Chilekezi
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,...
Poetry
New songs of a stranger at the smiling coast
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...
Poetry
Banjul this afternoon and other poems
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,...
Essay
Gone is the Bard of The River Nun
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...
Poetry
Calling African Poets
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...
Poetry
A matter of choice
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...
Poetry
This is December, and other poems
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...
Poetry
Rainbow and other poem
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...
Books
Scholarly Books on African Writing
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...
Poetry
Hyena for a neighbour (poem)
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...
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Essay
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