A collective poem compiled and written by Toni Stuart at the 4th African Feminist Forum, 10th – 12th April, 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The poem uses words, phrases, ideas and thoughts shared by the women throughout the forum.
the revolution is a woman
a black, queer, radical,
Azania House-occupying,
sjambok-wielding
Tahir square-protesting raised fist
pumping, bashing, smashing, tearing
down Patrick’s invisible walls
the revolution is a woman
a hijab-wearing
veil-discarding, veil-reclaiming
church-going, silent-praying, God-denying voice
piercing through the obsidian night
to reach always for the light on the horizon’s edge
the revolution is a woman
reworking the histories that have shaped her:
fashioning the steel of a broken arm into a power salute
moulding her violated waist into an unapologetic swerving hip
shattering the chains of a shackled ankle into a defiant dancing leg
clearing the rubble under which her daughter’s soul is buried
her relentless fingers scratched and bruised
to let the light sear this seed, turning cement into soil
this work that breaks her heart
this works that feeds her soul
the revolution is a woman
loving a woman in the shadows
so she can love her children with some safety in the light
praying for strength to defend her love against the pulpit
arguing for her right to defend her love against the bench
the revolution is a woman
who speaks not only for herself
hear her sing:
this land is woman’s land
this continent is woman’s continent
we will never tire
we are proudly queer
teeth biting back at the hand muffling her voice
until she breaks free into a ceaseless whispered prayer for love
and unending ululation for liberation
the revolution is a woman
born into the light of feminist fires
standing in the flames of rage and love
burning tirelessly so her sisters will not die sad
the revolution is a woman
fighting (loving)
fighting (loving)
fighting (loving)
for the soul of Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Occupied Azania, Benin, Mauritania, Zambia, Mozambique, Swaziland, Angola, Niger, DRC, Liberia, Sudan, Egypt, Senegal, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Guinea, Togo
the revolution is a woman
fighting (loving)
fighting (loving)
fighting (loving)
for the soul of the world
Toni Stuart is a South African poet, performer and spoken word educator. Her work has been published in anthologies, journals and non-fiction books locally and abroad. Her performances include, a group show at the Paris Autumn Festival 2013 (as part of France South Africa Seasons 2012/2013), poetry installation Here To Listen (London, 2015), poetry & film exhibition From My View with filmmaker Shelley Barry (South Africa, 2013); Stretching Silence with visual artist Firdous Hendricks (South Africa, 2013); sound installation Between Words and Images with curator & visual artist Ernestine White (South Africa, 2013). In 2014 was part of the Scottish Poetry Library’s Commonwealth Poets United exchange. In 2013 she was named in the Mail and Guardian’s list of 200 inspiring Young South Africans. She has an MA Writer/Teacher (Distinction) from Goldsmiths, University of London, where she was a 2014/2015 Chevening Scholar. She is one half of international poetry/music duo Gertrude & Jemima with UK poet/drummer Remi Graves.
instagram: @tonistuart83
twitter: @nomadpoet
website: http://www.tonistuart.com