Poem by Tashinga Chiwomba

MY BELOVED

The elders of my time only told me that life was cold

They never went in-depth explaining it

Perhaps they thought I was observant enough to understand 

But after all those years, I’m finally getting the hang of it

Let me explain it to you, my beloved

You will still fail after putting in endless hours of blood, sweat and tears.

Then watch someone who did absolutely nothing ‘deserving’ scoop the price

You will serve God all your life but still be the bearer of bad news frequently, whilst the atheists and not so dedicated seem carefree

You will keep yourself pure and watch the defiled scoop ‘happy marriages’ whilst you’re served with bitter beatings in your own

You will call out plenty a times for the thorn in your flesh to be removed but watch the thorn in someone who just got pricked be removed

You will start from rock bottom up, then watch it all crumble to the sea

It never gets better

We just grow stronger 

We continue paying no mind to anything outside our own

We continue hoping for the best and persisting

We continue failing till we someday succeed

Praying till our own prayers are answered

Purifying ourselves for joy cometh in the morning 

This, my beloved, is what we call LIFE!!!

@tashingachiwomba and @aforepodcast – Instagram

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AfroWomenPoetry founded by Antonella Sinopoli narrates the stories of African women through poetry moving from country to country across Sub Saharan Africa. In collaboration with AfroWomenPoetry, SheEvolves invites you into the world of Ghana’s female poets

Poem by Millicent Anumah

The Plead for Change

Change! Change! Change!
There was no response
Yet I plead for change not to change

Growing up, I thought my generation and
That of my children are going to be the best
But now, I strummer and stagger
Yes we all want change
We don’t know weather
The change will be positive or negative
The change I cry for is the friend of the future
A great future is what I cliff for
Loosing this, is not like losing a political position
or losing wealth

The change I desire is moving
from hunger to satisfaction
From poverty to riches
Street children to a happy home
War to peace
Tears to laughter
The voice of men only to gender equality
A change from the fight of political power
To free and fair election
From deforestation to afforestation
The change I cry for
is not the fear to drink natural water
Or the fear to walk under the sun
because of the depletion of the ozone layer

Can things ever come to normal again?
We may all me blind
But we cannot all be insensitive

Our fathers, our mothers
Our siblings and ourselves
I plead for a positive change
Let’s not use what we see today
To destroy the birth of what
we cannot see tomorrow

Lay a good foundation today for a good
Tower to be built on it tomorrow
We are to decide the kind of world
we grow up in in the future

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Millicent Anumah – Instagram

Millicent Anumah – Facebook

Antonella Sinopoli – Facebook

Asmilinglife – Instagram

AfroWomenPoetry – Facebook

Afrowomenpoetry – Instagram

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I grew up watching tons of cartoons on Cartoon Network. I found the characters extremely fascinating, and I often wondered how these fantastic characters and animations were brought to life with such relatable adventures and humour. This fascination grew my interest in illustrations as a form of art, communication and activism. I realised that illustrations are the first creative steps to what later becomes animation, and I absolutely loved this creative space. However, I simultaneously realised that women, particularly back women, were underrepresented in this creative space. My love for animation and the lack of black female representation contributed to my passion for digital illustrations. 

After completing my degree in Food Science and Technology, I had a lot of time to kill. So I then decided to teach myself how to draw and use different software sets, and little by little (haba na haba ), I began improving and learning tricks of the trade. I now create eclectic illustrations, cutting through various territories, such as city life, fashion, and glimpses of human emotion, such as happiness (raha). I now celebrate African women in my illustrations because African women have a resilience that needs to be honoured. African women are the backbone of African societies. They are the architects that instil morality into future generations, the caregivers that nurture our continent’s people, and the hands to which we trust our cultures’ institutional memory.

By Diana K

photo_duka –  Instagram

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THE UNVEILING 

What is this veil covering your eyes?
Who is the one telling you these lies?
Why are you allowing these negative thoughts to linger?
Can’t you see who you are becoming?
Letting the hands and opinions of others decide your fate.
Your path is like no other, yet you seek direction outside of yourself.
You see the light in others and wish it were yours.
You are belittling your crown.
You are wandering further from your truth.
You need to look into your soul’s mirror.
It’s been screaming for your attention while you daydream of the illusion of another’s light.
Why not seek the stillness within your being?
Quench the thirst of wanting and longing,
Fill it with the aroma and beauty of your essence,
Sit with the confusion the journey brings,
Meditate on the clarity that purifies your mind,
Allow your shadow to reveal its form and welcome it with acceptance.
Don’t force it to merge with the light.
The light absorbs the darkness and doesn’t become it.
Embrace your being in all its glory, a long-awaited awakening.
Breathe easy. You are enough. You are your home.

By Mosun Mewase

mo.d.artist – Instagram

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