Looking For Mandingo Poem by Margaret Alice

Looking for Mandingo, language of Liberia
and Mali, found alliterative languages
Maninka and Mandinka, saying aloud,
hearing a melody

Mandingo, Maninka and Mandinka offered
in the UK and America, required in South
Africa, but no Mandingo offered anywhere
on our continent

Let down my client, already called upon Professor
Samassékou who speaks Mandingo beautifully,
no reply to my email query, even Embassies
completely quiet

So I sing by myself Mandingo, Maninka, Mandinka
to the tune of the Russian Kalinka; rolling the
tongue-twisters Acholi, Somali, Swahili, Twi
over my tongue…