Mshairikasti The Poetcast

Yalipowashika, magonjwa na njaa, na umasikini Mukahangaika, kwa zenu fadhaa, kusaka auniMukatawanyika, kukimbia baa, kwenda ugenini Mukamiminika, mote kasambaa, kote mabarani Nako kapokewa Mukaauniwa Mwengine mukawa, kwa yenu khiyana, munamukoloni 

Taaluma yake ni Rasilimaliwatu, lakini fani yake ni ushairi. Jina lake ni Ali Mohammed, mshairi kutoka visiwani Zanzibar.

We agreed to have an election and not the warWe agreed to have open and fair campaignWe agreed to listen to the voice from the ballot boxBut for your treacheryAll that we agreed You easily tore them upThen you started your perfidyYour banditryAnd full of hooliganism!

Sakina Taki, a poet from Nairobi, has found her peace in Zanzibar and for that she chose to launch her poetry collection, My Little Yellow Book, on the island. She speaks about healing, redemption, and redefining space, existence and essence. #ThePoetcast#Mshairikasti#MyLittleYellowBook

Ni nadra siku mbili kupita bila kukutana na shairi lake mtandaoni. Ni kama kwamba analielezea kila jambo maishani kwa njia ya ushairi.  Anaamini ushairi ni rahisi, ni halisi na ni mwepesi. Jina lake ni Mfaume Khamis, na lakabu yake ni Mshairi Machinga. 

Mara nyingi, Waswahili hurejelea misamiati inayohusu mambo ya baharini kwenye fasihi yao. Kuna misemo na methali kadhaa zinazowagusanisha Waswahili na bahari, na sababu ni kuwa wao ni watu wa pwani. Msikilize Ali Othman Hamad kwenye Mshairikasti.Many a time, Swahili people engage in sea affairs when talking about issues in their literature, because they are people of the seas. So say Ali Othman Hamad, an experienced sailor from Zanzibar.

Nina furaha ya kumualika kwenye MSHAIRIKASTI mshairi kijana na mwenye kipaji wa Kiswahili kutoka Tanzania, Bashiru Abdallah, ambaye amechapisha diwani yake ya pili iitwayo Wino wa Dhahabu.I am very glad to invite to THE POETCAST the young talented Swahili poet from Tanzania, Bashiru Abdallah, who has recently published his second book, Wino wa Dhahabu (The Golden Ink). 

About six years ago, I had an opportunity to meet with Adi Keissar, an Israeli poet with Yemeni heritage, in Bayreuth - a city in southern Germany, where we were both invited to attend a cultural festival under the theme CULTURAL FUSION. Therefore, this interview is older than the  THE POETCAST but, nevertheless,  very informative  on the significance of culture to building the brigdes in divided societies. 

Si jipya nilinenalo, lilishanenwa dahariMote linanenwa lilo, na miye nalikaririJambo nikushaurilo, hupaswi kulighairiSubiri akhi subiriKwamba kila lianzalo, ndilo pia liishalo

Crying for you, o dear Pen, for not sticking to my fingersWhy don't you stay there for me to write down - All that I wanted to, before I depart this world?Crying for you, o dear Time!Kalamu oo kalamu, mbona hukai vyandani?Mbona hukai ‘kadumu, kuyaandika bukuniYote niliyoazimu, sijauka dunianiWakati oo wakati!Shairi: Mohammed GhassaniMuziki: Ally Fadhil JumaDiwani: Mfalme Ana Pembe (Uk. 70-71)

Yaleli kipenzi, fuadini mwangu, ulojifungiaUkajihifadhi, jua na mawingu, yangakunyesheaJapo umeridhi, wito wake Mungu, kuuitikia -Mbona mtimaniUngalimo ndani?Hukunifundisha, kukufungulia, nikuache wende?

Muendao Nyali, mahabuba wetu, kumtembeleaMwambieni hali, maishani mwetu, alotuwachiaNgumu kwelikweli, hatuwezi kattu, kuja izoweaBali twashukuruHatumkufuruIlahi Ghafuru, aliyemuita, akamwitikia!

Yes, it’s true that you were old, but you were not weak As for us, the old age means not inactiveness But rather much wiser, much stronger and more powerful You were built with stones and soil and woods To present the epitome of pride and of greatness Barghash made you stand high So as to be our focus and our pure character And on the shores of the Indian Ocean –  The tropical sun had you blessed!

You wanto pay me back everything we sharedSo you could have way out of this bondWell, then this is the list:Gimme back my heart, my love, my time, my sufferings and my pain. 

Tarehe naikumbuka, ni sita wa ishiriniKamwe haitaondoka, itasalia moyoniUlikuwa wa mashaka, usiku wake yakiniWatu wangu wadhikika, kwa kushushiwa balaaTangu Konde ya Msuka, na Kangagani KojaniNako Tumbe kadhalika, hadi Nungwi na KinuniNa Ngwachani walifika, na Garagara MtoniMote humo ‘meumuka, kwa huzuni zilojaaKangagani weondoka, watu wengi masikiniNyumbanikwe alitoka, Asha Haji wa HasaniRisasi ikamshika, peupeni uwanjaniWanawe wayayatika, sita alotuwachiaAbdallah wa Hamadi, kwao Tumbe MbuyuniWalimtwanga kusudi, risasi nne tumboniMbichi ‘kamuhusudi, aruba wa thalathiniHimkumbuka huzidi, machozi kutandawaaHamadi wa Shehe Ali, alikuwa pirikaniKwao Konde sio mbali, kweupe si machakaniWempiga mara mbili, risasi za kifuaniKaacha wake wawili, na mayatima waliaKombo Hamadi Salimu, miakaye thalathiniEkuwa kaskatimu, nyumbanikwe barazaniMara ikaja kaumu, huko kwao KangaganiWakazimimina njumu, rohoye wakaitwaaChudi Salimu Fadhili, yatima huyu yakiniKinda bichi na mkweli, kumi na sita sininiRisasi ya asikari, ikampenya mbavuniWingwi Mafya yedhihiri, bado ‘mepigwa butwaaMjukuu wa Mjaka, Mohamedi KhalfaniWawi kwake kamfika, majeshi ya SaimoniKijana bado awaka, thineni wa ishiriniRisasi kampachika, kama wapigavyo paaKijana Omari Juma, Mwembe Makumbi nyumbaniAmekaa kasimama, hana kitu mkononiJunudi wakalituma, risau lisimkhiniHadi Siku ya Kiama, itawaka yake taaBayusufu wa Shaame, babuye ni MuhidiniNa wenziwe wanaume, walikuwa barazaniKamvamia mandeme, kwao jimbo la KojaniHicho kipigo ‘siseme, akaihama duniaKuna Saidi Makame, wa Garagara MtoniMiaka kumi na nane, mtoto wa masikiniAlipigwa nyundo nane, na marungu thalathiniWalitaka asipone, na Mungu akamtwaaNaye Musa Haji Musa, wa Nungwi kasikaziniMiaka kumi na tisa, ndiyo kwanza ashainiRisasi ikamfisa, Kivunge akenda chiniNduguze wajipangusa, machozi ‘mewazidia Ali Saidi wa Kombo, kwetu Wingwi KinaziniRisasi moja ya shingo, ikamkata kooniKama vile Chumu Kombo, yeye kwao MicheweniHayatakwisha kitambo, machungu yalotujaaAbubakari Khamisi, aliwania PandaniWakamrushia risasi, mule mwake maguuniIkavunjika nafusi, kwa kinyongo cha moyoniMwisho Ilahi Mkwasi, kamwita akamtwaa Kuna kijana Saidi, alikuwa SaateniKosale kutaradadi, na wake mkokoteniBure wakamuhusudi, kwa risasi ya kichwaniNa kisha kwa zao kyedi, uongo kasingiziaAmeri Bin Ameri, Bwejuu alwataniWemtwaa kwa kikiri, kenda naye mafichoniHuko wakamuadhiri, adhara ziso kifaniMwisho naye kahajiri, Zenji nzima yaliaNa wengi waloumizwa, kwa mwingi uhayawaniMachafu waliyotenzwa, ya nuni na FirauniHakika yanaumiza, yachoma mwetu nyoyoniNa bado yaendelezwa, kuwahujumu raiaRabbi Wewe ni Hakimu, ya haki yako mizaniWaujuwa udhalimu, ulotendwa visiwaniNasi ndio madhulumu, twaja kwako Ya MananiPitisha yako hukumu, uonayo inafaa Bonn2 Disemba 2020

Tuna vitabu moyoni, mengi tuliyoandikaMengi siri za sirini, funiko 'mezifunikaNa japo mwetu ndimini, hatuwezi yatamkaHata mwetu akilini, hatutaki yakumbukaLakini kuyaepuka, hilo haliwezekani!Humu mwetu vifuani, kurasa zajiandikaNyingi zisizo kifani, hakuna zinachorukaZayaweka hifadhini, siku, saa na dakikaKuna siku ya Manani, kurasa zitafunukaZifike kwa kukufika, mambo yawe hadharani!Tuna hati ulimini, herufi zilopangikaQafu na Lamu na Nuni, na Hamza kadhalikaTuna Swadi, tuna Shini, na shadda ya kupachikaNa irabu za sukuni, twajuwa pa kuziwekaKwa leo twayavumbika, tumejilisha Yamini!Winoni humu winoni, muna maneno yafokaYanataja kwa mizani, kila kitu kilotukaHata kiduchu yakini, wino kinakikumbukaKitawekwa andikoni, thumma hakitakaukaIpite myaka na kaka, sikuye iko njiani!Twenenda nazo kichwani, simulizi za hakikaHakika si ya kubuni, mambo yaliyotufikaKuvamiwa viamboni, na mitwana mijikakaWatumwa wa Firauni, kwa maguvu kutushikaLeo hatutatamka, lakini pindi mwakani!Bonn 05 Novemba 2020

As you are in a right fight For the right people Believe in your course And fight!

Injustice has a shape, so visible to be knownIt has a big head and a wide chestIt has got a big mouth and big fat eyesBut it lacks brain nor does it have mannersIna umbile dhuluma, wazi la kufahamikaIna jichwa lilotuna, jifuwa lilotanuka Ina domo kubwa sana, na mijicho ‘mekodokaIla ubongo haina, wala haina khulika 

Tutandikeni matanga, tukusanyane wafiwa Tuwalilie wahanga, roho changa zilotwawa Walokatwa kwa mapanga, na risasi za vifuwa Wa Nungwi na Kangangani, wa Tumbe na Madaniwa Walofatwa majumbani, vichwa vikafumuliwa Walotupwa majiani, hali washanyofolewa Tulilie mashahidi, ndugu walodhulumiwa Dhuluma iloshitadi, ilovitanda visiwa Itendwayo makusudi, lengo la kutukomowa Tukaye tuomboleze, makiwa haya makiwa Machozi tumiminize, kwa waliokashifiwaTuliye tusinyamaze, tuliye kwa kutambuwa -Kwa kutambuwa ambacho, chatugeuza wafiwa Wapendwa kitupokacho, na mwetu kunajisiwa - Ni hichi tuaminicho, cha uhuru wa visiwa Kwa kutambuwa hatuna, wa kutuhani wakiwa Si Wazungu, si Wachina, wala si Bara AsiaBasi atosha Rabbana, Atosha kutegemewa Bonn30 Oktoba 2020

Let seasons pass to change our destiniesToday a hot summer that makes us sweatTomorrow we are shivering as winter comesFor whatever it is, there is a day of judgement!

Shairi: Mohammed Al GhassaniMuziki: Ally Fadhil Juma

Ni yeye mwenye wenyewe, na yeye aliye naoNdiye wamtambuaye, mwenye lao kusudioNdiye wamuaminiye, naye awaaminio

Kwa nyakati hizi, za mwisho wa siku, tungo naiandikaMoyoni simanzi, punde ni usiku, giza litazukaUje uduwanzi, niwe zumbukuku, nishindwe kumbukaNguvu zinihizi, nifungwe vikuku, na kuporomokaKurasa zishafungika!At this moment of the end of the day, this poem I composeMy heart is so lonely as the night will soon come, so will the darknessTiredness will come and demented I will be, who nothing remembersMy strength will be taken away and will be handcuffed and down I will fallBecause my pages have been closed!Mohammed Al GhassaniMusic: Ally Fadhil Juma

Mbona wesema husemi, na hivi umo wasema, kipi kikusemacho?Ulisema husimami, kwako ni mbele daima, kipi kikurejeshacho?Wesema husemi nami, tena kwa kunamba koma, leo kipi kikupacho?Soundtrack: Ally F. Juma

Lau twaweza tumai, mwisho wa matumainiWatu wanaporufai, sisi tukawa makiniTuonwapo hatufai, sisi tukajiaminiKatika dunia hii, daima hatuwi duni

This world is but too small to hide your secretLook for somewhere else if you have so people won`t know itIt`s as good as nothing even to try itAll will be shown to you if you deny your pastThe world of network!Originally a Swahili poem "Dunia ni Ndogo" by Mohammed Al Ghassani. Soundtrack composed by Ally Fadhil Juma.

A line between love and hate is but so thinNot even a yard if measured with threadThe one whom you yesterday desired -For whom you sang all songsToday, they are just rubbish And good for nothing

When my mother gave birth to meShe thought I was humanShe brought me upShe taught me how to behaveAs a human being and not an animalBut then came a monster and took me

Huku giza lajikita, nafusi yangu wewe inukaInuka uje nakwita, nafusi yangu basi itikaSikwitii kukuteta, nafusi yangu ´sijeshituka!As darkness takes control of the dayYou should stand up, O the self of mineStand up and heed to my callI call not for bursting to youO the self of mineDon't be alarmed!

Wanangu leo naweta, haraka nifikieniNaweta hali ´metota, jasho mwangu maungoniUsiku huu ´meota, mambo yanila moyoniNa fikira hiivutaKhofu huwa yanipataNi lipi lilonikuta, nikawangóa nyumbani?My kids, please come to me the soonest possibleI am calling while sweating, so wet is my bodyThis night I dreamt of something so thornyWhen I think of it, so worried I becomeWhy did I uproot you from our home!?

Pahala papweke, makaburini, pakimya panasinzimaUlitima wake, huja moyoni, 'katuwa ukatuwamaTafakuri yake, huja machoni, machozi ikamiminaSo lonely is the graveyard, so quite, so coldIts loneliness fills the heart and therein it dwellsIts thoughtfulness fillls the eyes and tears it shedsSoundtrack: Ally Fadhil Juma

 Zama walizoinuka, watu wakanishutumu Kwa maneno ya dhihaka, ya qafu, nuni na lamu Ni wewe ulonishika, bila ya kunifahamu Begani ukauweka Moyo ulionyongeka Maneno ulotamka, `tayakumbuka dawamu! At the times when people were accusing me With such sarcastic words, so bitter, so sharp You came to my rescue without knowing me You gave your shoulder to a broken heart And those words you whispered - I will always remember! Soundtrack: Ally Fadhil Juma

Ikiwa wataka, ewe Mahububa, kweli jambo hiliMiye sina shaka, na sina ujuba, lau wakubaliKunipa hakika, yangu matilaba, huwezi yadhiliZote taziteka, uzitwaye huba, kwa yako kadiri!If you really want this, o My DearestI am of no doubt, nor do I have any arrogance, if you accept - To assure me my desires won´t be hurtYou`ll definitely take all my love as much you can!Soundtrack: Ally Fadhil Juma

Juzi nilipokuota, nilikuwa ni njiani Nawe ukawa wanita, ila miye sikuoni Ukawa wanifuata, unishike mkononiIla mara hayeyuka, mithili moshi angani When you came into my dream a day before yesterdayYou were calling my name but I wasn’t seeing you You were coming to take me in your beautiful arms But I suddenly vanished like smoke in the air When You Come Into My Dreams (originally Swahili poem “Ninapokuota”) by Mohammed Al Ghassani.Soundtrack: Ally Fadhil Juma 

Moyo wanidunda, mwili watetema, hikuona weweKiza kimetanda, dunia nzima, naona kiweweMbingu zimeganda, ndege wamekoma, 'mepinduka maweKwangu ni nakama, kuagana nawe!My heart's beatingMy body's shiveringThe whole world in darknessThe sky is freezingThe birds have stopped singingThe rocks have fallen downAll because of leaving youWhat a calamity!I Have to Go (originally Ni Lazima Kwenda) from Mohammed Al Ghassani.Soundtrack: Unknown

Khadhira sijayataka, wala sina hamu nayoBali budi 'kikoseka, hutendwa yale yaliyoNdipo bega nakushika, kunena yanenekayoLaiti paradulika, si mraduzi wa hayoIla kama kaandikaMimi leo kuondoka Ni ya Mungu mamlaka, nami ni fakiri kwayo!O My Khadhira!I have never wanted thisNor did I desire itBut when no other option standsThe inevitable has to be doneTouching your shoulder I am saying what I have toHad there been a choiceThis one could've never been mineBut if it was His WillThat today I departThat is God's CommandFor which I am helpless!Cry Not My Hadhira (original Khadhira Wangu 'Nyamaza) by poet Mohammed Al Ghassani. Soundtrack Unknown YouTuber.

Ewe Baba ewe Mama, pokeeni langu chozi Naililia salama, nalilia uombezi Naikhofia zahama, wakati wa uchaguzi 'Sijenifanya yatima, ‘sijekuwa mkimbizi O Father O Mother, hold on my tears Crying for peace, seeking your refugeFearing for violence during elections Don’t make me an orphanDon’t force me into exile! Turn Me Not into an Orphan (originally Usinifanye Yatima) by poet Mohammed Al Ghassani. Sountrack credit to Unkown YouTuber.

Nali nakiyawazia, kwa majuto kunishikaMambo naloyakimbia, moyo ukasalitikaDoriyani na tufaha, shokishoki kadhalikaNa jua linalowakaBahari ilonatukaFukwe zinomemetuka, kisha mara hang'amuwaI was terribly missing things I ran away fromWith which my heart bled in guilty and despairDurians and apples and sweet fresh litchiesAnd the shining sunAnd the wide oceanAnd such glittering beachesBut soon I realized...This Too Shall End (original Yana Mwisho) by poet Mohammed Al Ghassani. Soundtrack credit to Unkown YouTuber.

Ni wako miye ni wako, kati ya wote wengineNi wako ukeshapo, usingizi 'siuoneNi wako unyamazapo, kimyani usinong'oneNi wako hapa nilipo, na hata niwe kwengineAmong all others, it's to you whom I belongTo you I belong, when you spend your sleepless nightsTo you I belong, when you whisper in silenceTo you I belong, when I am hereAnd even when I am so far away!Fully inspired by and adapted from the Hindi song "Main Yahaan Hoon" by Udit Narayan. Soundtack credit: Yash Raj Films                      

Siku walowakataa, 'kasema hawawatakiWekuwa hawepumbaa, wala wenye taharukiWalikuwa wamepoa, akili na mantikiWala hawabadiliki, nyiye washawakataaWhen they refused youAnd said they don't want youThey were not out of their mindNor were they frustrated So calm they wereBoth in sense and in logicAnd that shall never changeBecause they've abandoned you!They've Just Refused You (original Wamewakataa) by poet Mohammed Al Ghassani.Soundtrack by Ally Fadhil Juma

Mwili mzito, kichwa chini, na hisabu kaliMoyoni fukuto, kesho akilini, `takuwaje hali?Iyo siku ipito, ela niifanyeni? Nami dhalili!Mimi ni mtenzwa, natenzeka na maisha!So heavy is my bodySo down is my headSo high my calculationMy heart is pressurisedHow my tomorrow will beAs the day is goneBut what should I doSo weak I amI am subjectedAnd doomed by life!The Subjected (original Mtenzwa) by poet Mohammed Al Ghassani. Soundtrack by WeVideo.

Zama mauti yakijaYaje ningali ni mtu, sijageuka nguruweSijakuwa nyamamwitu, azaaye na wanaweZije bado nina utu, hiondoka nililiweHishima tuwe pamoja!When death comesLet it come when I am still a human beingNot changed into a pigHaven't become a wild animalWhich gets its own kids impregnantedLet it come when I still value humanitySo people will cry for my leavingAnd am still respected!When Death Comes (Original Zama Mauti Yakija) by Mohammed al Ghassani. Soundtrack by Ally Fadhil Juma.

Katikati ya kutaka, na kilele cha mapenziPale mahaba yawaka, na kung'ara kama mweziNdipo 'liponigeuka, na kunitupa mpenziJambo hilo hauwezi, moyo kutolikumbukaAt the middle of my desire and the climax of my loveWhen my love was as bright as a clear moonlightIt was a time she betrayed and let me downSuch was an incident my heart will never forgetMy Heart Can No Longer Take It (Original Swahili poem "Moyo Wangu Hauwezi") by Mohammed al Ghassani. Soundtrack by Ally Fadhil Juma.

Kwa jinalo wewe, tungo naiandika, na kuikaririHitaka ujuwa, ndiwe mtukuka, ndiwe wangu huriSina mwenginewe, wala hatazuka, wa kumkubaliWatani ni wewe, u wangu hakika, Mama Zinjibari!In thy name, this epic I write and qouteWishing you know, to  me you are sacred and beautifulI have no one besides you, and none other will I acceptYou are my land, you are definitely mine, Mother Zanzibar!In Thy Name (Original Swahili poem Kwa Jinalo Wewe) by Mohammed Al Ghassani. Soundtrack by Ally Fadhil Juma.

Kila siku wauliza: nakupendaje? Wataka ujuwe namnaLeo nitakueleza, zote nizitaje, moja moja  nitazinenaNakupenda kimarefu, kiundani, kimapanaHata kama hupo, roho yangu hukuonaHadi khatima ya kuwa, na ukomo wa kufanaNa kila leo ikingia, hukupenda kuliko jana!Constantly you ask: how do I love you? Piece by piece, I will today explain everythingI love you in length, and in depth, and in widthEven when you're not here, my soul sees youTo the climax of being and to the last breath of my lifeAnd every single day, I love you than yesterdayThe Way I Love You (Original Swahili poem Nakupendaje) by Mohammed Al Ghassani. Soundtrack by Ally Fadhil Juma.

Umenijia fukara dhalili, ushakongoka, wataka nikusikizeMararu dhoofulhali, maguuni waporomoka, nikunyamaze'Mekuja kutoka mbali, kuja lalamika, ati nikuliwazeHaya! Wima tafadhali, sasa tamka, kila kitu nieleze -Kwa uradhi wa rohoyo, sema nikufanyeje?Broken and weakened, that's how you've comeDemanding me to listen to youOn my feet you bow, wanting me to console youYou've come from afar, begging me to comfort youOk! Now stand up and tell me each and everything - To your satisfaction, what should I do?Tell Me What To Do (Original Swahili poem Nambiya Nikufanyeje) by Mohammed al Ghassani. Soundtrack by Ally Fadhil Juma.

Wewe u nani?Ndiye mfumo dhuluma utengenezayeNdiye fisadi ubaguzi uabuduyeNdiye fasiki kesi ubambikizayeMara uhujumu, mara uchochezi Mara ugaidi, mara ujambazi Ndiye watu utekao Mafichoni ukenda nao Watokao bahati yao Wengi sio warudio Ni Wewe ndiye kabari Ndiye rungu na buti Ndiye risasi na pingu Na ndiye mizaniNami sipati pumzi!Who are you then?You are a system that creates injusticesThe corrupted one who worships racismThe devil who gives others false chargesWith sabotage and seditionWith terrorism and bulgaryYou are the one who kidnaps peopleTorturing them in safe housesThe few lucky ones escapeBut many never come backYou are the chockingThe stick and the bootThe bullet and the handcuffsAnd you are a measuring scale tooAND I CAN'T BREATHE