MISA-Zimbabwe partners artists in commemorating Black History Month

The commemorations were originated in 1926 by historian 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 and abolitionist and former slave 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.//End//

MISA