WHO ARE YOU

Wewe Ni nani? I am the ash of my ancestors, The pieces of gray thoughts, Stored in caves hanging on rock, Neighbored by waters. Wewe Ni nani? I am the lost tribe, Unplugged from the exodus, Of my barbarian genesis Divided by 19th Century Industrialization Adopted for railways and farms- working Baptized with a name new, Edwin, "the black solid Lou East of Africa, Son of my Mothers, Mothers, Mothers, Mothers, Mothers, Mother Held by chains on neck and legs Slaves to the Masters' cooked systems Enhanced by pale ideologies. Wewe Ninani? I am informed, Decorated with qualifications and skills Speak English better than my Native tongue I am taught to improve self Capitalism with the doctrine of prosperity for I Dreaming of this Utopia Whose policies favor those at the top of the structure? And the equality that is equal to only their need It is the language that unites i Thus you see the long pointed nose in every arena of influence Perhaps the less privileged are less humane They call me "educated" Yet I see the oppression of this pedagogy. Wewe Ni nani? I am the sperm that fertilized the ovum Graduated from the meek lonely zygote to fetus Popped out as a son laughing for oxygen Shocked and entrained with unfamiliarity’s Of the world I yet to belong Through Pampering and diapers nursing, A parasite suckling and clinging to the nipple of life Yearning for more and more on end, To the old prince I am. Masculine tight hard skin The weights of generations hang below my high lands Encroached between the forks of speed, Traversing the pages to the desire of my seeds That is me, the man under the eyes of a microscope Haswa Wewe Ni nani? I am freedom the voice that speaks Africa the hand that writes I am no slave Simply an artist That paints with words (Poem performed at the monthly Azania Experience on the 15th Feb 2012