Simple Sheng
A playful poem exploring Sheng, diaspora and the evolving language of identity between Nairobi and Manchester.
Voices from Nairobi
“ Niaje, msee?” breaks silence,
Patois in the veins.
Slang spins my head round,
“Poa?” — a sound never heard,
Coolness in one word.
“Yes, I!” echoes deep,
“Yebo!” binds a hidden chord,
Diaspora threads.
Tongues intertwining —
Swahili, English, Kikuyu,
A feast of voices.
Not just new phrases,
But states of mind, ancient roots,
Structures unfolding.
I try “Sema, bro?”
Friends laugh at my strange accent,
Still, they feel the try.
From Kibera’s beats
To Manchester’s rainy streets,
Pressure ni mingi.
Back to Myth, History & Cultural Memory
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