Istifada (Exploitation)

This is a poem in Swahili I wrote on the subject of exploitation:

Istifada wa binadam, yasabibisha intifada na huu ndio shahada
Ndoto yanizimi katika bara ya simanzi, unganthan’ tupo Panthalassa
Natumai juhudi zangu zitakamilika na kubadilika kua matunda ya manifikio n’omba zisiwe tasa
Nyumba yangu ya taswira ni yenu, wazuka mikasa/mi-casa

The exploitations of mankind, causes uprisings indeed that is testimonial testament
My dreams submerge me in an ocean of melancholy, you would think we were in Panthalassa
I hope my efforts come to completion and that they bear fruit and not culminate in barrenness
The key to my house of dreams is yours, your spice bring it to life

Hello Gerald,

This is a beautiful poem, may I ask what inspired this particular piece?

Wow I found this brutally poignant and beautiful – thank you Gerald8

Hi Hollie, I wrote this poem during Covid-19 when so many people were out of work and struggling to put food on the table. This came about as I was in the process of putting out my first poetry collection and nations in the Global North were denying others in the Global South access to vaccines even though some of them had notable surpluses(it was around the time the term ‘vaccine nationalism’ came about). Those are some of the incidents that inspired me to come up with this,.

Thank you Ben.

Hello Gerald,

Thank you for your response, and for providing the original in Swahili! The poem is extremely powerful, does the rest of your collection share a similar theme?

May I ask what is the name of your poetry collection so that we may share it with the forum?

So great to learn the context, which for me makes your poem both more relatable but at the same time frustrating when I’m part of the global north. thanks

Hi Hollie, I must sincerely apologise for the late response. I have been swamped. The name of my poetry collection is called Forty Five Truths of Being. It is coming out soon, at the end of this month.
Hi Ben, your sentiment is quite understandable:)

Regards,
Gerald.

Hello Gerald, please do not apologize! Thank you for sharing the name of your poetry collection – Please do let us know when it is available! Best Wishes, Hollie