Imanna

By Odiedo Stephen

IMANNA is an epic poem on the Rwanda Genocide written using the nine-line Spenserian Stanza.

With the protean energies gifted me of the gracious Muse, "the Pearl richer than all his tribe", I have been working on IMANNA for a year now – ever since the Muse spoke my name and gifted me her flaming powers to speak of the sorrows of the dead of the Rwanda genocide. Flame haired Imanna of splendour: I feel that I am the most fortunate of men to have met you a year ago. It is an encounter which erupted into the fiery words of your wrath – and here are the lines of your rage at the outrage which is the Rwanda genocide.

IMANNA is not a political tract nor is it an act of finger-pointing over the Genocide. IMANNA is an act of witness. It is the voices of the dead seeking the one who would name their names and thus grant them "journey's end" the closure that the Genocide denied them all when they were denied burial amidst the slaughter.

Goddess I have written using Spenserian structure (because of its heroic, epic pedigree, although there is nothing heroic about the Genocide). I hope, flame haired One, that you find these lines worthy of you. I hope that your anger ceases Goddess: I hope that IMANNA will please you and that you will find the poem worthy to carry your name. I know you as the wrathful One ready to walk to the ends of the earth in search of one more of your sons and daughters of Rwanda. I know you as the wrathful One whose Flame goes forth to the darkest places of earth there to speak the name of the last one of her sons and daughters of Rwanda – and to raise the Flame high and guide them back on the sacred way to the sun-drenched Isles of bliss. I have endeavoured to carry your instructions Goddess. Nyangi Nyangiya, Imanna of splendour, triple maiden Goddess whose wrathful face darkens in an instant when mention is made of her lost ones of Rwanda: Goddess please find these my lines worthy to carry your name of Imanna of Splendour. Svelte One: I bring these lines to you as my offering to you. May you find them a worthy sacrifice, dearest Goddess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odiedo Stephen
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540117816

Odiedo Stephen

As a poet, playwright, essayist and novelist my writing dramatizes individuals confronting the fearsome might of the almighty African state in 3rd Millennium Africa. This is the fearful drama of lives violently torn apart on the urban African landscape – lives caught at the crossroads of modern Africa. I write on the tragic drama of lives cast adrift by the death of an anchoring ancient tradition killed by the triumphant march of the fearsome African state. AFRAHA https://books2read.com/u/mdWjZl  is the drama of lives dominated by the tragic irony that the almighty African state, the new secular god welcomed with so much hope and fanfare at independence in the last millennium, is now this fearsome monster devouring all: the “enemies of the state.” As the ironic “withering of the state” gathers pace, uprooted Africans are rushing back into the past to resurrect a monstrous version of a long rejected tradition – shattering lives outcast from tradition and targeted as “enemies” by a vengeful remorseless African state unrestrained neither by tradition (discredited) nor by constitutional law (elitist, effete, ineffectual against the state).   My play TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE https://books2read.com/u/bpjyrX was the 1st Prize Award winner of the DAILY NATION NEWSPAPER 1995 playwriting competition. My plays have been shortlisted on BBC African Performance and BBC International Playwriting Competition. OSIRIS OF THE SLUMS - submitted to the BBC International Playwrights Competition was a finalist for the 1999 BBC International Competition. Since  my play TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE  https://books2read.com/u/bpjyrX won the 1st Prize Award in the DAILY NATION NEWSPAPER playwriting competition I have continued to write poems, plays and novels thanks to the favour of the Muse herself, IMANNA of Splendour. I thank flame-haired Imanna Goddess for her kindnness.

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Imanna – an epic poem on the Rwanda Genocide

Table of Contents

Imanna – an epic poem on the Rwanda Genocide

Apocalypse – When Rwanda looked deep into the abyss, the abyss looked deep into th’ soul of Rwanda

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

The curse of the Akanyaru – the river that woke the great Ennead, the gods of the river Nile, out of an ancient time into the present

X.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

Offend the gods, offend majesty, offend against peace, offend against your own Soul

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

XXVII.

In Spenserian Stanza is the voice of them that the United Nations abandoned at Rwanda’s darkest hour

XXVIII.

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXI.

XXXII.

XXXIII.

XXXIV.

The voices of the dead who refuse to remain silent

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVII.

Like Atlas, so long as Rwanda’s favourite son stood feet planted firmly on earth, he was invincible

XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

XL.

XLI.

XLII.

Kinani strength of Rwanda

XLIII.

XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.

A presidential plane, shot down by surface to air missile, goes down in flames and with it the beginning of the end of the vaunted almighty African state

XLVII.

XLVIII.

XLIX.

L.

LI.

LII.

LIII.

LIV.

LV.

Gotterdammerung – or the death of that great African God: the failed African state

LVI.

LVII.

LVIII.

LIX.

LX.

LXI.

LXII.

LXIII.

LXIV.

The call of the abyss

LXV.

LXVI.

LXVII.

LXVIII.

LXIX.

LXX.

LXXI.

LXXII.

LXXIII.

When Rwanda answered the call of the abyss

LXXIV.

LXXV.

LXXVI.

LXXVII.

LXXVIII.

LXXIX.

LXXX.

LXXXI.

LXXXII.

April of song, April of sorrow

LXXXIII.

LXXXIV.

LXXXV.

LXXXVI.

LXXXVII.

LXXXVIII.

To raise the Flame high over the lost dead, to lead their Souls out of the abyss – by the Flame Immortal

LXXXIX.

XC.

XCI.

XCII.

XCIII.

XCIV.

XCV.

XCVI.

The spear point of treason

XCVII.

XCVIII.

XCIX.

C.

CI.

CII.

CIII.

When the gods damn them that they have elected to damn

CIV.

CV.

CVI.

CVII.

CVIII.

CIX.

CX.

CXI.

To fight the doomed fight

CXII.

CXIII.

CXIV.

CXV.

CXVI.

CXVII.

The curse of the Akanyaru

CXVIII.

CXIX.

CXX.

CXXI.

CXXII.

CXXIII.

CXXIV.

To denounce one’s Soul and cast ones luck unto the abyss of the damned

CXXV.

CXXVI.

CXXVII.

CXXVIII.

CXXIX.

CXXX.

CXXXI.

CXXXII.

That bitter, unsung, mystic song

CXXXIII.

CXXXIV.

CXXXV.

CXXXVI.

The quest for peace – as against the heady path of hubris

CXXXVII.

CXXXVIII.

CXXXIX.

CXL.

CXLI.

CXLII.

CXLIII.

‘There’s a divinity hedges the person of a King,’ said the sage enchanter

CXLIV.

CXLV.

CXLVI.

CXLVII.

CXLVIII.

CXLIX.

Imanna remorseless goddess, name th’ broken

CL.

CLI.

CLII.

CLIII.

CLIV.

CLV.

CLVI.

Of the path of doomed nations and the falls of presidents

CLVII.

CLVIII.

CLIX.

CLX.

CLXI.

CLXII.

CLXIII.

Where is the atonement for deeds such as these

CLXIV.

CLXV.

CLXVI.

CLXVII.

CLXVIII.

CLXIX.

CLXX.

Umwamikazi Rosalie, Mama of gracious ways

CLXXI.

CLXXII.

CLXXIII.

CLXXIV.

CLXXV.

CLXXVI.

CLXXVII.

CLXXVIII.

Without Umwamikazi Rosalie Rwanda dies the death

CLXXIX.

CLXXX.

CLXXXI.

CLXXXII.

CLXXXIII.

CLXXXIV.

CLXXXV.

CLXXXVI.

Speak, Rwanda’s Queen

CLXXXVII.

CLXXXVIII.

CLXXXIX.

CXC.

CXCI.

CXCII.

CXCIII.

When them that could flee fled, thou valiant Queen you stood by dolorous Rwanda

CXCIV.

CXCV.

CXCVI.

CXCVII.

CXCVIII.

CXCIX.

CC.

CCI.

CCII.

Mama: You that Rwanda wronged most, speak our names

CCIII.

CCIV.

CCV.

CCVI.

CCVII.

CCVIII.

Mama that was Rwanda’s blessing, your death is our dismay

CCIX.

CCX.

CCXI.

CCXII.

CCXIII.

CCXIV.

CCXV.

CCXVI.

CCXVII.

Name my name, infinite shield against the abyss of the dragon’s bloody reign

CCXVIII.

CCXIX.

CCXX.

CCXXI.

CCXXII.

CCXXIII.

CCXXIV.

CCXXV.

CCXXVI.

Mama you have known the depths of sorrow

CCXXVII.

CCXXVIII.

CCXXIX.

CCXXX.

CCXXXI.

CCXXXII.

CCXXXIII.

CCXXXIV.

The children lifted the hand of treason against their own mother

CCXXXV.

CCXXXVI.

CCXXXVII.

CCXXXVIII.

CCXXXIX.

CCXL.

CCXLI.

CCXLII.

Umwamikazi Rosalie, Mama of Song and the ever sunny smile

CCXLIII.

CCXLIV.

CCXLV.

CCXLVI.

CCXLVII.

CCXLVIII.

CCXLIX.

CCL.

In naming your praises, thou honoured name, thou Rose, Rwanda pleads

CCLI.

CCLII.

CCLIII.

CCLIV.

CCLV.

CCLVI.

CCLVII.

CCLVIII.

Were that I could undo that sad, vile deed of unspeakable evil against you our Queen –

CCLIX.

CCLX.

CCLXI.

CCLXII.

CCLXIII.

CCLXIV.

CCLXV.

CCLXVI.

Imanna splendour of Gihanga’s Rwanda

CCLXVII.

CCLXVIII.

CCLXIX.

CCLXX.

CCLXXI.

CCLXXII.

CCLXXIII.

CCLXXIV.

CCLXXV.

Mama: because of you flame haired Imanna of splendour is in rage against Rwanda, the flame haired goddess rages at Rwanda’s vile deed against you

CCLXXVI.

CCLXXVII.

CCLXXVIII.

CCLXXIX.

CCLXXX.

CCLXXXI.

CCLXXXII.

CCLXXXIII.

Umwamikazi Rosalie, Mama speak to flame haired Imanna of splendour

CCLXXXIV.

CCLXXXV.

CCLXXXVI.

CCLXXXVII.

CCLXXXVIII.

CCLXXXIX.

CCXC.

CCXCI.

To speak, to name, to hail, to rouse the souls of Rwanda’s dead – is that not noble Imanna’s divine mandate?

CCXCII.

CCXCIII.

CCXCIV.

CCXCV.

CCXCVI.

CCXCVII.

CCXCVIII.

CCXCIX.

CCC.

CCCI.

Wake Rwanda, wake from the abyss of the damned

CCCII.

CCCIII.

CCCIV.

CCCV.

CCCVI.

CCCVII.

CCCVIII.

CCCIX.

Umwamikazi Rosalie: Mama tell fiery Imanna to speak our names on her potent tongue

CCCX.

CCCXI.

CCCXII.

CCCXIII.

CCCXIV.

CCCXV.

CCCXVI.

For the treason Rwanda raised against you sad Queen, we have paid

CCCXVII.

CCCXVIII.

CCCXIX.

CCCXX.

CCCXXI.

CCCXXII.

CCCXXIII.

CCCXXIV.

CCCXXV.

Flower of enchanting song

CCCXXVI.

CCCXXVII.

CCCXXVIII.

CCCXXIX.

CCCXXX.

CCCXXXI.

CCCXXXII.

CCCXXXIII.

CCCXXXIV.

Mama speak for us, speak with deathless Imanna maiden goddess

CCCXXXV.

CCCXXXVI.

CCCXXXVII.

CCCXXXVIII.

CCCXXXIX.

CCCXL.

CCCXLI.

CCCXLII.

I invoke Imanna of deathless life

CCCXLIII.

CCCXLIV.

CCCXLV.

CCCXLVI.

CCCXLVII.

CCCXLVIII.

CCCXLIX.

Flame haired Imanna of splendour, Imanna flame haired warrior maiden

CCCL.

CCCLI.

CCCLII.

CCCLIII.

CCCLIV.

CCCLV.

CCCLVI.

Apocalypse – When Rwanda looked deep into the abyss, the abyss looked deep into th’ soul of Rwanda

I. 

Th’ first surface to air missile shrieked straight

Skywards over Kigali's sunset-red

Skies ’n’ struck the Dassault falcon true at eight

Twenty five. Th’ second missile struck for dead

Home but moments after: the first one bled

Out Rwanda, that missile a stab rending

Th’ heart, th’ vitals – Rwanda’s dead. Life’s fled:

Ablaze, the plane – all vitals torn, bleeding

Ichor gushing is death: th’ state is exploding

II. 

As that second missile slashed for th’ falcon,

Rwanda's air force one broke up, burst aflame:

The stricken plane, ablaze – no more beacon

Of hope – a ball of exploding ill fame,

Fiery aviation fuel, blazing shame,

Now crashes – raining blood onto a state –

House fierce ablaze. A torch, a name,

Mangled, wreckage of hope. A hate

Scorching and black: Imanna, mourns her Rwanda’s fate

III. 

The plane ablaze, in th’ sky , this fiery sign

Was the omen , the fearful call of th’ earth –

When ’Kanyaru spoke hoarse, the day malign

Akanyaru river of sorrows, dearth,

Summoned the great Ennead of th’ Nile – for worth,

Life, health justice – that which is Ma’at, the right

Order of th’ gods of th’ Nile – them whose rebirth

Accursed  Akanyaru cursed – whose birthright

That curse threatened : Isis of th’ Nile’s Rwanda did birth

IV. 

The roar of river Akanyaru has cursed

Lord Gihanga's sons and daughters – the roar

Of river Akanyaru’d feed accursed

Souls and their bones down ’kanyaru to soar

Like dead fish over cataracts: devour

Souls fool enough to trust the dragon's lies –

Its devouring th’ dead souls that trusted the boar-

Like dragon – that vile blood eater of flies

As deceitful as th’ Akanyaru’s tide-burst of rich wiles

V. 

River Akanyaru's chilling boasting

That plucky Rwanda would choke th’ Nile with dead

And eyeless bodies of th’ lost and dying

That boast’s reason why Isis’ firm tread

Stood before the Ennead to plead instead

Of demanding that the Ennead punish

Rwanda because the Akanyaru’s dread

Boast’d ever punish Rwanda than vanish.

The gods of almighty river Nile’s name tarnish

VI. 

At th’ great Ennead – high council of the lords

Who watch over the Nile fount, head of all

Life, Isis, the beloved of Osiris – cords

That bind all that love – Isis’ words now appall

Th’ Ennead: Isis outrage names them in thrall

To Akanyaru’s sworn oath: to foul th’ Nile

With dead. The gods, Ra presiding, now call

Upon Thoth of vast wisdom to file

Queen Isis’ warning: ’gainst them that the Nile defile

VII. 

As Thoth of encyclopedic wise cause

Open’d the book of books to find and name

The crime of crimes th’ Akanyaru call'd th' laws

By which renown Rwanda by force’ll  rename

Th’ Nile fount o’ blood. By th’ time Isis aflame

Had wrathfully roused th’ Ennead t' th’ lives

Now dying in bleeding Rwanda, the flame

Of hate had consumed Rwanda. Sorrow drives

Isis t' forget her rage, as Ima’ revives

VIII. 

Chained to th’ abyss of th’ damned Imanna’s plea

Arrives at th’ throne of Ra immortal eye

Of th’ gods. "Rwanda is dead – their souls to flee

Th’ abyss of th’ damned which is Rwanda , t' untie

Them. To open the Seeing Eye – each soul awry

Must answer the call when I call their names each

As I walk this land searching out each cry

Each death and naming th’ dead – it is the reach

Of th’ curse: let me name them: children are dead –

IX. 

At th’ great Ennead – high council of the gods

Isis, love of Osiris god of th’ Nile

Stands before the Ennead whose head Ra lord’s

The high Ennead upholds Ma’at , the while

Steering Manjet –th’ barque of th’ sun each mile

Across th’ heavens. To Ra Isis now speaks:

"To vow rivers of blood –