Joseph Cimanuka
Joseph Cimanuka Poems
I am Joseph Cimanuka,
A son of hope and humble light,
Born where hills embrace the morning,
And rivers sing both day and night.
...
The start will always come, mediocrely;
Voices in your back will whisper dismay,
Trying to make you feel black, to bring you down.
Every voice will rise, a word to say,
...
Half-dead people, hearts turned cold,
Conceived in shadows, in theft enrolled;
Born in crime, in darkness fed,
On stolen wealth their spirits bred.
...
O, Death! I curse you,
For you are impolite,
You don't knock before you get in.
Death, where is your pity?
...
White skin—but an illusion.
Black skin—but a confusion.
...
Are we children of the same world?
If you claim we are,
Where is our brotherhood—
...
Congo, my only one,
My only heritage from my forefathers;
From your womb, I am fed and nourished,
On your land, I dwell and breathe,
...
Peau blanche — mais une illusion.
Peau noire — mais une confusion.
...
Ngozi nyeupe—lakini ni udanganyifu.
Ngozi nyeusi—lakini ni mkanganyiko.
...
Piel blanca, pero una ilusión.
Piel negra, pero una confusión.
...
A dream or an overdream? Out of it, I am a student, single, and living with my parents. In it, I am a traveller, a stranger living next door to a middle-aged couple. The husband is also a traveller. I dwell beside them without their notice, as though I have entered their world without leaving a footprint.
One day, the woman sees me through the window of my house and comes near to introduce herself. It is a silent introduction; hardly a word passes between us. The only words I manage to utter are, "I am your new neighbour." After that encounter, I become her friend. Whenever her husband is away, she invites me into her house. Yet there is something strange about her. She is a witch, and she is less young than my mother.
One day, while we are together, I suddenly feel the body of a serpent pressing against my chest. Ouch! Before I can understand what is happening, the woman transforms into an enormous anaconda lying heavily upon my bony chest. I cannot breathe. I tremble. I become speechless. Fortunately, there is a hunting spear in the room. I seize it and drive it into the serpent's heavily scaled body. The creature struggles, then begins to lose its breath. At last, it dies. I sigh heavily, drawing endless air from the depths of my lungs, as though I have just returned from the edge of death.
...
Congo clapped for these mosquitoes,
Who invaded her netted borders,
With their toxic stings stretched out,
Silently sucking her blood out.
...
GIVE is only a soap, forevermore,
For external beauty, nothing more;
You use it, for sure, to wash your skin,
To cleanse and beautify your outer core.
...
I am fond of you, Lord,
Yet I despise my neighbor.
I preach your word with delight,
...
There is a day for birth, a day for death,
A day for childhood, a day for age.
A day for marriage, a day for parting,
A day for failure, a day for success.
...
Your majesty, our Mwami,
Where is your Mwamihood?
As the greatest hero of our land,
...
I love poetry, it's true!
Poetry, my daddy; poetry, my mummy;
All my siblings, poetry.
...
My mind is heavy like the whole cosmos,
A wonder fills my thoughts about mankind.
From dawn to dusk—on Everest's peak I stand;
...
Joseph Cimanuka Biography
I am Joseph Cimanuka, A son of hope and humble light, Born where hills embrace the morning, And rivers sing both day and night. My father bears the name Cimanuka, A man whose strength stands firm and tall; My mother, Mapenzi, full of kindness, Whose loving heart embraces all. Second child within our household, A family of fourteen souls, Bound together by love and struggle, Sharing dreams and common goals. Eight brave brothers walk beside me: Confiance, Claude, and Jonas too, Patient, Daniel, Benjamin, Obed and Ampire faithful and true. Three dear sisters brighten our pathway: Mwema, Promesse, Rehema's grace; Together we stand like trees in forests, Rooted deeply in one place. In Luwindja I first saw daylight, South Kivu, Congo's precious land, On January seventh, two thousand two, Life was placed within my hand. Kabobi taught my first beginnings, Where childhood learned to read and grow; Then Bukavu opened wider doors, And brighter dreams began to glow. At Camp Panzi I finished primary, With courage burning in my chest; L'Amitié shaped my early journey, While Ibanda helped me do my best. Now at ISP Bukavu studying, English and African Culture's flame, A sophomore chasing wisdom daily, Working hard to build a name. I teach English to younger learners, Planting seeds of future light; At Freedom Foundation in Panzi, I guide young minds toward what is right. I love the songs hidden in books, The poetry dancing in silent air, The voice of radios in the evening, And nature's beauty everywhere. I love long roads and distant travels, Walking slowly beneath the sky, Watching trees and listening deeply To the earth as seasons pass by. I dislike lies that poison friendship, And idle talks that waste the day; For truth and purpose are my compass, Guiding every step and way. One day I shall become a poet, Whose words will cross both sea and land; A teacher shaping generations, A businessman with steady hand. And maybe in my nation's future, When Congo calls for honest men, I shall rise to serve my people, With wisdom, courage, and my pen. For I am Joseph Cimanuka, A dreamer walking toward the sun; Though the journey may be endless, My story has only begun.)
The Best Poem Of Joseph Cimanuka
It's Me
I am Joseph Cimanuka,
A son of hope and humble light,
Born where hills embrace the morning,
And rivers sing both day and night.
My father bears the name Cimanuka,
A man whose strength stands firm and tall;
My mother, Mapenzi, full of kindness,
Whose loving heart embraces all.
Second child within our household,
A family of fourteen souls,
Bound together by love and struggle,
Sharing dreams and common goals.
Eight brave brothers walk beside me:
Confiance, Claude, and Jonas too,
Patient, Daniel, Benjamin,
Obed and Ampire faithful and true.
Three dear sisters brighten our pathway:
Mwama, Promesse, Rehema's grace;
Together we stand like trees in forests,
Rooted deeply in one place.
In Luwindja I first saw daylight,
South Kivu, Congo's precious land,
On January seventh, two thousand two,
Life was placed within my hand.
Kabobi taught my first beginnings,
Where childhood learned to read and grow;
Then Bukavu opened wider doors,
And brighter dreams began to glow.
At Camp Panzi I finished primary,
With courage burning in my chest;
L'Amitié shaped my early journey,
While Ibanda helped me do my best.
Now at ISP Bukavu studying,
English and African Culture's flame,
A sophomore chasing wisdom daily,
Working hard to build a name.
I teach English to younger learners,
Planting seeds of future light;
At Freedom Foundation in Panzi,
I guide young minds toward what is right.
I love the songs hidden in books,
The poetry dancing in silent air,
The voice of radios in the evening,
And nature's beauty everywhere.
I love long roads and distant travels,
Walking slowly beneath the sky,
Watching trees and listening deeply
To the earth as seasons pass by.
I dislike lies that poison friendship,
And idle talks that waste the day;
For truth and purpose are my compass,
Guiding every step and way.
One day I shall become a poet,
Whose words will cross both sea and land;
A teacher shaping generations,
A businessman with steady hand.
And maybe in my nation's future,
When Congo calls for honest men,
I shall rise to serve my people,
With wisdom, courage, and my pen.
For I am Joseph Cimanuka,
A dreamer walking toward the sun;
Though the journey may be endless,
My story has only begun.
Joseph Cimanuka Comments
Joseph Cimanuka Quotes
No man fashioned from clay is white or black, For clay is neither white nor black.
Better that I stand alone, Wobbling on my trembling feet, Than stand upright Leaning on a hypocrite.
The hand That lifts you today May release you tomorrow, Leaving you to strike the ground With broken bones—
Don't remain a puppet dangling from strings, break them, and learn to dance alone.
To fear God is not to tremble before him, but to do what is right. Do you fear him or tremble before him?
If GIVE is skin-beauty, nothing more, money is heart-beauty at the core.
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8/27/2026 3:53:25 AM # rel_20260826T082754Z_99b456e
