Description
In Shattered Dreams and Other Poems, Emmanuel Liyong Sama delivers a masterful, deeply moving collection of contemporary poetry that explores the complex landscapes of postcolonial identity, resilience, and sociopolitical change. With a sharp eye and polished lyricism, Sama chronicles the collective trauma of historical betrayals and assimilation while affirming an unyielding zeal for authentic freedom. Spanning decades of lived history, from Bamenda to Kribi, these poems seamlessly blend intimate nostalgia with striking public critique.
Sophisticated yet fiercely accessible, the volume captures the rhythm of resistance through unforgettable imagery from the echoes of historical martyrs to the modern ironies of a “circus zoo.” The third book in Sama’s Uhuru Poetry Collection, Shattered Dreams and Other Poems, stands as a crucial cultural artifact and a vibrant literary testament. It is essential reading for contemporary poetry enthusiasts, educators, book clubs, and reviewers seeking profound insights into African worldviews, memory, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
Contents
The Martyr
Colonised
Whither Liberia?
The Setting Sun
A Waiting Ship
Of the Circus Zoo
State Visit-Buea
Marshal Mandela
Cameroon History
Silver Jubilee
Hope
Our Days
Economic Crisis
The Betrayal
The Lucky Ones
Dear Fatherland
The Wind of Time
Election Time
Cameroon Public Service
Glory to Machiavelli
The Loathed Prayer
The Price of Freedom
I’ve Joined the Party
Shattered Dreams
Uprising!
The Days of War
Tribute to the Patriots
Defiance
Hayatou Must Run Again
He Dies Away But Fights Again
The Circus Commentator
His Pound of Flesh
Motion of Support!
The Raw Deal of the New Deal
Pre-Elections: Vain Hope
November 6, 2012: Our Feast of Shame
What Goes Up Must Come Down
Another Poem
What a World!
The Bondage of the Gullible
Executive Prop-Up
The Changed Songs
The Heavy Hammer of Colonial Anger
When I Cry for PWD!
Blaspheme Not the Founding Fathers
The Rape for Submission
Spiteful Status!
Ngarbuh: Just a Tree in a Forest!
Peace and Peace
Begging Peace, With Smoking Guns!
Let the Ball Play—AFCON 2021/22
Of Monday Ghost Towns
Dancing on the Rot
They Beat Me Only on My Groins
Acknowledgements
About the Author
