Colonialism and Imperialism 2

As an undergraduate at the University of Jos, Nigeria, I was introduced to poets from around the continent, all of whom displayed some level of activism in their work, whether it was from the platform of the somewhat romantic negritude movement or from a more urgent political threshold of nationalism. One poet that struck me was South African, Dennis Brutus (1973). I always remember his poem “The Sun on This Rubble” when I reflect on the continent of Africa on the whole and South Africa in particular. It captures the agony and pain as well as the hope and vision that I am reminded of as I participate in the Sharing Cultures Project.

“This Sun on This Rubble”

The Sun on this rubble after rain
Bruised though we must be
Some easement we require
Unarguably, though we argue against desire
Under jackboots our bones and spirits crunch
Forced into sweat-tear-sodden crunch
-- now glow lipped by this sudden touch:
--sun-stripped perhaps, our bones may later sing
or spell out some malignant nemesis
Sharpevilled to spearpoints for revenging
But now our pride-dumbed mouths are wide
In wordless supplication
--are grateful for the least relief from pain
--like this sun on this debris after rain.