Highlights of 'Nywele Zangu'

By Carol Anande

Mwanzoni Chuo Kikuu 2

Soma vielelezo vya picha kama hadithi tofauti
-Mwishoni Chuo Kikuu 1 

I grew up hearing 'akili nywele' from my people. My mother on the other hand never really complimented my hairstyles but I now see, she was tolerant than most in my region as she taught me to be proud of my brains. Ahsante Mama

This one is to all my Soul Sisters...

Mwanzoni Nilivyoanza Kazi 3

A woman, Amen

What’s the point of living?

If you can’t heal

Can’t reveal, the puffs and grime

Of past crimes

Am not sure when it was

Made so clear that

Feeling is insincere

That better is to adhere

To the daily machinations

Kazi zikaanza noga 4

Of finding your ugali

Sheltering your family

Guess when femininity was defiled

Here the women, bearers

First bled

But oh don’t forget the unsaid

Also we raped our men

Tangu utotoni mvulana jikoni

Kumepwaya

Na alivyo pelekwa na baba

Kijiweni pa pombe 

Ulimwengu tulimkwaza

Na huyu mtoto mvulana

Wamwambia ajikaze kiume

Chakula kila siku atakikuta

Sio kwamba bustani anaikung’uta

Wale jembe dada yake kaliruka

Mahaba nayo yakajikongoja 5

Hapana kwakwe manati tu hujua kuvuta

Kucheza pamoja na kuruka

You urge this little man

To deny his full self, guilt he’ll feel

When he sees his sister

Sleeping later than he

And waking earlier than he

Yet his father he passes laughing

Gailey with his friends after his rounds at work

While moma is tired stinking of ‘moshi’

Making dinner

Na Tusker Project Fame'09 sikuambua
hata Millioni Moja 6

She is independent Awomen

He is kind Amen

She is nurturing Awomen

He is considerate Amen

She is free Awomen

He is free Amen

Ila Mungu alinibeba, wanipendao walinikosha 7

Na utundu kisanii ukanipooza 8

Hatimaye wazungu niliwachosha 9

Vitunguu kichwani sio hoja 10

Ofisini kwangu nyumbani mtanioza 11

Kwa Bwana wa Jah Rasta 12-Alaa
...that's the beginning of my dreadlocks which I have now