Sorry William, I had to stab you with a spear and have you shake Frothing out the mouth Clear saliva blocks unclear syllables spilling out As you try to say “thou art no air” and your eyes roll back While…
[Poetry] Born in these Times by Lillian Akampurira Aujo
I. I’m told of a time When houses were deserted And bushes were havens, by night. Babies’ mouths were plugged By nipples – sore with welts From infants’ starved and teething gums Mothers bit on their lips – drew blood…
Call for Submissions
While we sit discussing the word, power works in silence. — Michel Foucault New African Literature— in the modern use of the expression such as “New African Photography” and “New African Jazz”— has lately become a monopoly. A monopoly…
The Spoken Word Project – Stories travelling through Africa
“Oral narratives are an essential part of constructing identities in this part of the world. It is important to enable people to keep up access to their history. “ Lebogang Mashile, South-African poet Stories are created by being told. In…
Editorial 04
Soul Makossa by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango dates back to 1972 and is often cited as one of the first disco records ever. Over the years, the song has been sampled and alluded to in songs by artists such…
A Ugandan MC's intimate keyboard Hip-Hop
Serubiri Moses Originally published in Start When we meet at 2:45 pm, I’m sitting at the grand piano in the Green Room, behind the stage of the National Theatre wondering whether he will make it through the rain, but I’m…
Photography by Serubiri Moses
Maureen Rutabingwa is a jazz saxophonist, pianist and vocalist based in Kampala. Her Soul Deep band reworks Rihanna, Erykah Badu and the jazz of George Benson and Roy Hargrove. Dancers along Kampala-Jinja Road during the…
Music & Me by Anne Moraa
Anne Moraa, photo credit: Reumac (reumac.wordpress.com) My history of music is intensely personal. I love music. I can’t sing worth a damn, but I love music. You will forgive me, but I’m going to give you a history lesson. My…
