《Poetic Justice》

Every so often I stumble upon such greatness... I don't know the author.

The piece below highlights some if not most of my fears at a time when the future is uncertain and in a world filled with glimpses of economic turmoil.

Enjoy!!!

For a moment of pleasure

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that my debtors are knocking at my door
and that I have insulted my landlord's tribe

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that I cannot afford my children's school fees
Nor provide for more than a meal a day

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that I have not been able to get a decent job and my bursary was almost revoked

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that there is a God watching
And oppress the innocents

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that my child died because there was no medicine
And my mother is following suit

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that my business is bankrupt
because I could not afford a genset and the bank's interest is too high to stomach

For a moment of pleasure
I will forget that my country is kneeling at the doors of IMF
and my salary may remain static for years, zesco tariffs and fuel price to go up.

For a moment of pleasure
I will dance to my heart's content
and ride on the roofs of cars

And if I die in this moment of pleasure
At least it was a moment of pleasure.....

A shot of teargas and a platter of bullets, please!

50+ years on and we're still battling the struggle; Police brutality. Our ancestors are turning in their graves. This is what they fought for. This is why they took the bullets so that we and our children don't have to.

For me this is outright bordering on people's human rights.

I mean, we can't keep tip toeing around this issue. We've come a long way as a nation not to have in place measures safeguarding human rights and for people not to know the repercussions for infringement of these same rights.

It's no wonder Zambia Police is Referred to as "Zabwino Palibe" in certain parts of the country. That's nyanja (an Eastern Province influenced street language) for "Good for nothing."

They seem to relish the licence to harass that's been bestowed upon them. You can't expect not to get a reaction from aggravation. ( So I ask this, what leaders entertain such?)

The same people that are required by law to protect are the ones people now need protection from - how ironic. 

It's a mockery for everything this nation so claims to stand for; a government for the people, of the people, by the people.

This is what happens when you give someone a gun and a licence to kill. There's no such a thing as a good guy with a gun, and this sketch by Stillmatic tells it as it is but not how it's meant to be.

Rashede Dubose: The Occupational Hazard Of An Expressive Artist!

What is art?

Art, to me cannot be boxed in with just one simple definition, and anyone trying to do so will definitely fall short in explanation due to limited vocabulary.

But what I know for certain is that art is expressive, hence, artists use this platform to communicate to the world some of the toughest hardships faced in our society.

The piece below is by an American Artist by the name of Rashede Dubose, who tries to do just that, communicate to the world.

It is about the effects of temporary lust, which everyone seems to give in to today.

Since broken homes have become a norm nowadays, the mostly affected ones are the inncocent children that stem from this vice who suffer when couples go their separate ways. 

"This is not the way i want it or imagine it!" - Rashede Dubose

Scent of a woman!

Most days she's a mother or a sister or a partner, but above all, she's every woman.

Other days she's the constant wind that fills every man's sail.

Below is a pencil dipiction of a typical modern day woman's role in our society by an unknown artist.

Art Speaks!

Although this image does not have obscene content, it has a deep hidden meaning that showcases some of the hard and nasty realities from our society. The images portrayed by an artist from Spain, Luis Quiles, will surely leave you with Goosebumps due to the harsh reality they showcase. He covers areas such as exploitation, sexism, violence and homophobia

Hot In The News!

Energy Minister, Hon Dora Siliya, speaking on behalf of government proposes banning the use of charcoal and to be replaced with coal. The million kwacha question here is, how much do we really know about coal first and foremost?

Alternative power sources are warranted but of course within reason and owing to the current economic woes, cost considerations should be at the core of all proposals, more so those from government.

From wot I understand, coal takes time to heat up and it is not ideal for our domestic setup due to the pricey equipment necessary for the use of coal which not everyone in the middle sector and below can afford.

Another concern is that coal deposits are far away from those that can afford to harness and use this kind of energy so any interruption in transport logistics might lead to countrywide shortages and countrywide upheavals thereafter.

While I agree with the looming change in climate being partly attributed to deforestation, I believe in cleaner sources of power and that they do exist, therefore the proposed use of coal is just as hazardous to the climate as the use of charcoal is. Why not invest in solar energy? The initial cost might be more but the running cost is definitely lower and consequently pays off eventually.

My Father's Words!

Do not worry about the size of a woman's buttocks or breasts but worry about the size of her heart and brain.