Halima Mohamed

Mama I made it! I occupied Parliament Remember the #occupyParliament demonstrations? But tell daddy I’m sorry I won’t come home tonight Not because I’m spending at a friends’. No! Not because I’m among the injured. No! Nor because I was abducted as they have to most of us. That would have been better I’m in a cold dark place called the morgue Mama I know daddy will be angry why I wore his shoes I had to, I know they are bigger but I had to Otherwise no one could have. I know he will complain that I have read too much political novels Please don’t let him blame Animal Farm, Don’t let him blame Kidagaa Kimemwozea, Don’t let him blame Tumbo Lisiloshiba, Don’t let him blame Kifo Kisimani, Don’t let him blame Mstahiki Meya, Or Parliament of Owls They can’t be blamed. I did it for Our country. They hailed us for being fearless Mama! They called it an historic moment; actually unprecedented. Did you watch the news? All over the country thousands of us matched forward, wearing mostly black, chanting slogans and singing revolutionary songs. They call us GenZ Mama. Some Mpigs say we have watched too much Netflix and we eat KFC. Sorry for the spelling mistakes Mama, I meant MPs. Did you see how we sang ‘Kudade’ with Mc Gogo? Did you see how Juliani turned up and we sang ‘Utawala’? That song you call ‘Nikoo njaa siwezi karanga’? Did you hear us sing ‘Tujiangalie’by Sauti Sol? Have you seen King Kaka’s ‘ Wanataka Kutumaliza’? Did you see how Mulamwah gave us Tea and Mandazi? Have you seen all the comedians, Content creators and influencers? I told you it will be Big Mama! We matched forward Mama Slowly and peacefully Like you told me We said we were peaceful They rattled us with teargas and water canons Mama We coughed, cried and chocked to the smoke but still matched on We matched amidst the sting of that pink water they sprayed on us with those beastly vehicles But nothing was more painful than hearing them pass that draconian punitive Bill Mama. Remember how you used to forcefully give us porridge by locking us between your legs, pinching our noses then pouring a tone of porridge in our forcibly opened mouth? Leaving us with two choices; swallowing or choking to death? That’s what they did to us yesterday Mama But unlike in the past, today’s child chose the latter; death! We approached the parliament as promised. We eventually occupied Parliament Mama Albeit briefly. The wall gave in and we entered. I’m sorry I did not taste the rice As some did Mama All I tasted was the bullets Mama They sprayed me with bullets Mama, That’s why i won’t come home. My battle is over Mama But not the revolutionary war.