Rene –

I like the poem as you shared, “The Drum Beats of Afdie” on its cultural importance. The poem might have taken title from the known and shortened Aku version of Half-Die (Afdie) in Banjul. The narration about the cholera outbreak that claimed many lives gave it a name. That is not even the poem’s teaching as you shared. It looks at a culture of acceptance where cultural entertainment defined the spirit of residents, consequently making the community glued together in unity and harmony. For others who left home for the outside world, such reflections resembling your poem are uncommon. If for anything, it is certainly healthy, though one would wish for such nice days to come back. It might not. If I were to put the “…drum beats of afdie…” in my own words, I see myself running after cows and calves in rhythm order. I see torrential rains and tall grasses while the cows graze beautifully in rich meadows. The poem is certainly a nice cultural touch…and these are some of the events that bonded our communities for a while. I have taken the liberty to myself to submit your poem for wider publication.

Thanks for sharing & best for 2014!

Yero