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Back From The Dead

~ The Rising of an African Spirit

Back From The Dead

Category Archives: indepedent author

african praise poetry – izibongo

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by nativedrum in africa, african, african author, african in america, african poetry, african writer, articles, blogger, cultural, ethnic identity, historical figure, history, identity, indepedent author, indie author, leadership, national identity, opinion piece, pan african, poetry, self publishing, social commentary, tradition, tribal identity, writing

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africa, ancestors, apartheid, Back from the Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit, biko, clan names, frank talk, freedom, funerals, geography, heritage, history, isindebele, isixhosa, isizulu, lineage, mandela, martin luther king jr, mlk, nat turner, nelson mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, poetry, praise poems, praise poetry, rainbow nation, richard sherman, robert sobukwe, sesotho, setswana, siswati, southern africa, struggle, thomas sankara, tributes, weddings

Izibongo is an Nguni term literally meaning ‘clan names’. In SeSotho it is referred to as Dithoko, in SeTswana as Diboko and in SePedi as Diretho.

African oral poetry, the izibongo, are ancient praise poems which are a popular indigenous oral tradition in Southern Africa. Traditionally, it is used to praise kings, queens and all royalty; praise poetry is an essential part of our essence as African people.

It is the vessel of our history, our cultural heritage and our reference point on how to express ourselves.

Africans in general rely on praise poetry to identify themselves because many Africans have clan names which form the basis of our identity. These clan names are bound together in sequence or hierarchy relative to geography, history, lineage and major historical events.

Praise poetry is used to compile and narrate the history, heritage and lineage of a people, family, a nation, etc.

During the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa this ancient tradition was revived and widely used for protest poetry at large public gatherings.

This ancient tradition is also used to praise and celebrate the legacy of individuals of note and record events of great importance – battles, wars, famine, floods, marriage, births, deaths, arrivals of foreigners, freedom, etc.

Excerpt from a translation of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela praises:
It’s a dream of the dead
It’s a dream that people thought would never come true
People have cried till they gave up
How many souls are under the ground?
How many corpses because of Mandela
Mandela Mandela
Mandela Mandela…

In my recently published book, Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit, I have included three praise poems dedicated to Nelson Mandela (Caught Forever), Martin Luther King Jr (Schooling Us) and Steve Biko (Urban Legend).

I have also written tribute pieces to celebrate the legacies of Thomas Sankara and Robert Sobukwe, and I am currently researching Nat Turner with the intention of writing a tribute piece based on his contribution to the struggle for freedom for all.

Praise poetry is often used to invoke the presence of the ancestors in healing ceremonies, funerals and weddings.

coming back from the dead

06 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by nativedrum in africa, african, african in america, african poetry, cultural, freestyle poetry, identity, indepedent author, indie author, leadership, poetry, self publishing

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1976 soweto riots, africa, amazon, apartheid, associated press, atlanta, back from the dead Rising from the ashes, biko, black panthers, books, civil rights, congress, democrats, dona richards, ebola, ebooks, historically black colleges, i have a dream, johannesburg, khafre, kilimanjaro, kunta kente, library of congress, malcolm x, marimba ani, martin luther king jr, mbeki, mid term elections, middle passage, nelson mandela, obama, poetry, racism, reading, republicans, segregation, slavery, stevie wonder, stokely carmichael, tommie smith, trafford publishing, washington dc, washington march, west africa

Coming back from the dead
Rising from the ashes
The earth rumbling from within
From within the hearts of a few good men
Sons of mummies
Soldiers of reason…..

An excerpt from  “Coming back from the dead”  – complete poem can be found in the anthology of poetry – Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

Copyright © knox mahlaba 2014
Author – Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

book reviews

03 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by nativedrum in african poetry, african writer, black poetry, blogger, book review, erotic poetry, freestyle poetry, indepedent author, indie author, revolutionary poetry, self publishing, sensual poetry, urban poetry, writing

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1976 soweto riots, adrina smith, africa, african union, afro, amazon, atlanta, books, civil rights, dona richards, ebola, ebooks, egypt, england, historically black colleges, india, johannesburg, john f kennedy, khafre, kilimanjaro, kindle, kunta kente, london, malcolm little, malcolm x, marimba ani, martin luther king jr, nelson mandela, new dehli, nook, racism, reading, reviews, segregation, slavery, stevie wonder, stokely carmichael, tommie smith, washington dc, washington march, west africa

  • Be prepared for reality

    By Adrina Smith on November 1, 2014

    Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

    This book will take you on a quest for actuality. I was simply drawn in from the page to the last. The descriptive and narrative steps taken to absorb the reader with the simplicity of survival but embarks on the empowerment through slavery and civil rights.

    The hardship detailed from Knox Mahlaba, who has loved, lost, rebuilt and matured through obstacles.

    Favorite quotes:
    “Freedom a costly preoccupation, using the past to shepherd the future.”
    “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument”

Link

amazon author page

02 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by nativedrum in africa, african, african author, african in america, african poetry, african writer, articles, black, black poetry, blogger, book review, erotic poetry, ethnic identity, freestyle poetry, history, identity, indepedent author, indie author, khafre, leadership, national identity, opinion piece, pan african, poetry, revolutionary poetry, self publishing, sensual poetry, social commentary, urban poetry, writing

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1976 soweto riots, africa, afro, amazon, Amazon author, anthology, apartheid, Back from the Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit, biko, black panthers, book reviews, burkina faso, chris brown, dona richards, ebola, freedom of speech, hector peterson, historically black colleges, i have a dream, john f kennedy, khafre, knox mahlaba, kunta kente, love, malcolm x, martin luther king jr, middle passage, muhammad ali, nelson mandela, obama, poetry, racism, reading, sankara, segregation, south africa, soweto, spoken word, tommie smith, trials and tribulations, washington dc

visit my Amazon author page

and learn more about the author of

Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

 

Quote

26 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by nativedrum in africa, african, african author, african in america, african writer, black, blogger, citizenship, cultural, ethnic identity, identity, indepedent author, indie author, khafre, leadership, national identity, pan african, poetry, self publishing, social commentary, tradition, tribal identity, writing

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abet, abuja, amsterdam, atlanta, beijing, books, cairo, delai lama, dublin, ebola, ebooks, johannesburg, khafre, literacy, london, mumbai, nairobi, new dehli, new york, obama, poetry, reading, shanghai, sydney, tokyo, washington dc

“All I hope to accomplish

is to challenge you to use your talents

for the betterment of mankind!”

………knox mahlaba

puddles

19 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by nativedrum in black poetry, freestyle poetry, indepedent author, indie author, poetry, self publishing, sensual poetry, urban poetry

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distance, footsteps, gait, hips, mystery, oceans, piano, poise, puddles, rhythm, seas, skin, stevie wonder, woman

Enthralled by her footsteps
Captivated by her words
Words spoken in honesty
Depicted by her poise
Her voice a mystery
Wanting to read her
Like Stevie Wonder would….

Excerpt from Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

Copyright © knox mahlaba 2014
Author – Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

caught forever

16 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by nativedrum in african author, african poetry, african poetry, african writer, black poetry, blogger, historical figure, history, indepedent author, indie author, leadership, poetry, revolutionary poetry, self publishing, urban poetry

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africa, african union, anc, apartheid, chris brown, ebola, nelson mandela, robben island, west africa

Tribute to Nelson Mandela

Escaping tradition
Running away from responsibility
Only to be caught
By a greater responsibility
Chiseled by a quarry
Bathed in salty water
Seasoned by kelp banished to an island
Never forgetting
No man is an island
Even royalty
Heeding a calling
Caught forever
The trap Sisulu’s making
Tightened by Tambo
The nation falling onto the safety net
Thank you Madiba….

Excerpt from Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

Copyright © knox mahlaba 2014
Author – Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

cried within my soul

15 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by nativedrum in african author, african poetry, black poetry, history, indepedent author, poetry, revolutionary poetry, self publishing

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12 years a slave, apartheid, black panthers, civil right, colonialism, freedom, hollywood, Indoctrinated, jim crow, lupita, lynching, malcolm x, middle passage, mlk, plantation, racism, segregation, slave movies, slavery

Hunted, captured
Shipped, imprisoned, exiled
Enslaved, colonised, tortured
Indoctrinated, miseducated
Endured, persevered
Africa born within me
Emancipated…

Excerpt from Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

Copyright © knox mahlaba 2014
Author – Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

schooling us

15 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by nativedrum in african author, african poetry, african writer, black poetry, historical figure, indepedent author, indie author, leadership, poetry, revolutionary poetry, self publishing

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1960s, alabama, amazon, Amazon author, black panthers, chris brown, civil rights, ebola, historically black colleges, i have a dream, john f kennedy, kkk, lyndon b johnson, malcolm little, malcolm x, martin luther king jr, medgar evers, mlk, public speaking, rosa parks, ruby bridges, segregation, selma, southern leadership conference, stokely carmichael, washington dc, washington march, west africa

Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Decrying inequality
Preferring a peaceful path
Walking to Selma
Marching to D.C.
Writing a letter for the struggle for freedom
Standing your ground
Standing tall
Remaining upright
Taking the high ground
Placing your family at a peril….

Excerpt from Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

Copyright © knox mahlaba 2014
Author – Back From The Dead: The Rising of an African Spirit

Image

I am a reluctant writer

10 Friday Oct 2014

Tags

1976 soweto riots, biko, soweto, youth unemployment

Born in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, I am a reluctant writer.

A former copywriter who turned to poetry.

Writing has always been a hobby that became a copywriting job and ultimately I now write for a greater purpose.

The main reason I write poetry is to highlight the numerous conundrums that life offers.

All I do is relay life’s questions to the reader to provoke thought or possible answers.

I also driven to write because I think as African people we should take the lead in defining the African experience, play an active role in shaping future generations and express the African perspective..

 

knox mahlaba

Posted by nativedrum | Filed under african author, african poetry, african poetry, african writer, black poetry, erotic poetry, freestyle poetry, historical figure, history, indepedent author, indie author, revolutionary poetry, self publishing, sensual poetry, urban poetry

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