Kampala To Kansas
Mugabi Byenkya
‘So Mugabe,
do you wear normal clothes in public to fit in?
but when you go back home dance around a fire naked encased in original sin?’
‘Mugaby,
since you’re from Africa,
have you ever pet a lion?
I’m so glad that you escaped Uganda
I heard people are dying
child soldiers on the rampage
bullets and bombs flying
wait a second…
your people use bullets and bombs?
I thought they used sticks and spears
marching onwards on the road to Zion
were you a child soldier?
have you ever killed someone while crying?’
‘So Mugatu…’
‘So Mugali…’
It’s Mugabi!
Pronounce my damn name right or at least try
Stop saying ‘whatever’ every time you stumble across something that you can’t pronounce
Like you can’t do
what I have to do
since my culture does not rule
over you
cultural hegemony is not cool
do you wear normal clothes in public to fit in?
but when you go back home dance around a fire naked encased in original sin?’
‘Mugaby,
since you’re from Africa,
have you ever pet a lion?
I’m so glad that you escaped Uganda
I heard people are dying
child soldiers on the rampage
bullets and bombs flying
wait a second…
your people use bullets and bombs?
I thought they used sticks and spears
marching onwards on the road to Zion
were you a child soldier?
have you ever killed someone while crying?’
‘So Mugatu…’
‘So Mugali…’
It’s Mugabi!
Pronounce my damn name right or at least try
Stop saying ‘whatever’ every time you stumble across something that you can’t pronounce
Like you can’t do
what I have to do
since my culture does not rule
over you
cultural hegemony is not cool
Mugabi Byenkya is an award-winning writer of prose, poetry, comics, essays and songs. Mugabi’s writing is used to teach High School English in Kampala and Toronto schools. He won the Discovering Diversity Poetry Contest in 2017. In the same year, his award-nominated debut, ‘Dear Philomena,’ was published and he went on a 45 city, 5 country North America/East Africa tour. In 2018, Mugabi was named one of 56 writers who has contributed to his native Uganda’s literary heritage in the 56 years since independence by Writivism. Dear Philomena, was named a Ugandan bestseller in the same year. In 2022, Mugabi released his award-nominated his debut mixtape “Songs For Wo(Men) 2” via the independent American record label Hello America Stereo Cassette. Mugabi wants to be Jaden Smith when he grows up.
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