"Traditionally, poets are lyric historians. From the days of the bards and troubadours, the songs of the poets have not only been songs, but often records of the most moving events, the deepest thoughts and most profound emotional currents of their times. To understand Africa today, it is wise to listen to what its poets say—those who put their songs down on paper as well as those who only speak or sing them."
That is Langston Hughes writing in the introduction to Poems from Black Africa. Published in 1963, as the continent roiled in the wake of the post-colonialism and newly-won independence, it bears repeating in today's revolutionary times. Here are some places to start your exploring:
- Words Without Borders: "Words Cannot Be Weighed: Literature from Egypt." See particularly poetry by Tamar Fathy and Iman Mersal.
- Amardeep Singh on 'poetry in the protests' of Tunisia and Egypt
- Words Without Borders: "The Magic Lantern of Libyan Literature." See particularly poetry by Laila Neihoum, and Ashur Etwebi.
- "I Introduce Myself to the World" - a poem by Tunisian/French poet Amina Said.
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