A Tribute To Ghanaian Poet & Diplomat Kofi Awanoor (information, comments, and poems)

Edited by Azizi Powell

I mourn for all those who have died or have been injured in the tragic terrorist attack on shoppers in a Westgate Mall in Naroibi, Kenya (September 21, 2013). My condolences to all the families & friends of the victims of that horrific tragedy.

Ghanaian poet & diplomat Kofi Awanoot was one of those who died in that attack. Here's some biographical information about Kofi Awanoor:
"Kofi Awoonor (March 13, 1935 – September 21, 2013) was a Ghanaian poet and author whose work combined the poetic traditions of his native Ewe people and contemporary and religious symbolism to depict Africa during decolonization. He started writing under the name George Awoonor-Williams"...

Here's an excerpt from an article about the tragic circumstances of that poet's death:
"Writers and poets from around the world have joined in mourning following the news that Professor Kofi Awoonor, a Ghanaian poet and diplomat, died after sustaining injuries during the terrorist attack on Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya.

Professor Awoonor, who was 78, was in the city to participate in the Storymoja Hay Festival, a celebration of writing and storytelling. He was due to perform on Saturday evening as part of a pan-African poetry showcase.

Professor Awoonor’s death was confirmed by the Ghanaian High Commission in Nairobi in the early hours of Sunday morning. One of the main aims of the Festival is to encourage reading and literacy among Kenya’s young people."

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POEMS BY KOFI AWANOOR

Example #1: THE CATHEDRAL
(Kofi Awanoor)

On this dirty patch
a tree once stood
shedding incense on the infant corn:
its boughs stretched across a heaven
brightened by the last fires of a tribe.
They sent surveyors and builders
who cut that tree
planting in its place
A huge senseless cathedral of doom.

Source: http://afrilingual.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/the-cathedral-kofi-awoonor/
That blog includes commentary about this poem.

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Example #2: REDISCOVERY
(Kofi Awoonor)

When our tears are dry on the shore
And the fishermen carry their nets home
And the sea gulls return to bird island
And the laughter of the children recedes
At night
There shall still linger here the communion we
Forged
The feast of oneness which we partook of

There shall still be the eternal gatemen
Who will close the cemetery door
And send the late mourners away
It cannot be music we heard that night
That still lingers in the chambers of memory
It is the new chorus of our forgotten comrades
And the halleluyahs of our second selves

Source: http://alonzy0.tripod.com/id2.html ALONZY'S AFRICAN POETRY SITE
-snip-
I corrected a few typographical errors that were made in this reposted poem.

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Example #3: Song Of Sorrow
(Kofi Awanoor)

....Something has happened to me
The things so great that I cannot weep;
I have no sons to fire the gun when I die
And no daughter to wail when I close my mouth
I have wandered on the wilderness
The great wilderness men call life
The rain has beaten me,
And the sharp stumps cut as keen as knives
I shall go beyond and rest.
I have no kin and no brother,
Death has made war upon our house;

Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/kofi-awoonor-song-of-sorrow/

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ADDENDUM
I happened upon this diary about the Westgate Mall tragedy from the political left leaning website dailykos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/22/1240566/-Why-No-Discussion-of-the-Westgate-Mall-Attack "Why No Discussion of the Westgate Mall Attack?" by matching mole.

In respond to thee question "Why no discussion [on dailykos] about the Kenyan mall attack, one commenter wrote:
"It's Africa
People die all the time. It sounds cold, but that's what you come to expect when you imperialistically carve out countries without regard to ethnic and cultural considerations."
by evilcommunist
-snip-
Another commenter responded with this:
"Thanks for your cold heartedness

I AM African and I contribute to discussions here about the USA, but I guess it is too much ask you to feel empathy towards people who live on the wealthiest continent that provides every single need for your comfortable American life. Huh?

From the Coltan that allows you to have your mobile phone and fancy electronic gadget to diamonds, gold, copper, tin, manganese, bauxite for aluminum, not to mention the human resources that built the West during past centuries and even today. Sure you can flippantly toss of the continent telling us its just Africa, people die there all the time.

If you bothered to google you'd realize how intertwined the USA is in cooperation with African Union forces in the fight against al Shabaab extremists in Somalia and North Eastern Kenya.

And the renowned Ghanaian poet and former Ambassador to the UN who died in the Kenyan attack was my mentor and Uncle. He was invited to Kenya to perform at the Storymoja Hay Festival for Writers. So I am in mourning and find your comment truly offensive.

Tells you how interconnected we are on this planet. Show compassion!!"
by zizi on Sun Sep 22, 2013 at 08:16:39 AM PDT
-snip-
By the way, that commenter has the same nickname as me, but isn't me. That said, I definitely agree with what she wrote.

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My thanks to all those who I quoted in this post.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Videos Of Kenyan Catholic Choirs, Part II

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part II of a two part post on videos of Catholic choirs from Kenya, East Africa.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/videos-of-kenyan-catholic-choirs-part-i.html for Part I of this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes. The copyrights remain with their owners.

My thanks to the composers of these songs, and the choir directors, vocalists, and musicians associated with this music. My thanks also to the producers and uploaders of these featured videos.

This post provides only a very small sample of this beautiful music. Additional examples can be found on YouTube.

Unfortunately, I only speak & read English. I believe that Swahili is the language used for all or most of the songs featured in this post. It would be great if some visitors to this page would confirm that, and also post in the comment section an English translation for these songs' titles. Thanks in advance!

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FEATURED VIDEOS
[These videos are presented in no particular order.]

Video #1: Ikutani Choir-Kuvow'a kwa kilalinda



Uploaded by rmbmb on Nov 29, 2008

Ikutani Catholic choir
Machakos, Kenya

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Video #2: Ningekuwa na mabawa



Uploaded by swaramimi on Jan 27, 2008

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Video #3: Mwimbine Bwana Wimbo Mpya



Uploaded by kyalopeter on Apr 7, 2010

KUCC-Kenyatta University

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Video #4: Nani kama mama



Uploaded by kwambengei on May 28, 2010

Migori

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Video #5: St. Vincent Ang'iya Migori - Ingekuwa Heri Leo



uploaded by Jasunamigori on Feb 20, 2011

St. Vincent Ang'iya Migori church choir, Migori, Kenya

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Video #6: Malindi Choir- Zungukazunguka



Uploaded by gathandara on Jan 26, 2010

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Video #7: Mt Kizito Choir - Nimeonja Pendo (OFFICIAL VIDEO)



Uploaded by joashstilltheman on Sep 25, 2010

From the album MUNGU YULE
"Nimeonja pendo lako"
(I have tasted of Your love)

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

Videos Of Kenyan Catholic Choirs, Part I

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part I of a two part post on videos of Catholic choirs from Kenya, East Africa.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/videos-of-kenyan-catholic-choirs-part.html for Part II of this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes. The copyrights remain with their owners.

My thanks to the composers of these songs, and the choir directors, vocalists, and musicians associated with this music. My thanks also to the producers and uploaders of these featured videos.

This post provides only a very small sample of this beautiful music. Additional examples can be found on YouTube.

Unfortunately, I only speak & read English. I believe that Swahili is the language used for all or most of the songs featured in this post. It would be great if some visitors to this page would confirm that, and also post in the comment section an English translation for these songs' titles. Thanks in advance!

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
[These videos are presented in no particular order.]

Video #1: Kenyan Catholic Music



Uploaded by mbukukanyau on Sep 28, 2007

Kenyan Catholic choir Praising God. Distinctly African Music, Distinctly Catholic in Identity.

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Video #2: Nikupe nini by St Joseph's Migori



Uploaded by kagora1 on Jan 21, 2009

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Video #3: njooni tumwimbie



Uploaded by kwambengei on May 28, 2010

sauti za migori

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Video #4: Amkeni (kyenzenzelu) Kitui Cathedral Choir.flv



Uploaded by Bulsimon2 on May 22, 2011

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Video #5: Ilimpasa-Kenya Navy Catholic Choir.DAT



Uploaded by vastization on May 11, 2010

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Video #6: Nikiziangalia Mbingu



Uploaded by otisjalwedo on Sep 18, 2007

Kwaya Kuu ya Mt. Cecilia
Kanisa Kuu la Mt. Theresia Arusha

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Video #7: Njia ya Uzima -Makongoro Choir



Uploaded by Jaylove14 on Jun 6, 2009

-snip-
I'm not sure if this choir is Catholic or not. However, I wanted to include this video because the video uploader indicated that it was a Swahili old "Gold" Gospel song.

Also, I'm fascinated by how much the movements which accompany the singing looks like non-religious African American line dances. Are these movements that the Kenyan choirs do similar or the same as traditional Kenyan dances?

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Viewer comments are welcome.