My name is Afrika-A special Poetry Journal-

 

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AFRICAN WRITERS CARAVAN and MODERN AFRICAN POETRY present their debut special Afrikan JOURNAL of selected poets from across the African continent in this year 2020. The nine poets are prolific, fast rising and youthful voices. They have continually posted quality verses and are committed to positive change in their countries, continent and the entire world. The selection and editing have been coordinated by Veteran Kenyan Poet and MAP Founder Michael Mwangi Macharia. Poet Macharia was born and bred in Nakuru, Rift Valley of Kenya. He has contributed to many online journals and was recently featured in TIME OF THE POET REPUBLIC. Modern African Poetry and its membership enjoys collaborating with AFRICAN WRITERS CARAVAN and Zimbabwean Poet in Exile, Mbizo CHIRASHA. This special Afrikan journal seeks to recognize the voices of young African Voices as well introduce their bold writings to mainstream platforms for   awareness, development and exposure-ALUTA CONTINUA (Blurb by Michael Mwangi Macharia).

 

                                         

 

                                          OLIVE NJOKI

Olive Njoki is a prolific poet who hails from Kirinyaga in Kenya.She works as an agronomist for which she trained at Egerton University, Njoro.started writing verses from a tender age. Her father had anthologies like Poems from East Africa and Our Heritage that really interested her. She mainly writes on women and children rights, nature, environmental conservation, injustice and plight of the downtrodden.

Toiled from dawn to dusk

not an easy task

to fill the granary

 

finally

 

big hands seized the keys

down on his knees

he knelt to implore

 

Each time he pleaded

he died a little more.

Every time he begged

it was formed, in soul, a hole

he died a little more.

 

Vampires took charge of his compound

mercy was not found

each suck, thrust, bite

made him

to die a little more.

 

 

                           SAFARI MABROUK KHERI MWINYI

Safari Mwinyi is a prolific and committed poet from Kondo Irangi,Tanzania.His poetry shows great mastery of English and Kiswahili languages. Safari Kheri has already published a novel and would like to work on his memoirs. Safari has an ongoing Aeronautical Engineering course in South Africa.

The world might shut its doors

assassins might knock our our doors

like pigs hated by all religions

but still growing fat

the pain of inadequacy and vanity

of abundance

yet remind me grace of satisfaction.

 

My heart bleeding with tears

I reckon that forgiveness

is the will of the heart

and the will can choose to act.

 

And therefore today

I promise to settle our earlier scores

a new dawn like a promissory note

will provide an avenue.

 

                                         MBUGUA KIBERA

Mbugua Kibera Petrov is an award-winning photojournalist and prolific poet based in Nairobi,KENYA.He studied photography and audiovisual technology at TUK. He began writing poetry at Kenya National Theatre where he was an actor affiliated to Planets Theatre. He is empathetic and concerned about the plight of the oppressed in the world today.

Someday the donkey will speak

having persevered all tribulations

beating, injury and forced to carry

heavy loads on its back.

 

Someday the donkey will speak

and declare its stand

remind all and sundry

that donkeys too can liberate themselves.

 

Someday the donkey will speak

on labor rights, payments

retirement, health, pension and compensation.

 

Someday, donkeys

will refuse to be treated with contempt.

                                              CHRISPAH MUNYORO

Chrispah Munyoro is a journalist and poet based in Gweru ,Midlands,Zimbabwe.She contributes to newspapers including The Times.Her verses have been featured in Modern African Poetry .She work is based on contemporary issues affecting Africa and the world.

          Greetings to you my elders

I come before you

burning with intense fury,

my hands quivering in greeting.

 

In your eternal silence

you turned your back to kith

who were snatched and sold

marched off to faraway places

in a journey

they could hardly comprehend.

 

Those malleable bones

must now rise up urgently

more than ever before

and pull us from the mire

because the time is now.

 

                                 HOSEA MASINDE

Hosea Masinde is a prolific Kenyan poet who writes in English and Kiswahili. In artistic circles he refers to himself as Tears of a Flee. His writing is greatly inspired by his grandfather who edited his first few poems and encouraged him to be creative. His mentor is the scholar, journalist, editor and media manager Ken Walibora.currently he is a student at Moi University, Eldoret.

 

 

Hello, papa

Here comes the noisemaker

 

Being paduka

that dreamers love to woo

at the end of five years

for just some fifty shillings

And I endorse them

 

During this season

I have suffered a lot

seen a lot

cried a lot…

schoolgirls impregnated

private employees sacked

innocent souls robbed

because I sold my vote.

                                             MERCY MUKAMI

Mercy Mukami [The wildflower poetry] hails from Chuka, Tharaka Nithi, Kenya. Currently she is a student at Masinde Muliro University.Her poems address love, betrayal and issues that face the youth in society. Mercy was inspired to begin writing by her grandmother who kept notebooks on her life.

Sometimes I wish I can have your eyes

I want to see all this beauty;

can I borrow your mind

to see the intelligence/

love,can I have your eyes.

 

I scream like crazy when hurt

I argue like there is no tomorrow

these are not crocodile tears

the little things tear me apart

too broken….

 

Sometimes I wish I can see me

through your eyes,

maybe my soul will be alive

once again

maybe I can live right for once.

 

 

 

                                               ANYANGO NYAR AKETCH

Anyango Nyar Aketch is the queen of hearts in the poetry circles.She is a committed poet,short story writer and literary scholar based in western Kenya.She is also an avowed lover of music that also inspires her creativity. Anyango is the writer of The Heart Ink ,a compilation of her poetry.

 

Dear Beloved,

 

I sit comfortable in my backyard

I sit still

a thousand times promising myself

that you are going nowhere.

 

But today something crossed my mind-

am I doing enough to make you long for home

when evening comes?

Do you ever get to a point

when you pause and think of me?

Do you ever miss me?

 

I no longer feel safe

waiting for you to come here,

I want to be part of your struggles…

               

 

                    VICTORY PRAISE

Victory Praise is a youthful poet who was born in 2004 currently based in Benue state, Nigeria. Her real name is Victory Oyeyemi. She started writing at the tender age of twelve. Currently she is a student at Government college. After writing her WAEC, she would like to pursue law or writing at the university. Victory is inspired by the achievements of Chimamanda Adichie. She has already written a novel that she hopes to publish.

The city lies in

ruins and desolation

humanity has been dealt

a heavy blow….

 

Beautiful houses are now in ashes

look at the tears

rolling down the eyes of survivors

 

The land is desolate

their joy has disappeared

people are not smiling

merrying or dancing

they are crying,regretting,lamenting

will they ever recover

from this shock​?

 

Ohhhhh

Lebanon

 

 

                               

 

                                         KENNIE KAY

Kenny Kay is kenya”s  nature poet.his real name is Kenneth Kibet.He lives with his family in the picturesque molo highlands that probably influence her love for nature.kenny Kay writes about love,hope,nature and current affairs.

Sometimes I wish the rain

could rinse away my tears

 

sometimes  I wish the sun’s rays

could fray away my fears

and crochet firm joy…

 

sometimes I wish the stars

could twinkle away my worries

and periwinkle peace into my soul…

 

Sometimes I wish the moon

could mock away my insecurities

and cultivate honeymoon of trust

 

sometimes I wish canary winds

could winnow away my doubts

instill brevity in my heart.

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                   MEET THE SPECIAL AFRIKAN JOURNAL EDITOR

MICHAEL MWANGI MACHARIA is a prolific poet who was born and raised in Nakuru County of the expansive Rift Valley in Kenya.He is a graduate of Moi University .He was anthologized in Echoes Across the Valley and has published in online journals.He also contributes articles in Saturday Nation.He also has interest in photography, fine arts,music,drama and dance.He is associated with a private publisher and has edited a few manuscripts. He finds poetry a worthwhile and great pastime as well as form of expression.He feels the information technology revolution has been a great opportunity for poets to link up and create positive change in the world today.

 

 

 

                          MEET THE SPECIAL AFRIKAN JOURNAL CURATOR

 

Mbizo CHIRASHA – UNESCO-RILA Affiliate Artist. 2020 Free Speech Fellow at PEN Deutschland.2020 Poet in Residence of the Fictional Café . 2019 African Fellow of the Ihraf.org. Contributing Writer at Monk Arts and Soul Magazine . Literary Arts Activism Diplomatie at Bezine Arts and Humanities Magazine and The Poet A Day. Featured Poetry Artist at World BeyondWar.Org. Arts Features and Political commentary Writer at Cultural Weekly. Featured African Writer at Demer Press International Poetry Series . Featured African Performance Poet at 2020 Medellin International Poetry Festival. Featured Poet/Writer at INKSWEATAND TEARS Journal, Sentinel UK , Wrath-bearing Tree- USA , FemAsia Magazine -UK. Soutrhern Africa Poet  at 2020Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín.2019 Live Literature Hub Curator/Producer at Sotambe International Film Arts FESTIVAL. 2009 Poet in Residence at International Africa Culture and Development, ICACD). 2003 Young Literary Arts Delegate of ZimBookFair to Goteborg International Book Fair and was  the Spokenword Artist at SIDA African Pavilion . Co-Editor of a three Languages International collection STREET VOICES with prominent Germany Author Andreas Weiland . Featured Poet at Cervena Barva Press Newsletter. Literary Arts and Poetry Contributor to the Zimbabwean Voice of the Voiceless Newspaper. African Participant to the World Poetry Almanac Book Series in Mongolia. Resident Coordinator for 100 Thousand POETS for Peace- Zimbabwe. Founder and Creative Director at GirlChildcreativity Project . Writer in Residence. Global LITERARY Arts Projects Influencer. Published Author and International Acclaimed Poet. Chronicler and Publisher , AFRICA WRITERS CARAVAN. Chief Editor at TIME OF THE POET REPUBLIC. Projects Curator at WOMAWORDS LITERARY PRESS. Chief Influencer at Brave Voices Poetry Journal. Author and Editor at Porcupine Quill.

 

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AFRICA WRITERS CARAVAN~ This is a Virtual Cruise -Ship of African – Word Smith , Pen-Slingers and Young Poetry Artists. The Digital Caravan carries in its insatiable belly breath taking short writings, mesmerizing essays, heart warming reflections, bone crashing poetry, marrow chilling commentary and mind spinning Hybrid by African Writers ,Poets , Essayists ,Thought leaders in Colleges , Universities and Out of School Writers. The African Caravan celebrates Literary Prowess ,Creative Diversity and Poetry Arts Scholarship. The platform also proffer regular mentor- ship and opportunities to the budding creators of words and rising Literary Artist. It is Founded and published by Literary Arts Diplomatie. UNESCO-RILA Affiliate Artist .FreeSPEECH Fellow at PEN-Zentrum Deutschland. Featured Poetry Artist at WorldBeyondWar.Org.2020 Poet in Residence of the Fictional Cafe .2019 African Fellow at Ihraf.org.