Oakland to Ghana
“…we were blind with joy at the feeling of homecoming. In Ghana, there is growing awareness among local people that African Americans have traceable lineage to Africa, but I heard the term “obroni” whispered as we walked by. It cannot be denied that our bodies held both a race and a nationality…Our walks, speaking tones, and accents make us uniquely African American in the USA; ironically, these traits made us both African American and foreign in Ghana.”
— Karla Brundage
Roll Call
Azi Edoua and Mimi Tempestt
Crystal Tettey and Wild-Flower Brashear
Emmanuel Akambo, JR and Adeshima (Marcus Lorenzo Penn)
Jewell King-Speaks and Tyrice Deane Brown
Mariska Araba Taylor-Darko and Wanda Sabir
Nathaniel Tetteh Ogli and Radhiyah Ayobami
Nathaniel Tetteh Ogli and Xiomara
Obi and Makeda (Sandra Hooper Mayfield)
Sir Black (Yibor Kojo Yibor) and Karla Brundage
WhoIsDeydzi (Dodzi Korsi Aveh) and Tamaris
Wordrite (Joseph Chief Korgan) and Zakiyyah G.E. Capehart
Xorlali (Nora Anyidoho) and Sara Biel
Z. Afua (Woé, Woédem Afua Parku) and Imani Todd
“We are poets crossing the Atlantic to compete in a Poetry Slam and cultural exchange in Ghana that culminates a yearlong Pan-African poetry writing workshop. Our ages are 21-65. Our sexualities, genders and racial identities vary. Our life experiences, socio-economic classes, and upbringings are diverse, but we are mostly Black Americans.
I am the leader of this group that has committed to writing linked poetry with exchange partners in the West African countries of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. We will join with Ehalakasa, our associate group that is headquartered in the city of Accra in Ghana. We will meet Sir Black and our other Ghanaian partner poets, who range from ages 18-63. Mostly they are students at the University of Ghana, Lagon in Accra.”
— Karla Brundage
“But the most significant and difficult topic was the broken connection between African Americans and Africa, the Motherland. Perceptions–what are they? Those of us whose ancestors were enslaved in the crossing of the Middle Passage now belong to the Promised Land. Descendants of slaves are now blessed with blue passports adorned with golden eagles and acces to the freedom to travel. The lost and prodigal, once cast away, hope to return to open arms. Some perceive that the returnees want to reign as kings and queens.
What is this myth of the American Dream, and how will it play out in the minds of the Africans we meet: Concurrently, what is the African Dream held so dear in the minds of Black people of the diaspora, many of whom have been homeless too long? Do we shoulder the heavy burden of racism as our inheritance? Where is home?”
— Karla Brundage
Featured Poems
Fat Tuesday
by Makeda
We went to Nana house
for Catholic Friday fish and fries,
coleslaw, pound cake
scrumptious, icebox lemon pies.
But my favorite day was Tuesday
when those who were able
could hear my Daddy making love
to Mama at the dining table.
He made love creative
like fairy tales and fables to describe
how good Mama’s food was
to those who sat around the table.
Visitors would smile and blush
even Auntie Mable…
Unity
by Xiomara
I am we
a piece of the whole
the collective essence of life.
We are the roar of the sea
smashing against the cliffside
or the salt left behind in the grains of sand
sweet sugar mango glowing
as it drops into eager hands
mouths hungry for its nectar
the sun beating down on a dirt road
while heat waves dance in the distance
the earth that quakes in summer time
or the pulse of once-still waters.