Weeping Lands: A Book Review by Beverley

In 1991, Susan Kiguli and other old girls of Gayaza High school visited and addressed us in the assembly. Just from her introduction, I was awed. It was only until she then introduced the poem that she was about to share. 

And all along I thought that her speech was the actual poem. 

I had the honour of attending Susan's book launch, September 2024, organised by African Writers Trust (AWT) and the Department of Literature at Makerere University. Held at Onomo Hotel, with whom AWT has a partnership. In a conversation moderated by Dr. Anne Adima, it was a pleasure to listen to Susan's journey.

With Mary, a guest at the book launch.

Associate Professor Susan Kiguli, who previously served as the Head of Literature Department at Makerere University, is a renowned poet. She has presided as a judge for the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation awards and also contributed to the anthologies and participated in our festivals. 

'Weeping Lands' is Susan's latest collection, translated in Italian. 

I would best describe it as a confrontation with our troubled past and a conversation on how to overcome our current challenges.

I would also describe it as moments of recognition of places and people that have lit our lives.

It is not a dirge. Rather it is able to sit comfortably within our conscience and narrate our misgivings while opening passages of hope and reflection. 

                                                                      Photo by AWT

Take for example, 'Survive and Win,' the poem that honours Susan's aunt, Sheila Gowa. In the poem, Susan creates a platform where the reader witnesses a relationship that starts from the heart, travels to the mind and leaves indelible marks.

'To War Mongers Everywhere,' which she also recited at the launch, is certainly a hard hitting poem that addresses the brutality and emptiness of war, leaving behind irreparable damage and untold of scars that the women bear.

'They Say We Speak Broken English,' is definitely one of my favourite poems in the collection. It speaks defiantly of those who have built systems as a measure of control.

It is strong, defiant and unwavering, with powerful imagery of girls carrying pots to the well and the consequences facing them by their parents when the pots are broken. The abrupt change in emotion. The anxiety of  the unknown punishment and the weight of living under those who created systems to control us.

Copies  of Susan's poetry are available at African Writers Trust. From what I hear from the lyrical Italian translation at the launch, is that in Italian, the poems are even stronger and more powerful.

(Internet source photo)

This photo was taken in Italy 2023, where Susan received the Lifetime Achievement award for poetry at the Civil Poetry Festival.

Good reading!

Review by Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva