"Black is Beautiful" proclaimed Marcus Garvey before it became a popular phrase in the 1960s. Today is the birth of the great man who pushed for equality for African Americans and for a unified Africa in the 1920s.
In this day and age, it's easy to take having an abundance of food for granted. As Muslims around the world fast for Ramadan, a large part of East Africa are going through endless days of involuntary famine. Unimaginable suffering ensues, to watch your own child starve is a bewildering concept for us. It's easy to forget nations wearily vanishing into lawlessness when the Horn of Africa still has its incredible beaches and saints and joyous laughter.
A friend of mine went to Somalia recently, she proclaimed that the hidden beauty was evident through the gorgeous landscape and through Somalis themselves who can make jokes about the state in which they are in.
Despite Somalia being "synonymous with suffering, piracy and famine" (If you'd like to read more: www.samiramusa.wordpress.com) The Def Jam poet Amir Sulaiman articulated "the forgotten nation" through a touching poem about Somalia: "Only if you had oil or poppy or timber or rubber or white people, I'd mention you in my prayers. But the world has grown accustomed to watch you die."
"If only didn't wear the resemblance of Eve like an ornate funeral shroud we wouldn't see you as our sin and avert our gazes in shame, turn our faces to blame. Oh Somalia, only if your beautiful wasn't so black."
On Friday 26th August, charity Ulfa Aid and Words Apart have organized a poetry live lounge to raise money for Somalia. The live lounge to take place in Willesden Green at Rumi's Cave. A befitting name, Rumi the great Persian poet identified that a unified humanity would be the only way to peace in the future, Rumi said this in the 13th century.
The live lounge will feature some of London's best young poets and musicians as well as members of Words Apart. I will be hosting the lounge which aims to unite creative young people. The live lounge's will be monthly and support different charitable causes as well as having differing themes each month.
The poetry live lounge to 'Feed Somalia' will take place at Rumi's Cave on Friday 26th August from 5:30pm 26 WILLESDEN LANE, LONDON NW6 7ST More Details on: www.wordsapart7.blogspot.com
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