African Anthology Quotes

“A chief who visits the river at the kiss of the sun will be pleased by the songs of the bird.
A chief who visits the river at noon will marry many wives.
A chief who visits the river at night will hear the ancestors speaking and his skin tingling.”
― Tapiwanaishe Pamacheche

“Colour me with black
paint me with white
we are both victims
of stupidity stirred in greed. Deep me inside the bucket of white I will write a story on your black skin without manipulation,
I will write a story on your skin without digging scars.”
― Tapiwanaishe Pamacheche

“you think humans
are better off in war than in peace?
Do you think humans
understand each other or they pretend? Do you think the depth of colour is skin deep? Do you think humanity can ever live in peace? Do you think we are lunatics
who try to sedate the barbarism?”
― Tapiwanaishe Pamacheche

“Hear me now

Right here I should speak
Right here I should cry
Right here I should shout
Right here I should soak
Hear me now ah! The sky of death
Lives parish on the hand of death
People die on the earth without sound
Hear me now ah! Voices fade without hope
Voices fade without an ear,
Voices fade without anyone
Hear me now ah! I should speak!
Hear me now ah! I should cry!
Hear me now ah! I should shout!
Hear me now ah! I should soak!
Speak! The mournful earth is bleeding
Cry! The heavens are dark and dead
Shout! Should we mend?
Soak let the river abide with my soul”
― Tapiwanaishe Pamacheche