Author: N Oji

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Beyond Sangre Grande: Caribbean Writing Today

Edited by Cyril Dabydeen

February 8, 2012

Caribbean literature has always been exciting and diverse, including over the past decades some of the world’s most regarded writers. Beyond Sangre Grande: Caribbean Writing Today brings together a contemporary selection from key poets and fiction writers living in Canada, the US, the UK, as well as various countries of the Caribbean.

Reflecting a changing world, and admitting diverse cultural influences and generational differences, these writers maintain a distinct Caribbean-ness in their acute historical awareness and in the cadences and rhythms of their language. This collection represents a range of voices, from the established and celebrated–Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, Sam Selvon, Austin Clarke, Olive Senior—to the new and no less exciting moi- N Oji Mzilikazi.

Pick Up a copy today.

My contribution is a poem entitled: “Shards of Glass.”

Beyond Sangre Grande: Caribbean Writing Today

Publisher: TSAR Publications

ISBN: 978-1894770668

 

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Law & Disorder: Police as Thieves

Law & Disorder: Police as Thieves

By N Oji Mzilikazi

January 26, 2012

(Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 22, Number 02)

Law, respect for rules, order, and justice are the pillars upon which a society is able to maintain social stability and a good quality of life. When it comes to criminality by law enforcement officials, the justice system is all too willing to go easy on cops…

 

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Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas: What An Arsehole!

Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas: What An Arsehole!

By N Oji Mzilikazi

January 24, 2012

It’s a long-standing tradition for the winning teams of America’s major league sports to visit the White House and meet the President. The Boston Bruins won Hockey’s Stanley Cup in 2011, its first since 1972. Their White House visit was scheduled for January 23, 2012.

Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, the playoff MVP and winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy decided to put his politics ahead of the team. He refused to join his teammates at the White House.

His asinine statement on the NHL website, couching his hatred for President Barack Obama included, “the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people.”

George W. Bush spent 8 years in office. It was under Bush’s reign that anti-terror legislation and the like started to undermine civil liberties.

Obama inherited a system that was in a deficit, a tailspin and full of holes. Obama succeeded in bringing about the demise of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the biggest act of terrorism on American soil. Obama succeeded in bringing American troops home from Bush’s ill-advised and illegal war in Iraq.

And Thomas dares to act as if Obama is responsible for the pickle jar America has found itself in. Tim Thomas is an arsehole with a capital A.

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Afro Indo Unity: Can The Ganges Ever Meet The Nile? Part 4

Afro Indo Unity: Can The Ganges Ever Meet The Nile? Part 4

By N Oji Mzilikazi

January 12, 2012

(Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 22, Number 01)

 

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500 Goals: Congratulations Jarome Iginla

500 Goals: Congratulations Jarome Iginla

By N Oji Mzilikazi

January 8, 2012

When Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla scored his 500th goal against the Minnesota Wild in their NHL game in Calgary, Alberta, on January 7, 2012, the 19,200 plus fans jammed into the Scotiabank Saddledome erupted with Iggy! Iggy! Iggy! and a standing ovation for No. 12 .

I watched the game on the telly, and was all smiles for Iggy.

Since 2004 Jarome Iginla has been my favourite player, and the Calgary Flames my hockey team. I follow all their games. When they aren’t being showed on CBC or  TSN, I’ll watch their matches online. (Their televised matches out west are blocked for us in the east.) If there is no live streaming, I’d listen to Calgary Sports Radio – Fan 960.

Fittingly, Iginla scored his 500th goal in front of his home crowd – his 253rd goal at the Scotiabank Saddledome, and also the game winning goal – the 80th in his career.

In scoring 500 goals, Iginla joined an elite team. He became the 42nd player to do so, and the 15th to do so with the same team.

Congrats Jarome!

 

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Afro Indo Unity: Can The Ganges Ever Meet The Nile? Part 3

Afro Indo Unity: Can The Ganges Ever Meet The Nile? Part 3

By N Oji Mzilikazi

December 20, 2011

(Originally published in Montreal Community Contact Volume 21, Number 26)

After the destruction of Jerusalem, Jews were dispersed all over the world. For centuries they were expelled from different countries; kicked from pillar to post, murdered, executed, and even forced to embrace Islam and Christianity.

Throughout their centuries of trials and tribulations, the Torah and Talmud were the keepers of their soul. It kept them united. It kept their culture and language alive. It empowered them towards the goal of freedom, cultural and religious preservation, and the desire to return to their homeland.

On the other hand, Africans enslaved and brought to the New World were deliberately stripped of religion, language and culture- things that are psychologically sustaining, and within which are elements intrinsic to positivity of race, self-affirmation and self-respect…