Talking with Kings and Queens

Untitled by Serge Clottey | Ghana

When the Leaders are worthless, the artists are Royalty that reign.

So I ask you again, who have I been communicating with in Africa?

I have been talking to Kings and Queens of a Continent.

Don't play with me. I am not a toy to be played with.

I know many Kings and Queens of Africa.

Your family, your Kingdom is nothing.

Lost in Translation by Alex da Silva | Cape Verde

We know the true Kings and Queens of AFRICA.

Reduce us to a nothing in your great Western World.

Crush us to a grain of sand but that grain of 

sand still knows the KINGS AND QUEENS of AFRICA.

Artists are immortal and we know the immortals, personally.

Untitled by Eria Sane Nsubuga | Uganda

Reduce us to dust and we will rise. You can not, and will not, break our spirit; as so long as we have breath we breathe, we'll speak and write about all those under-seen; never-heard and so ignored for Centuries.

Me Time by Queen Sheila | Uganda

The Africans are now in your living rooms. Spy on us all. Apple-pie on all of us. See us as clearly as humanly possible.

Letters from Joe Pollitt