The 'Where I'm From Poem'

I am from the khanga, from the African tribal women and the masai.


I am from grill bars by the window (always gathering dust no matter how many times the maid scrubs it).


I am from incense that fragrances my house every morning.


I am from tea and biscuits at 4 pm and traditional family meals, from Abdulhusein and Ramzanali.


I am from the tube lights and the ones with the melodious voices.

From 'fanya upesi' and 'duniya ana kimbiya'.

I am from the suras I have by-hearted from the age of 3 and islamic class I attended every Tuesday and Thursday.

I'm from Dar-es-salaam and the Damji family, from kukupaka and muhogo.

I am from the gazillion photo albums that lie in the bottom drawer in the living room, each getting thicker with time, as special moments and people in my life keep coming ans going, each day, throughout the year.




List of words with meanings:

Khanga - traditional Tanzanian cloth used as a local dress

Masai - local tribe in Tanzania

Fanya upesi - hurry up in Kiswahili (Tanzanian language)

Duniya ana kimbiya - the world is running

Suras - chapters of the Holy Quran

Kukupaka - Coconut Chicken Curry

Muhogo - Cassava