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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Literature / Popular Works Of African Poets. (41158 Views)
17 Year Old Nigerian Starts A Project To Bring African Poets Together / A Collection Of African Proverbs / Famous Books Of African Authors (2) (3) (4)
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by eldee(m): 9:31pm On Apr 19, 2010 |
Night Rain - J.P Clark What time of night it is I do not know Except that like some fish Doped out of the deep I have bobbed up bellywise From stream of sleep And no cocks crow. It is drumming hard here And I suppose everywhere Droning with insistent ardour upon Our roof thatch and shed And thro' sheaves slit open To lightning and rafters I cannot quite make out overhead Great water drops are dribbling Falling like orange or mango Fruits showered forth in the wind Or perhaps I should say so Much like beads I could in prayer tell Them on string as they break In wooden bowls and earthenware Mother is busy now deploying About our roomlet and floor. Although it is so dark I know her practiced step as She moves her bins, bags and vats Out of the run of water That like ants gain possession Of the floor. Do not tremble then But turns, brothers, turn upon your side Of the loosening mats To where the others lie. We have drunk tonight of a spell Deeper than the owl's or hat's That wet of wings may not fly Bedraggled up on the iroko, they stand Emptied of hearts, and Therefore will not stir, no, not Even at dawn for then They must scurry in to hide. So let us roll over on our back And again roll to the beat Of drumming all over the land And under its ample soothing hand Joined to that of the sea We will settle to sleep of the innocent and free. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by semid4lyfe(m): 12:01pm On Apr 20, 2010 |
Aaah. . .some peeps wan burst their veins and give themselves HBP cos of my post. Anyway, me just dey joke. I'll be posting some poems later |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by dumodust(m): 5:54pm On Apr 25, 2010 |
there was one poem by okop bitek i think if i got the name correctly, i think the title was' song of otiono' a woman's song to a cheating husband. beautiful work, we used to read it in secondary school. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Dimka76(m): 4:26pm On May 18, 2010 |
dumodust: Songs of Lawino. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by dumodust(m): 7:06pm On May 18, 2010 |
Dimka 76: dimka thanks, you're on point |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by beneli(m): 3:40pm On May 20, 2010 |
Afrique/Africa-David Diop Africa my Africa Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs Africa of whom my grandmother sings On the banks of the distant river I have never known you But your blood flows in my veins Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields The blood of your sweat The sweat of your work The work of your slavery Africa, tell me Africa Is this your back that is unbent This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation This back trembling with red scars And saying no to the whip under the midday sun But a grave voice answers me Impetuous child that tree, young and strong That tree over there Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers That is your Africa springing up anew Springing up patiently, obstinately Whose fruit bit by bit acquires The bitter taste of liberty. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by abenelo: 8:37pm On Nov 23, 2010 |
NIGHT FALL IN SOWETO OSWARD MTSHALI Nightfall comes like a dreaded disease seeping through the pores of a healthy body and ravaging it beyong repair. A murderer's hand lurking in the shadows, clasping the dagger strikes down the helpless victim I am the victim. I am slaughtered every night in the streets I am cornered by the fear gnawing at my timid heart; In my helplessness I languish. Man has ceased to be man Man has become beast man has become prey. I am the quarry to be run down by the maruading beast let loose by cruel nightfall from his cage of death. Where is my refuge? Where am I safe? Not in my matchbox house where I barracade myself against nightfall I tremble at his crunching footsteps, I quake at his deafening knock at the door Open Up! he barks like a rabid dog. Nightfall Nightfall! Why were you ever created? Why can't it be daytime? Daytime forever more? |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by ifyalways(f): 1:13pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
abenelo:My Favorite. Please can anyone write J.P Clarks " In Prison" for me? It goes this way "In prison,the clouds assume importance . . . " |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by uche13: 1:38pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
i remember having to cram and act night fall in soweto in secondary as my 30 marks for continous assessment in literature. pls who has the words for "oh elephant" |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by hilli666(m): 4:03pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
[center]Death’s Dark Corridor -P Shaka- A streak before my eyes Light intense and so bright But a moment ago was I cold As I lay on my side to die Worst was the anticipation What would it feel like? Was the question Would it hurt? Or will it end abrupt The intensity of my emotions Ripped from my warmth I lay bare To embrace the cold Of deaths wintery glare All is silent All is dark And a still engulfs a frozen heart My soul is sadden and heavy I yell but no one can hear me Once again I am humbled By the mysteries of creation For this I can’t explain The feeling of joy And yet the greatest pain And the deepest longing to hear my name My body and brain Is dead And with it all that I every knew And for once I am naked again To atone for the life I led Life flashes before me I have no memories Of all this pictures that I see But one thing is certain That little boy was me But who was he? -P Shaka-[/center] |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by abenelo: 4:07pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - Wole Soyinka The price seemed reasonable, location Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived Off premises. Nothing remained But self-confession. "Madam," I warned, "I hate a wasted journey—I am African." Silence. Silenced transmission of Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came, Lipstick coated, long gold rolled Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was foully. "HOW DARK?" . . . I had not misheard . . . "ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?" Button B, Button A.* Stench Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak. Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed By ill-mannered silence, surrender Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification. Considerate she was, varying the emphasis-- "ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?" Revelation came. "You mean--like plain or milk chocolate?" Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted, I chose. "West African sepia"--and as afterthought, "Down in my passport." Silence for spectroscopic Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent Hard on the mouthpiece. "WHAT'S THAT?" conceding "DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like brunette." "THAT'S DARK, ISN'T IT?" "Not altogether. Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused-- Foolishly, madam--by sitting down, has turned My bottom raven black--One moment, madam!"--sensing Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap About my ears--"Madam," I pleaded, "wouldn't you rather See for yourself?" |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by abenelo: 4:20pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
Butterfly Chinua Achebe Speed is violence Power is violence Weight is violence The butterly seeks safety in lightness In weightless, undulating flight But at a crossroads where mottled light From trees falls on a brash new highway Our convergent territories meet I come power-packed enough for two And the gentle butterfly offers Itself in bright yellow sacrifice Upon my hard silicon shield |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by holydante(m): 4:30pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
beneli: omgggggg, my lit teacher celebrated me in front of my class mates for penning this down exactly in the exam, we exhaustively debated the bolded part and made refrenecs to ''The Root'' (kuntakinte); to think that i let go of Eng.lit and hardly revisited. Thanks @ op for this thread, i bet this will be one of the cuss-free thread that will exist on NL . so much to make ones time worthwhile where can i get the lines to ''Night Rain'' by Prof JP Clark |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by holydante(m): 4:37pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
eldee: hahaha, i didnt even check the top page before i posted my request. You are great |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by holydante(m): 5:01pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
One amazing thing about these writers was their ability to evoke so much memories and imagery in one and make the heart tender and filled with contemplative thoughts, especially after understanding the background against which they penned down certain poems, you could almost feel their pains, anguish and joy at those moments although one is far removed from the plot. I just called home and confirmed that my ''West African Verse'' is tucked away in an antique book shelve courtesy of my teacher-mama, its quite a distance from where I am, when i get it, i will scan pages to those in need, hehehehe |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by mrgbite(m): 5:58pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
nice,nice, can anyone post ''when a strainer takes in water" i have forgotten the author now but it remains indelible in my mind for its afrocentric flavour. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by spicyhoney(f): 6:28pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
Eldee and Abenelo you just just made my day, infact am grinning. These poems bring back sweet memories. My favourites are 'Telephone conversation' and Nightfall in Soweto. I cant remember well but i think there was one 'Letter to. . . ( about SA apartheid too) 1 Like |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Nobody: 8:22pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
i remember my days in high scool,i love poetry ;d |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Nobody: 8:24pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
holydante: holydante: ONE OF MY BEST TOO 1 Like |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by osifred(m): 9:47pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
wow, i think am a scholar cos have read abt 75% of d poems posted above it jst reminded me of lit english lecturer |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by eldee(m): 10:08pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
holydante: Can you call again to confirm, don't raise my hopes abeg!!! |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Amokwe(m): 12:38am On Nov 25, 2010 |
AFRICA - Chime Hilary africa here i come, africa africa of the black soul the soul of an ancient culture the culture of your timid tribes. its your voice i hear africa your voice of the talking drums your beaded drums and the royal trumpeter the metal gong of your town crier i have come to see your music dance i have heard of your ageless minstrels have i not heard of your swinging hips? i have heard enough and have come to watch wouldn't you dance for me africa africa here i come africa would you not show me to your tribes the timid tribes of your sweetened tongues the varied tongues of your virtuous men africa, black soul africa tell me about your gods your gods of the sky and of the mother earth your gods of the hills and of the rivers abound show me to your kings africa your kings of the ancient dynasty the ancient dynasty of rusted spear and shield africa, here i come africa |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by 9jafreak: 12:51am On Nov 25, 2010 |
God bless you so much for this wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Amokwe(m): 1:25am On Nov 25, 2010 |
Lament of the Flutes - Christopher Okigbo TIDEWASH……Memories fold-over-fold free-furrow mingling old tunes with new. Tidewash, Ride me memories, astride on firm saddle, wreathed with white lillies & roses of blood, Sing to the rustic flute: Sing a new note, Where are the Maytime flowers, where the roses? What will the Watermaid bring at sundown, a garland? A handful of tears? Sing to the rustic flute: Sing a new note, Comes Dawn gasping thro worn lungs, Day breathes, panting like torn horse - We follow the wind to the fields Bruising grass leafblade and corn, Sundown: I draw in my egg head. Night falls smearing sore bruises with Sloan's boring new holes in old sheets - We hear them, the talkative pines, And nightbirds and woodnymphs afar off , Shall I answer their call, creep on my underself out of my snug hole, out of my shell to the rocks and the fringe for cleansing? Shall I offer to Idoto my sandhouse and bones, then write no more snow-patch? Sing to the rustic flute. Sing a new note. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Tennyrank(m): 11:27am On Nov 25, 2010 |
such a lovely topic. i was just contemplating last week on how to get West African verse to buy. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by holydante(m): 12:44pm On Nov 25, 2010 |
eldee: lol, sure i dont have to do that to you, i was told its ''dog-eared'' and tucked in there but its kinda light years from where i am presently, you can call good old CMS bookshop and find out if they have it in stock (that is if you are in Nigeria) i will do my best but not now certainly. cheers |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by delegiwa(m): 4:57pm On Nov 25, 2010 |
One million Gbosas for the following geniuses: 1. Whoever started this thread 2. All the wonderful people that posted one work or the other. 3. Whoever posted SONGS OF SORROW by Kofi Awoonor I love you all. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by gerona: 9:46pm On Nov 25, 2010 |
Thanks for this thread. Brings back great memories. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by kawkab: 11:06pm On Nov 25, 2010 |
This thread is great, not like most other threads that elicits bitterness. Please anyone that wants to reader further should try to get a copy of [/b][/i]Poems of Black Africa by Wole Soyinka[b][i] contains the works of Koffi Awoonor, Kwesi Brew, David Rubadiru, Oswald Mshali, Ngugi wa Thiongo and whole lot of Africa's great poet. Just check any of the old bookstores |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by Afroprince(m): 11:37pm On Nov 25, 2010 |
oh my God, Africa by JP Clark is a classic, can recite it till date, i am loving this thread!!! Lemme share a poem i wrote: Love is Love - Fado Love is love Love is like a dove It spreads its wings Without a fling It expects no sting But just wanna sing Great songs of inspiration That has no fixed duration Love roars like a beast Looking for nothing but a feast It ignites like a flame And trades no blame It has no pride But simply wants a bride To cherish and to hold Not to tarnish and scold Love has no width and length But dwells on trust and strength It’s only for the strong to desire And for the weak to retire Love heals with ease And can only thrive on peace So love like u mean it If its love, its not deceit |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by eldee(m): 11:59pm On Nov 25, 2010 |
holydante: I don't live in Naij . . . tried ebay and Amazon, the only copy I found is about £100. |
Re: Popular Works Of African Poets. by PhysicsQED(m): 12:57am On Nov 26, 2010 |
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