A sudden storm by Pius Oleghe

The wind howls; the trees sway,

The loose housetop sheets clatter and clang; 

The open window shuts with a bang,

And the sky makes night of day.

Helter skelter, the parents run,

Pressed with a thousand minor cares,

Hey, you there! Pack up the house wares, 

And where on earth is my son?

Home skip the little children;

Where have you been you naughty boy? 

But the child feels nothing but joy,

For he loves the approach of rain.

The streets clear; the houses fill,

The noise gathers as the children shout

To rival the raging wind without,

And naught that can move is still.

A bright flash, a lighted plane,

Then from the once blue heavens,

Accompanied by noise that deafens.

Steadily pours the rain.

Exciting performance by Mshai Mwangola

Book Review

The girl with the Louding Voice

It is not enough that the main character Adunni will tug at your heartstrings and make you sympathize with the plight of the girl child in the novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice. Her father’s decision to marry her off to an old man in the village emphasizes the need to fight for the girl child who is vulnerable in a patriarchal society.

Adunni’s dreams of becoming a lawyer are hindered by her father’s poverty and mother’s demise and she is married off to an old man with 2 wives.

That Adunni is 14 years old does not deter the man who already can not take care of his two wives from pushing for the young wife to give him a baby.

The broken English serves to enhance the innocence of this girl who only wants to have a louding voice.

Her singing and close relationship with her brother kayus will tug at your heart and make you shed a tear for Adunni and especially for her brother.

The family unit is slowly disintegrating and the children again are at the centre of it.

Adunni is running away leaving her heartbroken brother behind and an enraged village pining for her blood.

Khadija is dead, Iya is dying, a slow painful death and Labake is going mad.

Despite the challenges that Adunni faces, she continues to fight and has a good sense of humor that makes you root for her all the way in the novel.

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