Music of My People

Image credit: google: mod.go.ke

That afternoon, music swept Kongelai

The rhythm of my people took me hostage

And so, adorned with abusibus and songol

Standing aloft my head like a steeple

Alado strangling my arm, kondi in my right hand

I whipped up a tune, a tune of my dead ancestors

The arena heated up, kirkiris sound

Gyrating its hips on people’s ear-lobes

Fire encircling the feet of undecided dancers

When the spark blew, O Kinsman, Kongelai

Was a ball of fumes, no fire-fighter could extinguish!

I ran round the Dancing Square,

With my breast beating, a song lilting in my lips

O Kinsman, how I sang in the way of our people

Soaked in sweat, my ardour scenting the spirits

Calling them to hum to the tune

I sang of the uncastrated white bull

That goered all bulls up to Karamoja

I was that bull, his horns were my arms

His hooves were my mud-bed, sacred

If I lost my voice that day, Kinsman,

That thought never crossed my mind

As the rhythm gathered pace

All I can remember is that Kongelai

Was a maiden, impressed yet

Concealed the excitement

Even as dust rose, women shrieked

The sky, in a surprise twist,

Released droplets of standing ovation.

C) Lorot Salem 2011

Notes:

Abusibus- A headgear with an ostrich feather worn by Pokots during Celebrations.

Songol- An ostrich feather.

Alado- A flywhisk tied to the arm used while dancing.

Kondi- A special horn used in Celebrations.

Kirkiris- Jingles tied to the ankles.
Kongelai- a place in Kacheliba, Kenya.

# From Jingle's prompt Poetry Potluck Muse Art and Music