Napolo and other poems

Steve Chimombo

Description

This collection of verse contains poems from Malawi's foremost writer, most of which were written in the 1970s. Poet, fiction writer, playwright, and children's author Steve Bernard Miles Chimombo was born in Zomba, Malawi, and educated at the University of Malawi, the University of Wales, the University of Leeds, and Columbia University. Mythology and oral culture inform his poetry, and he frequently used both modernist techniques and wry humor to address political themes.

Sujets

• Poetry
• List of African writers by country
• African literature
• African people
• African

Informations

• Publié par: Luviri Press
• Date de parution: 17 décembre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789996066085
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

which were written in the 1970s. Poet, fiction writer, playwright, and children’s

at the University of Malawi, the University of Wales, the University of Leeds, and Columbia University. Mythology and oral culture inform his poetry, and he frequently used both modernist techniques and wry humor to address political

magazine and literary press

 and as director of Writers

he was a professor of English at the University of Malawi, until

This book is part of Luviri Press which offers a range of books on religion, culture and society from Malawi.

Napolo and Other Poems Steve Chimombo

Napoloand Other Poems

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Copyright © Moira Chimombo 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the copyright holder.

First published 2009 by WASI Publications, Zomba

Luviri Press P/Bag 201 Luwinga Mzuzu

ISBN 978-99960-66-78-8 eISBN 978-99960-66-08-5

Back cover photograph by Moira Chimombo

Luviri Reprints no. 14

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Napoloand other Poems Steve Chimombo Luviri Press Mzuzu 2021  3

DEDICATION

To the sons and daughters of Napolo

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By the Same Author

Poetry Napolo Poems(Manchichi) Napolo and the Python(Heinemann) Epic of the Forest Creatures(WASI) Breaking the Beadstrings(WASI) Python! Python!(WASI) The Vipya Poem(WASI) Ndakatulo za Napolo(Manchichi)

Plays The Rainmaker(Popular Publications) Wachiona Ndani?(Dzuka) Sister! Sister! (WASI) Achiweni Wani? [translation ofWachiona Ndani?] (Manchichi)

Novels The Basket Girl(Popular Publications) The Wrath of Napolo(WASI)

Children's Literature Caves of Nazimbuli(Popular Publications and Luviri)) Child of Clay(Popular Publications) Operation Kalulu(Popular Publications and Luviri)) The Bird Boy's Song(WASI and Luviri))

Short Stories Tell me a Story(Dzuka) The Hyena Wears Darkness(WASI and Luviri) Of Life, Love, and Death(WASI)

Folklore Malawian Oral Literature(Center for Social Research and Luviri) Napolo ku Zomba(Manchichi)

Criticism The Culture of Democracy [with Moira Chimombo] (WASI) AIDS Artists and Authors(WASI)

General Directory of Malawian Writing(Dept of Arts and Crafts)

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Acknowledgements This is a collection of poetry from several sources. Some are from my ownNapolo Poems(WASI, 1987) andNapolo and the Python (Heinemann, 1995); others from various anthologies:Malawian Writing Today(Malawi Pen, 1999),The Unsung Song(Chancellor College Publications, 2001),Operations and Tears (Kachere, 2003); and yet others from international publications:Summer Fires1983) and (Heinemann, Modern Poetry1986). (Penguin, Some poems have been gleaned from local periodicals likeOdi, Outlook,Nation, andWASI; others from international ones:The Malahat Review(Canada, 1975) orThe Greenfield Review(USA, 1979). All these received proper acknowledgements in their earlier appearances.

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Table of Contents Dedication Acknowledgment Introduction Napolo Beggar Woman Obituary Four Ways of Dying Derailment: A Delirium Three Songs Of Promises and Prophecy Chingwe’s Hole Revisited A Death Song Writers Workshop Revisited Lies Unlimited Meanwhile in the Drought Developments from the Grave The Sinking Cenotaph The Road to Thakadzo Past Hero-Bearing Age The Politics of Potholes Modern Advertising Gravemates The New House Formula for Funerals Who is Responsible? Mlauli’s Musings Zomba Mountain

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4 6 9 12 23 28 30 33 43 47 52 59 63 67 70 73 76 79 83 89 94 96 97 98 100 102 105

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Pyagusi Nation of Corpses Advice to Mbona, the Prophet The Lasting Flute Letter to Mchona Artists’ Cenotaph Street Seller’s Song The Cry at Birth Just Before One for the Road Nachifukan Man Left No Traces Morning at Mvuu Camp Operational Corpses A Writer’s Desk at Sixty Usayelekele Mine And Now, Our Honorable MP Those Beggars on Fridays The Last Hitchhike have you been served? Song of the Loincloth Pounding Hymn Poetry Power A Word on Poetry

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108 113 115 117 119 121 125 129 132 134 136 138 139 140 144 146 147 149 150 151 153 155 158

Introduction “Some of your poetry, ‘Napolo’ and ‘Obituary,’ for example, can be interpreted along the same political lines as those of others, whom we know suffered detention or exile during the Banda dictatorial regime,” a reader once remarked. “How come, do you think, you managed to get away with your equally castigating poetry? You were never detained or exiled, or were you?” “How did you survive the detention of writers during the one- party regime?” another asked. These are some of the chastening reminders a writer goes through. My mind goes back to some of the instances when I was close to incarceration, death, or exile. I, too, wonder at how I managed to keep out of the clutches of Banda’sA few minions. personal examples will suffice. “My promotion dependson detaining people like you.”This statement was addressed to me by a senior police officer at a popular place in the mid-1970s. It was packed with informers, Special Branch, drug and drink addicts, prostitutes, and the usual lay-byes. I had gone there for relaxation, to think about nothing in an atmosphere different from books and academic stuff. Almost anything could have happened there, though. The police officer telling me his career prospects on my incarceration was just one of the happenstances of the place, if not the country, then. At least once, Imight have been “accidentalized”—a popular phrase known to the victims, at the time—by another notorious top Special Branch official, after being lured away from a public function to “follow our car.”I did, before I literally smelled death and drove out of the trap. Several times, I was trapped even by simple things, like protesting about the bust of Queen Victoria having overstayed its use in a once white-only club. Next to it was a portrait of Banda, the black president. The expectation was for me to transfer my feelings to him.  9