Contributing to the ‘poetics’ of pan-Africanism started by Kioi Wa Mbugua and Tajudeen Abdul Raheem: the debate reminded me of a poem I penned during a gathering of African feminists. Failed, still-born or germinating, Africa’s freedom-dreams are dreamed. But are they really only ever dreamed in the masculine…….?

Womanrise!

glide
the figure 8
across these Mnyarwanda hips
these Mswahili
Mswazi
Ashanti
Xhosa
ride
the slow flex
and turn
mould and
build
breeeeaaaaaaaathe
and
transform
the rhythmic rebirth
of Africa’s daughters

Mwalimu, Madiba
Lumuumba, Nkrumah
asanteni sana!
but it is our turn now…

incandescent butterfly woman
and river spirit
rise!
impala and ocean mother
rise!
story teller and basket weaver,
rise!

mama, dada,
mother, sister
rise!

sister comrade sister fighter
sister lover sister friend
rise!

sister comrade sister fighter
sister lover sister friend
rise!

Woman,

rise!