Black Star Shine - Cosmas Mairosi

I saw Africa shine to the drone of vuvuzelas
As eleven black stars sparkled in the soccerfields of Mzansi
Then I asked my merry fellows and the village songsters
“Tell me, why all this frenzy, why all this fancy?”
Then they said, without missing a beat
In their celebration drums
"Blow the trumpet,
the Black Stars of Ghana are doing us proud in Mzansi!"
then I took pen and paper, traced the glow of their beams
in odes of sonnet laughter and sestina glee,
the only way I know of celebrating
as Africa glows in bright Black Star shine!

"Black Star Shine" is part seven of our impromptu tribute series to the Black Stars. Though the Black Stars' run is now over, we will keep posting new poems until July 9th. If you would like to contribute a tribute poem, send it to oneghanaonevoice(at)gmail.com.

the mission - Cosmas Mairosi

liberate africa!
amalgamate africa!
civilise africa!

your voice boomed
echoes pervading oppressed africa

the walls of colonialism crumbled
you authored a new dawn for africa

liberate africa!
amalgamate africa!
civilise africa!

the voice echoes in our hearts
we still cherish the dream nkrumah

but the bullet still speaks louder than the ballot
the blood of kinsmen continue to stain our hands

more of us have seen the light
your song shall never die on our lips

liberate africa!
amalgamate africa!
civilise africa!



"the mission" is part three of our four-part series of poems on Kwame Nkrumah. Our final installment will be posted next week.

Author Profile - Cosmas Mairosi

Biography:

Cosmas Mairosi was born on February 8th, 1977 in Mudzi, Zimbabwe. He grew up in the rural area of Rusape in Manicaland province. He is a qualified primary schoolteacher by profession, holds a diploma in Education (distinction in English). Cosmas is a performance poet, writer, and arts trainer in children's performing arts.

Cosmas' poems have won numerous awards, and his poems and short stories have been published in Writers Scroll, Teacher's Voice and New Voices Magazine. One of his poems is featured in the international anthology 'CHE IN VERSE', published by Aflame Books.

Five Questions with Cosmas Mairosi:

1. What inspired you to write about Nkrumah? What about Nkrumah makes him an interesting subject for poetic study?

Nkrumah is one of the greatest leaders from the African continent that deserves legendary acclaim. Whenever I teach my pupils about Africa, Africa day, O.A.U./A.U., I feel a certain pride for the man and his vision for Africa. Poetry is the only way I can express my gratitude and pay tribute to the man.


2. How do you think Nkrumah has been, and will be, remembered by history? How do you think he should be remembered?

Nkrumah will always be remembered for his vision for Africa. True leaders take a holistic approach. In liberating Ghana, Nkrumah did not see it as an end, but a beginning. He saw Ghana as part of Africa. His vision for the whole continent. As a poet I do feel an anthology on him is best.


3. What role do you think poetry can have in shaping our understanding of history?

Poetry can express the true nobility to objects, heroes and historical events. It can vividly bring events back to life and define perspectives. It makes old bones shake in the grave.


4. What do you think Nkrumah would say of the state of Africa today?

Keep trying, you will win.


5. Do you think that it's possible for someone like Nkrumah to rise to a position of leadership in Ghana, or elsewhere in Africa, today?

Africa still needs another Nkrumah. He might have had faults but his vision was true and holy.

Contact Cosmas:

cmairosi(at)yahoo.com

Freedom - Cosmas Mairosi

I saw freedom written on terrestrial walls,
freedom written in children's blood,
freedom oozing from decaying bodies.

I heard freedom's anthems sung by decapitated souls
and mothers gathering the severed limbs of their toddlers.
I saw fathers' hopes going up in flames at the height of
civilian demonstrations and political protests.

Freedom distorted in the jumbled hysteria of wailing widows.
Freedom frozen in the mouths of bantering dictators.
Freedom summarized in endless fear and pain.

I saw freedom end in political turmoil and economic slavery,
babies abandoned by dollar-seeking mothers,
democracies failing to remove dictators from the throne
and the people growing used to such oppression.

I saw all this slander and bloodshed and
said, "Freedom is here, Mother!"
but then, demented like drowning shadows,
all the free turned on me and said,
"We have reaped nothing
of what we have sown."

Author Profile - Cosmas Mairosi

Biography:

Cosmas Mairosi was born on February 8th, 1977 in Mudzi, Zimbabwe. He grew up in the rural area of Rusape in Manicaland province. He is am a qualified primary schoolteacher by profession, holds a diploma in Education (distinction in English). Cosmas is a performance poet, writer, and arts trainer in children's performing arts.

Cosmas' poems have won numerous awards, and his poems and short stories have been published in Writers Scroll, Teacher's Voice and New Voices Magazine. One of his poems is featured in the international anthology 'CHE IN VERSE', published by Aflame Books.

Five Questions with Cosmas Mairosi:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

Since I was at secondary school, form 3, in 1992. So fifteen years to be exact.


2. Who are your favourite poets? Which poets have most inspired and informed your work?

I love refined poetry. I sometimes come across very good poems I tend to like but might not remember their authors. I like 'Ozymandias' and 'Ode to a Nightingale' but the poets that come to the fore on my list are Alfred Tennyson, Wilfred Owen, Chenjerai Hove, Albert Nyathi, Mzwakhe Mbuli and Thomas Hardy.

Owen and Hardy have had the most impact on my written work, while Nyathi and Mbuli have influenced my performance work. I like Owen for the pity in his poetry which he expressed at the expense of skill and craft.


3. What do you hope to accomplish with your poetry?

In the beginning was the word... and the word was poetry. Poetry is life. Poetry is reality. I hope to make people appreciate that poetry is an integral part of their lives. I also hope to change people's lives for the better and also contribute to the perfection of the trade.


4. Are you involved in any sort of writing communities? Are you connected with other poets in your community?

I am the vice chairman of the National Executive Committee of the Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe(BWAZ). I was the Special Affairs Coordinator during the African Drums Poetry Festival in December 2007 which was attended by poets from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. I am also a member of the Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights Association, Global Arts Trust and Zimbabwe Readers Association. I work with writers at grassroots and advanced level. I meet other poets regularly at arts and writers events such as workshops, poetry slams, and writing festivals.


5. What do you think is the role of poetry, and literature in general, in the politics of Africa?

Writers are there to chide and to cheer. The politics in Africa has caused many wrong turns and a lot of suffering. It is the role of literature to shed light on where we have gone wrong and to point the way out.

Contact Cosmas:

cmairosi(at)yahoo.com