Looking at her worn out face with a tyre around her neck,
Many standing and watching, a mob holding petrol and matches
With all hope lost as she sadly looks on,
My questions jump from my mind.
Before I had time to ask,
They were dangling in the air.
What has this poor girl done?
“Poor? She always uses some extraordinary alchemy
To finish her lovers’ children
Like a male lion chewing its own in order to mate
I caught her in the witching hour
Repeating ‘abracadabra’ in a very wicked face
Holding her witch broom ready to fly”
Really?
This teenager?
At the witching hour?
What were you doing then?
Did you see with your own eyes?
“Don’t defend her
But my friend here said he saw –
No, I didn’t see, Akuba said she saw –
Please I didn’t see, it was Bombia who told me he saw –
Now when did I mention that?
I only said her hair looked like a witch”
Unbelievable! So living rights are for those who can afford?
What savagery it is to physically assault a teenage orphan
On your broomsticks of witchcraft!
Take those things off her before I call for reinforcement!
And Bombia pray she recovers.
“I take her to a place of care
And ask of what the triggers were
She looks above and says with love
Thank you miss for this gallantness,
Bombia proposed and I said no
I’ve never had a man before”
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © 2014.
(Picture taken from http://www.filmjournal.com)
In many small communities in Africa, girls and women are prosecuted and sent to witch camps for very ridiculous reasons. Some for the very reason that they are talented or intelligent, others for not reciprocating the love of others, please say a prayer for all those being abused because of this.
Mum Cee 