I bought this book towards the end of last year, but only opened it up this year when October was starting.
It is part of my collection of Poems written by Africans.
Within the pages of Songs of Fire, there lies the introduction and summary to Miguna Miguna the person.
Intellectual, brilliant, thorough and deep thinker.
Having read three of Miguna’s books, Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya, Treason: The Case Against Tyrant & Renegades and now this, I see that the fiery lawyer has been consistent in his message of fighting for social justice. He laid that foundation long ago”
Why fear death
While so many have been murdered
are murdered every second?
Why fear arrest or detention
when you are in the struggle,
for you are either death or alive
free or unfree!
This book was published in 1994 but it is still relevant to us today. Especially when the world is faced with too much turmoil owing to the increasing agitation for change by the masses and the tightening choke-hold by the capitalists.
Though not a fine poet per se, Miguna delivers complex thoughts in simple terms. His is a message of focused liberation, a defiance by the one whose top goal is total freedom.
The message has been delivered in non-complex words; the delivery is witty and thought-provoking. Topics covered are corruption, search for justice, identity and racism. Powerful words and phrases accompany these; they are also about awakening from the mass deception of the current world.
Zambian Professor of Law Dr. Munyonzwe Hamalengwa, writing in 2016 said, ‘Miguna has achieved literary genius from an early age. He is simply one of the best in the art of modern and socially relevant poetry anywhere’
The poems urge people, sometimes violently to stand up and fight for the good of society.
Miguna’s message of an unstoppable liberator is beautifully laid in the ‘Freedom Song’; the very long poem (from page 96 – 162) that repeats the Ujamaa message, loaded with meaning.
I have never read a personal account of history of how Miguna suffered under Moi, there’s a poem dedicated to that. ‘Life inside Kenyan Hells’ documents Miguna’s first kidnap by President Daniel Arap Moi’s security forces in November 14th 1987, his torture and eventual exile.
Nonetheless, Freedom doesn’t come easily and sometimes, those that we have put out trust in to lead the way fall short of expectations.
One of my favorite poems is titled Not Freedom, which criticized freedom icon Nelson Mandela ending with an accusation of him being a sellout.
Miguna laments how Mandela, after his release from prison ‘…failed to intone their (Che, Lumumba, Samora, Malcolm X, Biko) legacies’.
Failed to remind us of their murderous
But begged the villans for charity
Prostrated himself for vipers.
And we realized Mandela’s release
Is NOT FREEDOM.
Miguna pronounces what Mandela should have done.
Freedom must come when the vampires are dead,
Out of the barrel of a gun,
Trut…tru…u.tr…truut-ruuuuuu….
Never give up, as not all is lost. And Miguna’s consistency in the fight against injustice can still be found in the closing of the “Life inside Kenyan hells’
I swore never to give up
Swore to keep chanting: ALUTA CONTINUA!
I found this book radical! A must read.
Get this book from Nuria Store.