Poetry is for Rewriting Political History

At times poetry is written to correct history. For example when the Europeans first came to Africa, the African people were cautious rather than greedy and foolish people we of the later generations think of them. Forget the narrative that they were a naive group of people who sold their birthright for a plateful of lentils. No. They were a proud and dignified people with a comprehensive political system. This is captured in the following excerpt from 'Stanley Meets Mutesa', a historical poem by David Rubadiri.

...

The village looks on behind banana groves,

Children peer behind reed fences

Such was the welcome

No singing women to chant a welcome

Or drums to greet the white ambassador:

Only a few silent nods from aged faces

And one rumbling drum roll

To summon Mutesa's court to parley

For the country was not sure.

The gate of reeds is flung open

There is silence

But a moment's silence -

A silence of assessment.

The tall black king steps forward,

He towers above the thin bearded white man

Then grabbing his lean white hand

Manages to whisper

Mtu mweupe Karibu

White man you are welcome

The gate of polished reed closes behind them

And the west is let in.

David Rubadiri

J. Kariara and E. Kitonga. An Introduction to East African Poetry. O.U.P.,1977.

The poem is about the first meeting between H.M. Stanley, the European explorer, and the Baganda of Uganda, represented by their King Kabaka Mutesa. The Baganda people are clearly apprehensive about the intrusion by the European, hence the 'silence'. But this is not to be mistaken for fear, no wonder the poet explains it as "A silence of assessment". In any case, the symbol of the tall black king towering over the thin bearded white man and grabbing his lean white hand shows that he (the King) could summon his physical power over the European if he so willed. 

The King is also presented as knowledgeable and well travelled. At the time, he can speak Kiswahili, "Mtu Mweupe Karibu", which is not native to Uganda but is the language that unites East Africa. This kingdom is also portrayed as democratic. When the white man arrives, Mutesa's court is summoned for a meeting. This means that he does not make decisions on his own. Rather, he is portrayed as a leader. The poet says that he "...steps forward." The shows that he is just a representative of his people. Sometimes, precolonial Africa is presented as a place where political leaders lorded over their people and therefore the mistakes made were purely because they were dictatorial.

In fact, it is the white man who is portrayed as hypocritical and ungrateful. When he is welcomed in good faith he instead decides to colonize Africa. This is clear from the last line where the poet says: "And the west is let in."