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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
We have to be the voice of our time Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Malkia Affiah , Kenya Mar 25, 2008
Peace & Conflict , Culture   Poetry

  

We have to be the voice of our time,
We have to tell the story, the story of a nation,
A nation of a people, a people of diversity,
Diversity of wealth, wealth of resources,
Cultures, tribes, peace, love, unity,
Envied wealth we ‘unenviably’ forgot.

We have to be the voice of our time,
Do you remember the gunshots?
Gunshots! Gunshots! Gunshots everywhere!
Do you hear that screaming?
Children, women, their husbands,
They’re crying, they’re burning, they’re dying,
Neighbor against neighbor, tribe against tribe,
A Kenyan against a Kenyan!

We have to be the voice of our time,
Did you hear the trauma, the trauma of the girls?
Kate, sixteen, narrates her ordeal,
“They tied me up, they beat me up, then one by one,
They entered me, violating me, staining me,
They made daddy watch, daddy chose to die.”

We have to be the voice of our time,
Kate’s daddy, hundreds of innocent souls,
Brutally forced to their graves,
Hundreds of thousands robbed of their homes,
Billions worth of property wasted in flames!

We have to be the voice of our time,
Our leaders let us down,
Our institutions: the ECK, the media,
The police, the church, let us down!
You, I, we, let us down!

We have to be the voice of our time,
We have to live by the example,
The example unveiled by three men,
Kibaki, Raila, and this man Kofi Annan,
With your mediation team Kofi,
You brought to the forefront our troubles,
Poverty, land, regional imbalances, unemployment!
Because of you Kofi, Kibaki, Raila,
Words like leadership, foresight, forgiveness,
Flexibility, tranquility, tolerance, patience, peace,
Now boast with meaning.

We have to be the voice of our time,
In the spirit of Kenyanhood,
We have to speak in one voice,
Let’s join, Naisula, Mutua, Wambui,
Otieno, Chausiku, Koech, Kate,
As we pledge, NEVER AGAIN!





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Malkia Affiah


In my writing, I yearn to reward my feelings, my thoughts, my understanding, my relevance and my nowness, with the gift of eternity wrapped in simplicity and delivered by an army of alive emotions under the command of their master, humanity.

By you experiencing my pieces, I 'm one with this desire and for that I give thanks. A million bows for exploring my work.
Comments


Oh Kenya...
Affiah Odhiambo | Apr 7th, 2008
I wrote this just a few days before the cabinet fiasco in our country... We cannot afford to go back to the anxiety that gripped us 3 months ago... Raila, Kibaki, you may never read this, but we know you know what this country needs... we expect, no we demand true leadershipfrom you...live up to your example... please...



Norma | Apr 18th, 2008
I agree absolutely. Great message and great poetry.



Reconciliatory!
DAKE KOFI SELORM | May 27th, 2008
You're a true messenger of peace!



njoroge maingi | May 30th, 2008
Well put



Nice article
Owino Fred Barrack | Jun 15th, 2008
Wow Malkia! I really admire your knowledge and talent. Keep on using it to empower the youthy to take the lead and be proactive in the community. I love your message.

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