April Is National Poetry Month!

April Is National Poetry Month!

Today I spotlight a South African poet, a political activist, an influential figure in the Pan-African Movement, an educator, and an author. This brethren founded The Black Arts Theater in Harlem and was a founding member of The African Literature Association. Inaugurated in 2006 as South Africa’s First National Poet Laureate and recipient of many awards, without further ado I present Bra Willie!

KEORAPETSE KGOSITSILE

MY NAME IS AFRIKA

All things come to pass

When they do, if they do

All things come to their end

When they do, as they do

So will the day of the stench of oppression

Leaving nothing but the lingering

Taste of particles of hatred

Woven around the tropical sun

While in the belly of the night

Drums roll and peal a monumental song...

To every birth its blood

All things come to pass

When they do

We are the gods of our day and us

Panthers with claws of fire

And songs of love for the newly born

There will be ruins in Zimbabwe for real

Didn't Rap say,

They used to call it Detroit

And now they call it Destroyed!

To every birth its pain

All else is death and life