Zuhura - Mpenzi Wangu Wa Enzi/Offial Live Performance at Oasis, Masaki. ...

TOUCH ME

Touch me.. 

Reach inside my heart and bare yourself to me
Let me see you without your masks
Tear down your walls, take off your casques

Touch me.. 

Beneath the skin, and flesh, and bone, and blood
Light in me a fire
Warm my soul with your tender caress

Touch me.. 

Guide me to your shadows and undress your secrets
Let me be your diary
I promise I will never tell
I promise, in the past not to dwell
You do not want to be judged, I know
but to be understood

So touch me.. 

Touch me at my beginning
So you and I arrive as one
Touch me while my heart is beating
Not when I lay cold on the ground

Touch me in the now
Surely you know how
Reach me at the centre, make the zing come to life
In the depth of me,
Ignite!
Be the light!
Be the knight! 

Touch me.. 

Tuch me, touch me,
I dare you. 

(C) Zuhura Seng'enge

~ A.L 30/07/2016

A DREAMER'S CONFESSION - EAVC 2016

I want to be smart like a bat
Hustling in the night when the rest of the world is slumbering in their flats,

I want to be insightful like an owl
Strategizing n executing intelligently until the world goes wow!

I want to be dauntless like an eagle
Exploring horizons, solving life's riddles,

I want to be zealous like a rooster
Inspiring minds with all my exciting adventures,

I want to be alluring like a peacock
Leaving permanent impressions even when the haters talk,

I want to be swift like a fly
Seizing opportunities before eternal sleep has touched the eye,

I want to be intelligent like a crow
Equipped with tools to solve puzzles that mother nature throws,

I want to be flexible like a swan
Transforming my intellect so I do not end up a pawn,

I want to be devoted like a goose
To stay on the line even when the rest are letting loose,

I want to be enduring like a Phoenix
Keeping on my heels even when earth collides with Venus,

I want to be distinguished like a falcon
Turning hills of dreams into mountains,

I want to be charismatic like a parrot
Mentally attractive and undoubtedly transparent,

I want to be artistic like a nightingale
Filling ears and hearts with compelling tales,

I want to be diligent like a bee
Striving relentlessly to build a beautiful future for me,

I want to be hopeful like a dove
Filled with optimism and a great sense of love,

I want to be lively like a butterfly
Embracing each second like the clouds embrace the sky,
I want to fly,

I want to rise,

I want to soar.

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
     ~ A. L August 2016

NJOO NYUMBANI - EAVC 2016 PERFORMANCE PIECE

Umoja ni kupendana,
Umoja si kutengana,
Si kutendana,
Si kuchukiana,

Umoja ni kushikamana,
Umoja ni kushirikiana,
Ni kusaidiana,
Kuzijenga jamii,
Ni kusikilizana,
Maagano kuyatii,

Umoja ni kuhurumiana,
Umoja ni kuthaminiana,
Si kutukanana,
Si kuchuniana,

Umoja maana yake ni kuungana,  kushiriki kwa pamoja na kuelimishana,
Kuburudishana,
Kwenye mapungufu kuvumiliana,
Katu kutojali kutofautiana,
Kutothubutu kubaguana,
Kwa rangi, ama kabila, ama jinsia,
Kwa uwezo, ama maumbile, ama kwa mazoea,

Tumeumbwa na maulana kwa dhamira,
Kila mmoja kwa upekee wake amejaaliwa,
Kipawa cha kufanya mazito, makubwa na ya kusisimua,

Tumeelekezwa kuwa na subira,
Ili pamoja tuongozane kuipata dira,
Na Hilo ndilo Wazo la busara,
Kuwa na upendo wa dhati bega kwa bega,
Kuwa na umoja imara usiolega,
Kuwa kitu kimoja, kijiji, kata, wilaya, mkoa, nchi, bara na dunia,
Kuwa na hamasa, pale tunapoonana nafsi ziwe zenye kufurahia,

Nakuita Afrika, salamu nakutolea,
Nakuita dunia,  amani nakuombea,
Nakuita Afrika, moyoni upate tulia,
Nakuita dunia, mapenzi nikumiminie,
Njoo nikukumbatie.

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
     ~ A. L August 2016

Watoto Ndiyo Taifa

Natamani kuwa na jamii yenye amani
Niione machoni
Isiishie ndotoni,
Jamii ambayo watoto wana furaha
Wakiimba na kucheza
Hadithi kusimuliana,
Mahali watakapopendwa na wazee na vijana
Mahali watakapokuwa salama,

Jitihada za maisha bora ziwe kwa watoto
Wapate urithi kwa kzazi kijacho.

Natamani kuwa na jamii watakayopendwa watoto
Isiyotumia maumivu yao
Kuzichuma mali,
Natamani kuona wakipata haki zao
Mahali tabasamu lao
Litathaminiwa kuliko dhahabu,
Wasipotumikishwa wala kufanywa kama bidhaa
Wasipotelekezwa wakaja kufa kwa njaa
Wakiwa pweke kwenye dunia,
Natamani jamii itakayo wajali
Ikawaweka mbali na vitendo vya ukatili.

Natamani kuwa na jamii watakayothaminiwa watoto
Mahali Sauti zao
Zitasikiwa na wote,
Elimu yao kupewa kipaumbele
Mahali wasipolazimishwa
Kuuvunja undugu,
Na akili zao kutopotoshwa kwa uongo
Chuki ikajaa mioyoni mwao
Wakasahau kuwa na upendo,
Natama jamii ambayo watoto wataishi bila woga
Mahali salama penye tumaini na faraja.

Watoto ni baraka kwenye maisha,
Watoto ndiyo nuru kwenye kiza,
Watoto ni tumaini, watoto ni zawadi
Watoto ndiyo taifa.

*Translated From English

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
        ~ A. L 2016
www.Zuhurasaad22.blog spot.com

MPENZI WANGU WA ENZI

Jioni usikawie
Moyo umejawa hamu
Mashaka usinitie
Maumivu ni haramu
Usinifanye nilie
Nikameza hata sumu
Fika nami nitulie
Zirudi zangu fahamu
Haki yangu nipatie
Nijihisi mwanadamu
Mlete nimsikie
Anene yake matamu
Nimeshampenda Mie
Mimi naye damudamu
Mpenzi wangu wa enzi, asilani sitomwacha.

Moyo unataka tiba
Mlete kwangu haraka
Kinada akipuliza
Roho inaliwazika
Akinena kwa mahaba
Huzidi yangu faraja
Shaka yote huniisha
Akiwa nami faragha
Napenda anapocheka
Anapenda nikideka
Jioni naomba fika
Kabla hamu haijanisha
Mpenzi wangu wa enzi, asilani sitomwacha.

Jua nenda pumzika
Muda umeshawadia
Sitaki kufedheheka
Wasiwasi kunitia
Nafsi haitoridhika
Machoni nisipomtia
Karibu ninamtaka
Kutwa namsubiria
Hapa ataliwazika
Kwa wake mahabubia
Hanjumati nitapika
Nyimbo nitamuimbia
Mimi kwake nishafika
Na kwangu keshatulia
Mpenzi wangu wa enzi, asilani sitomwacha.

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
     ~ A. L 2016

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9a/25/0f/9a250f4c2f284631c0d2ea11a58139c9.jpg

UNDONE

You and I,
We were a story worth writing
You and I, like a fated destiny,
We found each other
Young, hungry for adventure
Watching you smile for the first time
Left a permanent mark on me
In your eyes full of promise, I saw our fairy tale
Weaving slowly before me
and when you took my hand, one by one,
the chapters started unfolding..
Every page took us closer to a happy ending
but only an ending came by
You snatched away the treasured pieces
Happiness for my heart you denied
You tainted every beautiful memory
Without the blinds of love now I can see
Vividly, the true colors that lied
behind the scenes of what we used to be.

Sweet love,
why play a cruel game on me?
Pulling me close then shoving me to the wall
Carrying me high just to let me fall
With hands that once used to embrace me
You yank my beating heart out of my chest
How fast you forget,
That it was the same heart that used to love you
used to sooth You
used to please You
used to carry your pain.
You have left me undone, my love,
Does it make you a happy man?

One step forward
One step back
Like a a horse cradle
I race against time
Two steps forward
Ten steps back
I battle with myself
Fighting the tears only to lose to my fears
No peace of mind
Always on alert
Waiting to catch you on the act
No positive thought, no hint of trust
Hoping for the best is a curse that brings the worst to life
I fight to break free only to retun back to the cage
No remedy can take off the itch, the urge
To fall off the wagon
To unleash the dragon
The heart keeps weeping even when I shut it down
No pain killer can numb it to sleep
It's a war with no chance of victory
I'm still in your blinds
Every candle I light takes me deeper into the dark
I bleed out trying to erase these marks
Scared for life.

Sweet love,
Did you have to be so sour?
Showing me the moon then banning me from space
Taking my love and throwing it back at my face
With lips that once used to heal my soul
You shut me out of your life in silence
I thought love was harmless
I thought people were treated like people regardless
Of where they were born
Of language they spoke
Of gender they possessed
Of styles they dressed,
Was I a different creature from human?
that you chose to leave me undone, dear one,
Tell me, has it made you a happier man?https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d4/2d/2c/d42d2cd41c741d9646f233bd1ce7261f.jpg

My Featured Poem

4/4/2016

Read My Poem 'Do Not Fear The Past' among these

5 incredible poems from across Africa http://www.one.org/international/blog/5-incredible-poems-from-across-africa/

A Farewell Night of Art with Keziah

My Poetry Performance with Soul Musician Jeff Mduma, at Soma Book Cafe. Saturday 02/04/2016

Ndoto Kubwa

Nimejawa na ndoto za ushindi
Sipati usingizi
Mapenzi kwa familia hakuna wa kuyazidi
Ni jukumu kujituma
lazima kujitahidi
Kuzidi
Pambana na miba navyo visiki
Kuitafuta riziki
Iondoke yetu dhiki
Tupate faraja maisha yawe rahisi
Tupate kujenga jamii tunayoishi.

Nahangaika kuutafuta ushindi
Sitaki usingizi
Starehe ni gharama na kwetu hatuziwezi
Lazima kukazana ili niipate kazi
Inipatie malazi, chakula, mavazi
Isije niingia hulka ya ujambazi
Sitaki kuchetuka, nimeshaaga wazazi
Nimeshatoa ahadi
Rushwa kuiweka mbali na kukwepa ufisadi
Tamaa kuizuilia isijenigeuza hasadi.


Sitochoka kupigania ushindi
Ushindi nyumbani,
Ushindi wa upendo, usawa na amani
Kwa kila mwanadamu Afrika, na duniani
Isimwagwe hovyo damu
Kama ng'ombe machinjioni
Asiuzwe albino
Kama mbuzi mnadani
Sitaki
Kuona inapotea haki
Sheria isimame hata kwa wenye malaki
Tupo sawa watu wote hata tukiuza chaki
Maji, pipi, au mishikaki
Wanyonge nao watu sitopenda waonewe
Ndiyo mana nakazana mahitaji yao wapewe.

Maisha ni safari ya kusaka ushindi
Kufanya yaliyo mema
Kuzitafuta neema
Mungu anijaalie tabia iliyo njema
Ukweli siku zote niweze kuusema
Nikwepe shutuma za jamii na lawama
Niweze kuwa mshindi kwa baba na mama
Kwakweli Sitochoka!
Kwa nguvu nitasota!
Milima nitapanda, mabonde nitashuka
Majangwa nitapita, bahari nitavuka
Manyasi nitafyeka, visiki nitaruka
Pambano ntapigana, ushindi kuupata
Nia yangu kuu kuukamata ushindi
Peke yangu tuu nitasonga ikibidi
Niombeeni uzima nifike huko salama
Niokoe Tanzania kwenye wimbi la ujinga
Turudishe mshikamano kama enzi za ujima
Usawa kwa watu wote, walo bara na visiwa.
Ndoto yangu kubwa, Ndoto ya ushindi.

© Zuhura Seng'enge
~ A.L 2015

REMIND ME

Find me the first book
That taught us how to love each other
Remind me
What it means to give without condition
How to care without ill intention
Find me the first book
Of gentleness and kindness
regardless
of origin, race or ethnicity
of pure love to humanity.

Read me the first book
That taught us how to live
With our neighbors
Remind me of the way
One should treat his brother when he is in need
or when he is dying of hunger out on the street
Read me the first book
Of communal relations
acceptance
of team work and cooperation
From first generation.

Bring me the first book
That taught us how to read
the wisdom of the fore fathers handed down to sons and daughters
Remind me
How to reconnect with my roots
or how to peel away the veil that keeps us from the truth
Bring me the first book
Of African scripts
Texts
Those before BC
Of true African history.

Search for me the first book
That taught us how to pray
with purity of heart
Remind me the values
with which one could be signified
As a faithful servant, dignified
To lead spiritually
Search for me the first book
Of honesty to the faith one claims to belong
A song
Of sincerity and clarity to right and wrong
Of equality to all man kind, weak or strong.

Take me to the place of birth of my nation
Remind me, why I was important to God's creation.

©Zuhura Seng'enge
~ A.L 2015

UNBROKEN

Unbroken - PART ONE.

Shake me, push me to the ground
I swear I won't make a sound
Slap me like a child
Curse me
but you will not take my pride
Undress me before the crowd
Strike a hundred lashes on my back
You will not hear me quack
Crack my bones if you must
In my lord I put my trust
You can cut each finger from my hand
You can leave me eight days out the burning sand
You can stand
and watch me bleed out like a cow
No word will come out of me anyhow.
Poke and probe me like a science experiment
Leave me with a permanent impairment

Be violent!

Do not hesitate to punish this prisoner
Mr. Police, judge, jury and executioner
Barry me alive if need be
I do not need my freedom, I was already born free.

You Can't Break Me!
You Can't Break Me!

*Inspired by the movie ‪#‎Unbroken‬
©Zuhura Seng'enge
~ A.L 2015

ME AND MY BROWN SKIN

I asked God if it was a sin
To be born with a black skin
To have a protection from the burning rays of the sun called Melanin
Because everyday I see
Sisters buying products to become brown free
Apparently,
Sold complexion is everything
To the 21st century woman than loyalty
Everyday I see
A stranger honored more in my own country than me

I asked God if it was a test
To be born so different from the rest
To have more scars buried in my chest
While my quest
For justice has barely begun
How can one compete with a barrel of a gun
Pointed at their head since they were very young
Living by and by as the praise is sang
'O hail the white man who made spoons and pans'
Forgetting that the steel was forged by their own hands.

I asked God if it was a mistake
To be born in such a state
Of rejection from other races
A misfit
Out solving cases
Out changing places
Because no one suspects the man with an accent
To be the perpetrator of an accident
Excuse my sharp tongue, but tell me if you ever saw
A foreigner being charged for breaking the law
Not in this country brother, so I do wonder
If it is the knack for perfection
Or the talent for deception.

I asked God if it was maybe a gift
To be born so exceptionally unique
To be singled out in a continent that was not known to exist
With millions of treasures to handle as we see fit
but that became history after they came and made us toil
For what was ours
Separating us from our families
Hungry, but working for hours
Forced to pay tax for existence
Killed on spot if showed resistance
So I worry, all this attention
That we give so respectfully
Is it maybe pretense
Or just loaded obsession?

I asked God a lot of questions
and I know that it is wrong
but I needed direction
A sign of hope
I need salvation
To be pointed to the light
Because I want to be right
For beauty and respect seems to be something we lack
I wonder why,
Is it because we're born black?

©Zuhura Seng'enge
~ A.L 2015

SACRED

My love,
I never detested it
Never questioned it
Never pretended it did not matter
Or that it did not carry meaning
I respected it
I valued it
I prayed for it
I longed for it,
A light in my dark moments
A lullaby in my sleepless nights
A song in my gloomy days
For it is sacred,
Then when it found me
I had found my serenity
A timeless heaven
More than a light
Better than a lullaby
Sweeter than a song
and like the scorched earth when kissed by the rain,
It quenched for me my burning desire
To love,
and to be loved

O my love,
It is like a flower garden
Carrying a myriad of scents:
Scents of adventure
Scents of passion
Scents of pleasure
Scents of happiness
Scents of strength
I am blessed,
Dancing like a butterfly- pleased to have found its rose
Yes it has quenched my thirst
It has made me contented
I did not detest it
I did not question it
I do not lie in its name
Nor do I take it for granted
For it is sacred
I respect it..
I cherish it..
I accept it..
It is not here be explained
but to be felt,
Experienced, shared

My love, it is another sunset,
and today you stand next to me
I know, my tomorrow will not be the same
and I, shall not wish it so to remain
Because you make every today more beautiful,
more special than yesterday
My love, you make me happy in every way.

(C)Zuhura Seng'enge
~A. L 2016

MAGIC WORDS

Say something,
Break down these walls
These stone cold walls that keeps us at a distance
Even when we are close,
We are still so distant
Save us from this fall
This deep dark hole sucking out our energies
Making us lose our souls
We are broken,
Shattered by our pasts into fragile pieces
To be whole, we need to be put back together
Every piece, patiently, gently, kindly brought back together
but we can only achieve that together, if we stay together
Be there for each other
We can find ourselves in each other
So say something,
Break away this silence
This emptiness inside us that feels like there is nothing left to fight for
We are what we should fight for
Say something,
Hold me close and don't let go

I regret words i never said
Chances I never took
Opportunities I never made
I regret not going all the way
Not fighting everyday,
For great things are hard to get
I wish I knew that before quitting the race
I regret not trying once again
Not embracing the pain
So I could see the sunshine after the rain

Say something,
Do not leave me hanging
Anxiety is killing me
Let me in on a secret that devours your heart
Put me in the know I can tell you its all right
and if it is not I will stick by your side
Still got your back
When it is bright and when it is dark
When it is best and when it is not
When you are high and when you are low
Just know I wont let go
We are broken yes,
Shattered by our pasts into fragile pieces
but together we are whole, united, undefeated
That crack in our souls let us seal it with kisses
When the world is destroyed and everything is gone
The worst way to go is when you are all alone
So say something,
Do not waste these seconds
Time is precious than any valuable treasure
If you wait too long you may lose me forever
and all I want is to be with you forever
Even if forever ends tomorrow
Say something,
Save us from an eternity of sorrow

As you will regret words you never say
Chances you never take
Opportunities you never make
You will regret not going all the way
Not fighting everyday,
For great things are hard to get
You should know that before starting the race
Coz you will regret not trying once again
Not embracing the pain
So you may see the sunshine after the rain
So you may see the sunshine after the rain.

Say something..

(c)Zuhura Seng'enge
~A. L 2016

Uzuri Wako

Uzuri wako ni zaidi ya ngozi nyororo
Zaidi ya macho ya kuvutia na mwendo wa maringo
Uzuri wako, haupimwi kwa mavazi wala kiasi cha sifa
ulizomiminiwa
Uzuri wako siyo mwanya wala vito vya thamani ulivyojaza shingoni
Wala siyo sauti ya kumtoa nyoka pangoni
Uzuri wako unatokea moyoni;
Vitendo vya ukarimu
Maneno ya busara
Heshima kwa wanadamu
Bila ya kujali fukara
Uzuri wako ni tabia zako,
Kujihifadhi na machafu kuyakimbia
Heshima kujijengea. madoa kutoitia
Uzuri wako ni zaidi ya lulu, UTHAMINI.

Usidanganyike na fedha ulizonazo mfukoni
Kamwe uzuri haununuliwi dukani
Usijitambe kwa barua lukuki ulizotumiwa
Na maneno mazuuri uliyotunukiwa
Wengi huitoa sukari wakijaribu kujinadi
Ukiwapa kidogo asali, huvunjika nayo ahadi
Uzuri ni zaidi ya sura
Asikuzuge mwanadamu
Uzuri wako siyo biashara
Kuuza ni haramu.
Uzuri kwa wote upo, wanawake na wanaume
Japo wengi husema, hasifiwi uzuri mwanamume
Lakini umeona wapi watu wakipenda vibaya?
Jaribu kuvaa viraka kama hukushikwa na haya
Kila utayemuita ataenda pitia mbali
Lazima safi kujiweka, ukitaka mpata mwali
Uzuri wako ni tabia, na mwenendo wa maisha
Uzuri wako hubakia, hata umri ukiisha
UTHAMINI.

(c) 2015

NOT FOR VALENTINE

I never celebrate Valentine's day
I don't believe real feelings can be expressed in just a day
I think that love should be shown everyday
and beautiful things shared whenever one can
This Valentine's day seems so superficial
Like it's the only time of the year when everybody is in love
When everybody is happy
Then one day after they are back to lonesomeness and sadly ever afters
This Valentine's day sounds like a debt
Where everyone has to have a partner
Men to provide handsomely for their women
Women to treat their men with care
Celebrating, singing "love is in the air"
Then some hours after nobody is actually there

I never celebrate Valentine's day
I wish I understood why I needed a special day
To know and feel that I love and I am loved
Most of us don't even realize
The true meaning of this day
We have changed an ancient holly day
Into a carnival of reckless, pointless celebrations
A good business idea ofcourse
and the reason for increased unsafe sexual intercourse
This Valentine's day should be erased from calender
It is not our tradition, not in our history

I wanted to write you a poem for Valentine's day
A poem I thought of writing you for a while I might say
but I remembered that real feelings can't be expressed in just a day
and beautiful things are shared whenever one can
So i decided not to wait till February fourteenth
To say what I wish to say
I decided not to write you the poem,
and let actions speak louder instead
I decided, that i want to celebrate us everyday
Yes, we are not perfect
Neither can we tell the future
but for now, as long as we are here
We can make every minute matter,
every moment count
because happiness is what we should not live without

So please babe, let's not celebrate Valentine's,
What we feel ain't for Mr. Valentine
It ain't for Valentine
No not for Valentine.

 ~ A. L2016 (c)Zuhura Seng'enge

IT'S YOU

When I think of, a peacefulness where the heart no longer dwells into the mystery of love -
a bliss that cleanses the soul of fear of striding down,
towards its steep, slippery depth;

When I think of, beauty beyond the eye or imagination -
a pleasing existence that cannot be named, identified or categorized,
just understood, appreciated,

When i think of a song -
carefully selected pattern of sounds, notes and melodies,
perfectly aligned into delicate heart warming harmonies -
a music that lights up the face, communicates with the soul in a language not meant to be understood,
but felt.. deeply felt,

When i think of, a light that brings back to life,
those dormant, forgotten feelings that never took full shape -
energy with which one can find what they had lost, even if it were from many many years ago,

When I think of, magic with which one can just, imagine things into happening -
an untamed force that can weave dreams into reality,

When I think of, a place,
where time is deep in slumber, and how much of it spent never matters -
a home, a heaven,
safe from harm and danger,
I think of YOU.

YOU are my inspiration, my darling, my love,
I LOVE YOU.

(c)~ A. L 2016