African Writing Online [many literatures, one voice]; Issue No.7; Poetry Homepage

African Writing Online Home Page

Adaobi Nwaubani
Amatoritsero Ede
Ando Yeva
Ayesha H. Attah
Bobby Gawthrop
Brian Chikwava
Chuma Nwokolo
Crispin Oduobuk
Fela Kuti
Fiona Jamieson
Florence Nenakwe
Funsho Ogundipe
Genna Gardini
George E. Clarke
G.Namukasa
Grace Kim
Isabella Morris
Isobel Dixon
Ivor W. Hartmann
Jane Bryce
Kobus Moolman
Meshack Owino
Mwila A. Zaza
Patrice Nganang
Petina Gappah
Rudolf Okonkwo
Samed Aydin
Tanure Ojaide
Tola Ositelu
Uche Peter Umez
Unoma Azuah
Uzor M. Uzoatu
Wole Soyinka


Unoma N. Azuah

I feel the flutter of her lashes
Her breath — a whisper in a raging storm.

Oh bearer of the storm that has refused to ebb on the banks of my overflowing river—
Set me free!

Isobel Dixon

Isobel Dixon

The whole green world
was subject to my knife,
till more burgeoned from the box
than I could chop.

This wasn’t what we signed up for:
our direct debit, like the widow’s jar
of oil, a source of never-ending
anti-oxidants.

Tanure Ojaide

Tanure Ojaide

I’d rather hear hate loud and clear,
And feel its bite, and go from here
In honesty and painful understanding.





	African Writing is not all about writing. Sometimes, beyond the picture and the words, the poem is best conveyed in voice. We are also happy to receive your audio submissions alongside your text for our online editions. Please send (wav/ogg/aiff/wma/mp3) files to the editor.


Kobus Moolman

Loud, the river repeats
a stencil of waves
across the black air – .

Three ghosts of trees wait
for hanging three
undying messages upon.


Genna Gardini

Time’s licked me nut, and right to the bone.

Once, strange hands furred us down
and we were the nodes on furious mice.





Bobby Gawthrop
Bobby Gawthrop

Then it happened, my second son, the eldest, my heir, his body, limp, bent, mother’s song, lament, for the fever had taken him there

		So, dear reader, cross the border and get Behind Every Successful Man at a good bookstore near you after June 1. (Come on. You knew that was coming!) Zukiswa

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