They Say They Know Nothing About Racism
By fiifi DZANSI
They swap us
For salt and sugar
They slaughter us
Because of land and guinea fowl
They sacrifice us
To appease lifeless gods
Yet they say they know nothing about racism
Their children learn under trees
Their graduates sell bread on the streets
They mute their girls’ voice
They let their boys beg for food
Yet they say they know nothing about racism
They call the sage
A witch
They call the vibrant girl
A witch
They call the smart boy
A witch
They call work of art
A witch
They call new tech spirit of
A witch
Yet they say they know nothing about racism
They don’t let their children marry
From our tribe
They don’t employ people
From our tribe
They don’t build for people
From our tribe
They mock people
From our tribe
Their leaders are not
From our tribe
They don’t learn the language of people
From our tribe
Yet they say they know nothing about racism
They give their fattest animals
To the foreigner
They sell their fertile land
To the foreigner
They gift their daughters
To the foreigner
They bow their heads in worship
To the foreigner
They let their sons wipe the anus
Of the foreigner
They adopt the culture
Of the foreigner
They confuse their children in the tongue
Of the foreigner
Yet they say they know nothing about racism