The commemorations were originated in 1926 by
historian Carter G. Woodson <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_G._Woodson> as
Negro History Week. Woodson chose the second week of February
because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly
influenced the lives and social condition of African-Americans:
former President Abraham Lincoln <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln> and
abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass> .
The discussion platform was aimed at encouraging rapport between
poets and journalists in their common struggle for a free media
environment. A hybrid fusion of contemporary and traditional
poets graced the event, namely: Biko Mutsaurwa, Elizabeth Muchemwa
Samuel Mahuntse, Innocent Fungurani, Hope Robson Shoes, Tapfuma
Jongwe, Anesu Katerere, Theresa Muchemwa and Tinashe Muchuri.
The first segment of the commemorations opened with recital of
popular poems by African-Americans during their struggle for
social, economic and political emancipation. The second segment
comprised local poetry slams with infusions from those by African-Americans
while the third phase was marked by local protest poems.
The protest poems depicted how the streets have fast turned into
avenues of self expression through notable pieces such as Africa
Unity Square Bench, Diary of the Church Mouse, Letter to My Unborn
Child and Valentine.
Africa Unity Square Bench, captures societal contradictions as
people seek solace from daily trials and tribulations in one
of Harare’s parks – African Unity Square. The piece
caricatures a bench which sits members of the police force as
they wait to pounce on demonstrations by human rights activists.
The bench has seen it all and exhorts journalists to come forward
and capture the diverse stories and experiences it has stored
over the years – from the pre-colonial era to independence
and the struggle for freedom of expression.
Diary of the Church Mouse on the other hand, captures the lonely
voice of a people reeling under a totalitarian establishment.
It cries loud for the parish and those in positions of authority
to heed the lamentations of the lone voice crying for freedom.
The poem caricatures a church mouse that feeds on crumbs left
by vulnerable groups who reside in the church while hopelessly
awaiting God to take its miserable life.
Letter to My Unborn Child, is a tribute to the future generation
and takes note of the day to day struggles faced by the average
person – poverty, starvation, deprivation, diseases, war
and violence. The poet archives these trial and tribulations
for posterity and calls upon the unborn child to remain resilient
and steadfast in the face of these problems upon the child’s
final birth.
Valentine, is a love poem inspired by the 14th of February’s
Valentine Day. The piece is politically charged commenting on
how the spirit of giving and sharing has been eroded due to the
socio-political and economic crisis bedevilling the nation. In
the end the piece calls on politicians to move swiftly to address
the crisis which threatens to extinguish the basic values of
love.
The evening ended with a discussion forum during which journalists
critiqued the poems. In his closing remarks MISA-Zimbabwe Advocacy
Officer Tabani Moyo noted the continued detention of freelance
journalist Anderson Shadreck Manyere and the director of Zimbabwe
Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko saying journalists should
continue to expose and condemn such blatant threats to media
freedom and freedom of expression.
Rashweat Mukundu
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: + 264 61 232 975
Fax:+264 61 248016
Mobile: 00 264 813 675 362
E mail rashweat@misa.org, misaalerts@gmail.com
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