FAO Quotables

"But being right, even morally right, isn't everything. It is also important to be competent, to be consistent, and to be knowledgeable. It's important for your soldiers and diplomats to speak the language of the people you want to influence. It's important to understand the ethnic and tribal divisions of the place you hope to assist."
-Anne Applebaum

Monday, March 31, 2014

Latest Poetry Anthology just ordered: Invitation to a Voyage: French Language poetry of the Indian Ocean African Islands

I came across this book doing a google search on Comoran poetry--a topic that I haven't looked into much before.  My previous research had only been into Malagasy poets and among them I have only covered the incomparable romantic poet Rabearivelo:



My current job, however, covers both nations.  Finding English translations of Comoran poetry (which can be in Arabic, French or ShiaComore) is a difficult task.  Once I receive the anthology
Invitation to a Voyage: French - Language Poetry of the Indian Ocean African Islands in a few weeks expect some highlighted Comoran poems.

Here's an excerpt from the poet Djailani (from the island of Mayotte--an isle of contention between France and Comoros):

"O my land!/ forever separated from your Comorian sisters/ at the base of the Indian calabash/ a shining crescent.

















Want to see what Comoros looks like?  Check out my pictures here!



LINKS:
http://powerofculture.nl/en/current/2008/october/poetryanthology


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