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Between the 25th of January and the 2nd of Feb 2008, the town of Butare, Rwanda, hosted its first International Arts Festival organized by the University Centre for Arts. Entitled ‘Arts Azimuts’. More...

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Pambazuka News em Português

Temos o prazer de informar que em breve lançaremos uma edição em língua Portuguesa do site Pambazuka News. Esperamos que este evento facilite a participação daqueles que moram em Moçambique, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guiné Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe e além - incluindo o Brasil - nos debates, discussões e análises sobre justiça social em África.
Se você está interessado (a) em receber a edição em língua portuguesa do Pambazuka News, por favor faça sua assinatura aqui. Esperamos lançar a primeira edição em Março de 2008. Estimulamos e agradecemos o envio de artigos em língua portuguesa. Você deverá enviá-los ao editor através do e-mail: editor-pt@pambazuka.org

Ushahidi
Report Acts Of Violence In Kenya

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African Writers’ Corner

An unorthodox update on Zimbabwe’s voters roll (poem)

Isabella Matambanadzo (2008-02-14)

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/African_Writers/46101

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I dressed for the occasion.
Put my cute fanny in lace nickers,
Gave my breasts some serious gravity (EJ Win always
says wear new, matching underwear on important days,
that’s why she got me stuff from Bravissimo).
I was already sizzling
Rainbows around my waist, beads, and beads, and beads
of them from Codou and Roses in Dakar.
She’s also sent me incense. Intoxication is critical.
I wasn’t just sizzling, I was leaving a most musky trail.
Layering: Vanila bath what what from Sisonke, coconut
oil something wafting.
Slipped my pink pedicured feet into slinky sandals.
Shells on the rim.
A trade we did with Alice from Rwanda in Zanzibar,
plotting Feminism
Needed some bling. Hooked in amber and silver earrings,
Muthoni Wanyeki style. Off of Biashara
street in Nairobi, necklace from Hope Chigudu, a
talisman from Thailand — Awid, Bangkok, Massage - Men
in our movements, masquerading comradeship, turning our
voice to footnotes.
Pulled back the dreadlocks. One side like Sylvia.
Now the war paint. Eyes the way Jessica Horn taught me -
intense, serious, sparkling. Mac to the Lips - pout,
shimmer, shine: Pat Made put this in my purse (need
to text Thoko Matshe to stop by the counter next time
she’s in London - I got to have another one).
Stand tall like Bisi, this is an election year after
all:
But my name was not there: Not on the voters roll,
where it had been 5 years ago. Vanished. Disappeared.
My name was not there.
Who took my name? I hollered, vagina twitching with
rage. I said - who took my name? Ziii no answer other
than stares of intimidation from some twobit cop
representative of rigging. Txt message to Teresa
Mugadza - most kicking lawyer in Town. Woman wrote
Domestic Violence Legislation surely this is a
piece of cake for her!
Someone took my name Tere I howl, mad as ever. So get
it back girl, she croons. Get it back. You know you
got to vote. Right?
Zimbabwe: hurting and burning. Rage.
Straight up. I am taking it back. And today I am going
back. War clothes and all. This V is my Day.

*To read more of Isabella Matambanadzo, please visit www.kubatana.net where this poem was first posted.

***Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org or comment online at www.pambazuka.org


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