About Africa
Connections: Myth of the Motherland, DATA, Carlos Andrés Gómez
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The Spoken Word: Click the titles below to hear more of Zach's poetry.
☆ About Africa |
☆ Open Letter to the Son of God |
The Poet's Perspective:
"Six weeks in Ghana changed my life. I had an emerging interest in Africa before my trip, but living there - immersed in the culture, land and energy - made me fall in love. So many friends and family members had warned me about going; they were afraid of all the things they had read in the news and seen on TV. I arrived in the city of Kumasi believing Ghana needed me and my fellow volunteers to pull them out of their poverty - only to quickly realize that they were already pulling much harder than I ever could. Africans are the true saviors of Africa.
Then, after learning about Myth of the Motherland from a friend, I got in touch with the brain behind it all, Lisa Russell from Governess Films, and the seed of About Africa was planted. I realized how simple and condescending the Western view of Africa had become. I started to notice people say things like "I'd like to visit London, Paris, Japan, and Africa," as if Africa was one big city or country with one uniform culture. It became clear that we need to expand our knowledge and perspective.
Africa is our Motherland - all of humanity stems from its diverse and beautiful terrain - its time we stop believing that we are stronger than our source, and begin seeing our Motherland as a complex, creative, powerful, and essential continent that deserves our attention, support, and respect."
Contact Zach & listen to more of his poetry.
