Letter to the African Patriarch and Other Poems

Letter to the African Patriarch and Other Poems is a candid reflection on the struggles of African women, in their quest for personhood in a highly male-controlled cultural setting. The fifty-two poems are arranged in four chapters, with each reflecting a unique stage of the women's journey. “Shackles” (Chapter One), is a vivid description of the debilitating conditions that women are culturally conditioned into. For instance, Child Factory aptly describes a village woman’s lack of reproductive rights, and her inevitable end with post partum complications, while Destroyed Womanhood exposes the harmful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), that is still prevalent in several African and Arab cultures. Poems like Song of the Abuser, Femicide, and Terror Master, narrate the intimate ordeal of women in domestic violence, which, in many cultures around the world, is still treated as a ‘private matter.” Other unforgettable examples are Flight to Paradise, and The Laws of Femininity, in which women find themselves victimized by socio-cultural protocol, fads, and exploited labor. Prayer for a Boy exposes the rampant biased preference of boy children versus the girl child. This situation is compounded by surviving practices such as bride price payment to a girl’s family, in exchange for her hand in marriage. On the Market Stall exposes the derogatory nature of bride price. “Solidarity” (Chapter Two), is a call to women to embrace unity in the face of a common fate. The poet transports the reader to global scenarios and engagements to end women’s oppression. My Newborn is a call to action, appropriately commentating on the thematic concerns of Women’s World Conferences. However, amidst the chaos of gender-based cultural discrimination, Ms Kyarimpa appropriately commends the resilience of female persons, in poems like You are All-Noble, and You are Supreme. “Revolution” (Chapter Three), highlights the inevitability of the processes and action for full empowerment of women. In the most remarkable rendering, Letter to the African Patriarch, the title poem, challenges the commonly held views about women’s leadership potential. In a resonant odyssey, the poet demystifies the “forbidding dictates,” with empirical examples of women leaders like Megawati Soekarnoputri (former President of Indonesia); María Corazón Aquino (former President of the Philippines); and Mary Patricia McAleese (current President of Ireland). Dedication and achievements of the Uganda women’s Movement are celebrated in To Miria, my Heroine. “Emancipation” (Chapter Four), edifies the benefits of a true feminist struggle, with ideals like equality, development and peace, fully realized. In a celebratory tone, Ms Kyarimpa envisions a world of equity for all women. Poems like Empowerment Defined, I am the President, and Lessons in Self-appreciation, assert the ideals of impartiality as a necessary ingredient for every society. In a twist of poetic justice, Ms Kyarimpa creatively intones The Ten Commandments of Womyn, a fascinating reminder of the moral authority required to keep society in check. Letter to the African Patriarch and Other Poems is an assertion of woman power in contemporary society. The poems are written in clear poetic style, with some instances of aesthetics like meter and rhyme. Ample footnotes are used to illustrate critical concepts, events, and relevant allusions. Rendered with candid originality and a deep passion for women’s empowerment, Letter to the African Patriarch and Other Poems makes a fascinating read for both new and seasoned readers. Read more