Africa

Interesting that this poem and "Race" were submitted together because, for me, the two poems are linked in the sense that they both deal with the consequences of consumerism. The entire continent of Africa was raped and pillaged to satisfy the consumerism of Europe beginning in the late Victorian era. Your poem "Race" deals with the personal consequences of our economic system for a majority of the world.<br><br>

The disruption of old structures, traditions and means of earning a livelihood and integration into a global trading regime that favoured the rich countries over African countries after the colonial period ended has lead to the horror that is Africa today and that you describe so graphically in your poem.<br><br>

I have a problem with the conclusion, though. Certainly, there is much work for Africans to do in solving the crises of the continent, but it is not enough to expect Africans to heal themselves in isolation from the rest of the world. The exploitation of Africa continues with the recent entry of China as a significant political and economic force in Africa that is no more benign than the imperial powers that have gone before.<br><br>

But mostly I am excited to see someone from Africa writing poems about the personal and continental issues facing Africans.

BTW: In case you are notaware of it, you have been mentioned twice so far in the New Poems Review at: <br><br>

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=254157&page=97 <br>

and <br>

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=254157&page=96 <br>