Black Challenge
by
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“THE BATTLEFIELD
I am not at home
But in a jungle of jealousy,
Where waves of bitterness vibrate.
The first to shoot will survive.
I am not at home
But in a jungle of jealousy,
Where waves of bitterness vibrate
Bars excess but hungry children wail.
I am not at home
But in a jungle of jealousy,
Where waves of bitterness vibrate
As greenness devours my homelands.”
“THE LAUGHTER
Our beautiful hills turned bad mood into smiles!
Through the back door of the castle
The laughter vanished
Since racism was established in the Great Lakes region.
The vanished laughter’s echoes came back,
Entered through the front door Of my childhood compound
Where my brothers smile all the time.”
“THE POET
I am like a lizard
Upon the spring hot rocks.
I am like a blowing wind
On the corn valleys of my youth.
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About the Book
The Great Lakes region of Africa was believed to be the cradle of humanity but it turned out to be the hell in spite of its paradise inspiring landscape. War has become almost endemic in the region where the poet grew up. Chaos in all aspects of life ranging from violence, corruption, disease, children and women abuse, prostitution, looting, vandalism of all kinds prevail overtaking the harmony which had reigned for ages.
About the Author
Claver Nkurunziza was born on August 12, 1978 at Rutyazo in the province of Mwaro in Burundi. He attended Lycée du Lac Tanganyika secondary school. He then entered university of Mwaro where he got a bachelor of law degree.
He is now a manager of a training center in Mwaro. He is a fervent militant in the protection of environment and has founded a non profit organization in this field.
He has written many other poems in French and Kirundi, his mother tongue.