This poem was written by Robson Isaac Shoes Lambada. It has been recited at the House of Hunger poetry slam, Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights poetry forum, Harare International Festival of the Arts, Regional Youth Hearing in South Africa, The Info-Activism Camp in India and The Africa Cultural Night in Senegal.
Ragged and funny
In dire need of money
I bruise the pot-holed streets of the city
Maiming the waste-filled alleys and dirty
Daily I play twinkle-twinkle with death on the razor-sharp edge of humanity.
Once I had a home
Now I cannot pay the dues
Once Iwent to college
Now I cannot pay the fees
Once I had a wife
Now I cannot afford the price
Poor the result of no economic emancipation
Bound to the street because some people's creation
In a vacuum-filled belly I try the robber's invention
Oouch! I cry in incaceration
This cry , my cry, I cry
Bound to the street, is it God's case
Bound to the street, the street my place
Bound to the street, the street I hate
Eyes closed, tears drop
The drama of my sleeping mystery unfolding before my mental eyes like a tapestry
I ravish and languish in hunger
Feediong on left-overs
Left by generous shoppers
Hungry I was, am and still will be
The history but of the hiterto societies is a history of class struggle
and exploitation. How shall I leave the street struggle
In such a society tailor-designed to suffer the helpless
Where the should-be-helpers
Are the pioneers of the exploitation,
Suppression and oppression of the defenceless
As for me and my street-mates
We will travel along singing a song
The song, my cry.
Bound to the street, is it God's case
Bound to the street, the street my place
Bound to the street, the street I hate
I come from far further
Iam not a bird of your further
You are a son to your father
You are your mother,s daughter
I have non to call father or mother
Nither to call sister nor brother
But pay no attention to criticism like weather
Rather lets read the holy book together
Ang gather as a congregation together
The bread as you gather
Lets break share and eat together.
Until we harness a new philosophy
I will always cry
This cry my cry.
Bound to the street, is it God's case
Bound to the street, the street my place
Bound to the street, the street I hate
shoes lambada the poet
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights-Media Institute of Southern Africa commemorate World Poetry Day
MISA- Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights commemorate World Poetry Day
As part of its mandate to promote freedom of expression in Zimbabwe, MISA-Zimbabwe together with Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights on 21 March, commemorated the International World Poetry Day in a poetry session dubbed Weapons of Mass Instruction.
The poetry session, which featured twenty four poets from Harare and attended by approximately 200 people, was held at the First Street mall and paid tribute to late poets, Dambudzo Marechera, who during his time performed his poetry at the same venue and the late Solomon Mutsvairo who wrote the popular poem, Nehanda Nyakasikana, recited by the late Vice-president, Simon Muzenda during national events.
In a commemorative message, MISA-Zimbabwe advocacy officer, Tabani Moyo, emphasized the importance of freedom of expression in a democracy and raised concern over the continued incarceration of freelance journalist, Anderson Shadreck Manyere is charged for acts of insurgence, banditry, sabotage or terrorism under Section 23 (1), (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act
The poetry performances touched on the themes of love, culture, the daily life challenges of the ordinary Zimbabwean and the need to be able to speak out. ZPHR Programmes Manager, Robson Isaac Shoes Lambada lamented the way in which poetry has been playing second fiddle to other artforms and so encouraged everyone to respect poetry as a form of expression. "Poetry has been part and parcel of our Zimbabwean culture since time immemorial as evidenced by bits use in traditional rituals like thanks bgiving and brain-making." said Shoeslambada
63-year old poet, Julius Chingono who performed an unpublished piece, My uniform, that described the advantage that uniformed police officials had over ordinary Zimbabweans during the food shortages when they skipped the queues, was briefly detained by the police who alleged that the poem was offensive. He was released after convincing them that the poem reflected what happened in the past.
MISA
As part of its mandate to promote freedom of expression in Zimbabwe, MISA-Zimbabwe together with Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights on 21 March, commemorated the International World Poetry Day in a poetry session dubbed Weapons of Mass Instruction.
The poetry session, which featured twenty four poets from Harare and attended by approximately 200 people, was held at the First Street mall and paid tribute to late poets, Dambudzo Marechera, who during his time performed his poetry at the same venue and the late Solomon Mutsvairo who wrote the popular poem, Nehanda Nyakasikana, recited by the late Vice-president, Simon Muzenda during national events.
In a commemorative message, MISA-Zimbabwe advocacy officer, Tabani Moyo, emphasized the importance of freedom of expression in a democracy and raised concern over the continued incarceration of freelance journalist, Anderson Shadreck Manyere is charged for acts of insurgence, banditry, sabotage or terrorism under Section 23 (1), (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act
The poetry performances touched on the themes of love, culture, the daily life challenges of the ordinary Zimbabwean and the need to be able to speak out. ZPHR Programmes Manager, Robson Isaac Shoes Lambada lamented the way in which poetry has been playing second fiddle to other artforms and so encouraged everyone to respect poetry as a form of expression. "Poetry has been part and parcel of our Zimbabwean culture since time immemorial as evidenced by bits use in traditional rituals like thanks bgiving and brain-making." said Shoeslambada
63-year old poet, Julius Chingono who performed an unpublished piece, My uniform, that described the advantage that uniformed police officials had over ordinary Zimbabweans during the food shortages when they skipped the queues, was briefly detained by the police who alleged that the poem was offensive. He was released after convincing them that the poem reflected what happened in the past.
MISA
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Poets make mark in India
From the 16th to the 26th of February 2009, Robson Isaac Shoes Lambada and Fungai Machirori (Harare based poets) were in India attending the inaugural Info-Activism Camp hosted by the Tactical Technology Collective . They joined other 148 participqants from more than 40 countries worldwide. They were participants as well as performers.
ShoesLambada is one of the poets known for his critical tortured language poetry, which he says, is inspired by the rot, corruption, human rights abuses and the economic decline which has been caused largely by the Mugabe regime. Fungai is an advocate for the rights of many especially women. Fungai touched the heart of many when he recited the poem, “Cashless Society”. She bemoaned the cash shortages that hit the country from as back as 2004 up to now. This resulted in account holders being unable to withdraw their money from banks. ShoesLambada’s poem, “I want to understand” was published in the Camp Magazine, “CampBuzz” on 19 February 2009. ShoesLambada went on to perform “Politicians and Governance” which questioned the course of action masses should take if politicians decide to govern in a way that jeorpadises the well-being of the majority.
“What shall we say and do
When they use violence as a tool
To keep the elite few
In top rule shunning majority rule
And treating the majority as one fool.” Said ShoesLambada.
Shoes went global when he recited the poem, “ Bound to the street” which explored the lives of street people which is a worldwide phenomenon. ShoesLambada lamented the unwillingness of policy makers to rectify the problem.
“ How then shall I survive this street struggle
In such a society tailor-made to suffer the helpless
Whereby the should-be-helpers are the pioneers
Of the degradation of human dignity
Benefiting from the suppression, oppression and exploitation
Of the defenceless” recited ShoesLambada.
ShoesLambada works with Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR) and is popular for various collaborations he has done with many ZPHR members. In India he had an opportunity to collaborate with Tessa, a UK based flute player and Vijay a guitarist based in Bangalore India. They collaborated on the poem, “I will miss you” which is a dedication to all Zimbabweans who are in the diaspora. It explores the political changes that Zimbabweans in the country are experiencing that the diasporians are missing. The two poets displayed that Zimbabwe is culturally rich and poetry is an effective advocacy tool in socio-economic issues. "It is the compelling voice behing the verses that makes poetry powerful, unique and different from other art genres" said ShoesLambada.
ShoesLambada is one of the poets known for his critical tortured language poetry, which he says, is inspired by the rot, corruption, human rights abuses and the economic decline which has been caused largely by the Mugabe regime. Fungai is an advocate for the rights of many especially women. Fungai touched the heart of many when he recited the poem, “Cashless Society”. She bemoaned the cash shortages that hit the country from as back as 2004 up to now. This resulted in account holders being unable to withdraw their money from banks. ShoesLambada’s poem, “I want to understand” was published in the Camp Magazine, “CampBuzz” on 19 February 2009. ShoesLambada went on to perform “Politicians and Governance” which questioned the course of action masses should take if politicians decide to govern in a way that jeorpadises the well-being of the majority.
“What shall we say and do
When they use violence as a tool
To keep the elite few
In top rule shunning majority rule
And treating the majority as one fool.” Said ShoesLambada.
Shoes went global when he recited the poem, “ Bound to the street” which explored the lives of street people which is a worldwide phenomenon. ShoesLambada lamented the unwillingness of policy makers to rectify the problem.
“ How then shall I survive this street struggle
In such a society tailor-made to suffer the helpless
Whereby the should-be-helpers are the pioneers
Of the degradation of human dignity
Benefiting from the suppression, oppression and exploitation
Of the defenceless” recited ShoesLambada.
ShoesLambada works with Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR) and is popular for various collaborations he has done with many ZPHR members. In India he had an opportunity to collaborate with Tessa, a UK based flute player and Vijay a guitarist based in Bangalore India. They collaborated on the poem, “I will miss you” which is a dedication to all Zimbabweans who are in the diaspora. It explores the political changes that Zimbabweans in the country are experiencing that the diasporians are missing. The two poets displayed that Zimbabwe is culturally rich and poetry is an effective advocacy tool in socio-economic issues. "It is the compelling voice behing the verses that makes poetry powerful, unique and different from other art genres" said ShoesLambada.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)