D'autres printemps

Virginie Grimaldi

Description

Of Poor Billionaires and Rich Paupers is a startlingly funny and fresh fusion of poetry, speeches, musings, warnings and pleadings couched in words that are memorable and well thought-out.

It also carries what can possibly pass for "political and prophetic writings". For instance, several years before the possible impression, emergence and influence of Kenya's youth-led protests, commonly known as the Gen Z revolution and also described as a "youth-quake" in the media—Maina, etched and echoed "Independence brought dependence. WE NEED A REVOLUTION!"—foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention. A prophetic speech is used to describe a thing — like a caution, a feeling, or a grievance — rather than a person.

This collection vividly, carefully and courageously gives voice to the experiences of the ordinary African citizens who are short-changed and pauperized by those who lack servant and visionary leadership, and those who "fatten lean meat" by appointing cronies and sycophants who are neither qualified nor smart. It is about the plight of the poor set against the mental poverty of the powerful.

Evoking a range and a rage of emotions, and exploring a diversity of key and serious themes and topics ranging from "a cornucopia of riches in the corridors of power versus a prison of poverty in the lives of the commoners", corruption, the value of independence, brutality, betrayal, breakups, existential crises like climate emergency, epidemics and conflicts, unemployment, extraterrestrials, injustices, childhood traumas, motherhood ,homelessness, breakups, heroes and villains, naming ceremonies, to evictions and displacements from ancestral lands— the poets use humor to bring lightness, accessibility,inspiring thought and discussion in a less hostile fashion.

In a heartfelt and happy poem titled 'Standing Sentinel' Ndaba writes about motherhood, excavating into the astonishing and blessing voyage of guardianship, warmth, care, joy, and sacrifices.

She`s an indulgent, vigilant parent

She gathers them when a threat`s present

She gathers her chicks under her wings

She herds chicks away from danger`s rings

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