Written piece
Freedom Show
Judith Macha
Tanzania
About this piece
On the eve of Tanganyika's independence, Alexander Nyirenda carried the Uhuru Torch to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. There, he lit the torch to symbolize freedom for all of Africa and beyond. This poem, the Freedom Show, is a depiction of that historic journey to the top.
We shiver with the trees gathering tighter,
Their branches narrowing, so the Sun can get louder,
Their whisper chastising —
Circling us,
And stifling.
Is it getting darker?
‘Are you breathing?’
Or is it hotter?
The short Grass looks up,
Their blades point out — ‘Your eyes are dead!’
‘So why are you up?’ The Leaves above ask,
We lookup, ‘My eyes are open!’ —
We shake our head,
And adjust our mask.
‘There, always’ — the Branches sway sideways,
‘Your mask is slipping!’ our Sun billows its rays.
But my body is moving!
The Rock sharply reminds the soles of our feet —
‘Don’t Stop! It’s freedom! And soon you’ll eat!’
‘It’s a short way!’ Something whispers in our ear,
Maybe it’s the Sun — all that’s left for today.
Have I earned my turn?
Have I won?
Will tomorrow finally return?
‘Can I rest?’
‘Of course, anytime —
You can stop, breathe in, and continue the climb.’
‘But every breath is heavy!’
‘Then this is your test, it’s Uhuru up ahead,
If you don’t stick to the journey,
You’ll rest when you’re dead’
The Earth’s smirk, scraps our skin —
‘And don’t count on me, I won’t be your bed!’
‘You — I expect,
To treat,
And heal,
And guide me to the peak —
Dear Earth what is this tone? Are we not kin?’
‘When Uhuru comes,
All you’ll remember is Snow,
But underneath it I’ll be, so you can dazzle our sky —
With the blinding flames, of your Freedom Show.
While you torch up the night,
I’ll be struggling —
Propping up, your beloved peak,
In the name of our kinship, and camaraderie.’
Creeping to the tip of the peak,
The cold has us weak and blistering,
But the sight of the pinnacle —
Oh! I can’t breathe!
Oh! it’s so beautiful!