Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Real Global Poets

Every so often, you come across someone whose love for life and genuine love for humanity shine through. You might say they're a treasure. Recently, I’ve had that experience thanks to Katie Travis. She’s currently playing the part of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera US tour. One of her passions is a program called Real Global Poets. Please read through this and consider purchasing a book of poetry from them to help support their cause. You can also make a donation of any amount through their website. More details are below.

Something about this program strikes a chord with me. While we tend to get caught up in our first world problems and the news media seem to over-focus on issues of relatively minor importance, there's a whole world out there that we ignore out of choice, convenience or complacency.

One such place is Kenya. Kenya's geo-political position is anything but enviable.
  • To the east is Somalia. Its recent history consists of lawlessness and clan warfare. The UN estimates over one million people have become refugees since the military government collapsed in 1991.
  • To the north is Ethiopia. Its recent history has been greatly influenced by its neighbors. Somalia invaded in 2006. Historical tensions with Eritrea flared up again 2011. In 2012, the government was accused of forcing thousands off their land for foreign investors.
  • To the northwest is South Sudan. Its recent history includes gaining independence in 2011 after the conclusion of Africa's longest-running civil war. But independence didn't bring peace. South Sudan itself had a civil war in 2013-2015. During the war, 2.2 million people became refugees. 
  • To the west is Uganda. Its recent history includes military involvement in South Sudan, Somalia and DRCongo.
While Kenya has its own share of domestic challenges, including numerous terrorist attacks by Al-Shabab militants, it has become a refuge for millions of people displaced in the region. Just recently, Kenya announced that by November it will close all refugee camps in the country. That means more than 600,000 people, already refugees, will again be without homes. Imagine that. 600,000 people. That's like Wisconsin announcing that they'll be closing Madison in five months. Closing the camps also means no more (or severely reduced) health services, food aid, access to water and general security.

The Dadaab Refugee Camp is the largest of these camps, housing more than 300,000 people on the Kenya-Somali border. Learn more about the "Sanctuary Without End: The Refugees the World Forgot."

Refugees here aren't allowed to build permanent structures. 
Many live in tents or structures made from old tarps.
Real Global Poets
Real Global Poets (RGP) is a collaborative effort between Real Life Poets (RLP) and The Great Globe Foundation's (GGF) Dadaab Theatre Project. RGP aims to give a voice to young Kenyans and youth in Alabama using poetry to express experiences and feelings.

We are a team composed of artists, teachers, and leaders who work with under-served youth around the world, showing them that through art we can affect change globally.  At present time, The Dadaab Refugee Camp (where Real Global Poets is based in Kenya) is facing closure by the Kenyan government with the possibility of displacing over 300,000 refugees.  We hope to bring a human story to the current plight of these refugees.  If you would like to get involved and donate to this program in order to help their voice be heard, please go to https://globalpoets.org/get-involved


Where I’m from
Ojullu Opiew
Kenya

I’m from the dry crops,
from the piles of animals’ hides,
and the croaking frogs in the ponds by night.
I’m from the women who walked fifty miles to fetch water.
I’m from the herbalist,
from the place where the average population can’t afford living costs,
where higher education is hidden in the abysmal well.
I’m from suasion,
where you have to grease the wheel
to achieve what you want!
I’m from the girls who are married off to the old men,
from those ladies viewed as objects of wealth,
where educating a girl is a waste of money.
I’m from the place where girls are sought for partners by their maternal fathers,
only because the stepbrothers had married.
I’m from false accusation,
where youth from an entire town are termed thugs,
where everybody is a suspect of banditry.
I’m from disdain, and denial from my birthright.

That’s about my place, what about your place?
Do you hear such words as maltreatment and bribery?
Do you move freely without the sound of antiquing racism tapping its feet on your back?
Tell me if you sleep peacefully without expecting, bang bang around your hut.
I want to know if there are such jokes as inferior and superior ethnics in your place.

I told you I’m from laboring,
where my grandfather is forced to work on coffee farms,
in unfavorable weather without wages,
where my father cuts down the trees on the roadside as part of his personal hygiene.

I’m from the place where my grandparents live as refugees on my ancestral soil.
I’m from my history and my culture,
I’m from my kinfolk who marry with dignity.
I’m from the drumbeats in your chest,
from the beads that dangle on your necks.
I’m from a search for my lost identity.
I’m from the payment of dowry,
from the kingship and hierarchy.
I’m from his majesty, Ochudho!
So who is your king?