To honour the spirit of the Olympics 2012,  204 poems from around the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, have been collected from each of the 204 participating countries by the Scottish Poetry Library.

Africa

Here is the second set of ten from Africa. Enjoy!

  1. Egypt: Socks
  2. Equatorial Guinea: from Minitopography of Santa Isabel
  3. Eritrea: Unjust Praise
  4. Ethiopia: The Road to Nowhere
  5. Gambia: Parachute men say
  6. Ghana: Tin Roof
  7. Guinea-Bissau: Regresso
  8. Ivory Coast: The Death of Old Men
  9. Kenya: from Poem to her Daughter
  10. Liberia: Nyanken Hne, My Husband

The poems selected are often not by the most notable poet a country has produced. Some of them are funny or light-hearted. Often they are snapshots of lives rather than grand narratives. And some of the choices may be controversial. However, they all give a glimpse of lives in countries spanning the globe. Together these poems depict a world united not only by sport, but by emotions that are universal and need no translator other than the heart.

 

You will find the first set of ten here: Africa

The International Day for the World’s Indigenous People was first proclaimed in 1994 by the United Nations.

Indigenous People

25% of Ecuador's population is indigenous. Their history encompasses the last 11,000 years.

In 2007, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous People. At first, Australia, New Zealand, United States, and Canada all voted against the declaration but they have all reversed their positions since.

The International Day for the World’s Indigenous People is important because in our increasingly globalized, technology-driven world indigenous people are often forgotten. This year’s theme is “Indigenous media, empowering indigenous voices.” The day aims to encourage more and more indigenous people around the world to promote and spread their culture, language, and values through traditional and new media forms…

To honour the spirit of the Olympics 2012, 204 poems from around the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, have been collected from each of the 204 participating countries by the Scottish Poetry Library.

Southe_america_and_carribean

Here are the first ten from South America and the Carribean. Enjoy!

  1. Antigua and Barbuda: Plantain
  2. Argentina: Sidewalks of Buenos Aires
  3. Bahamas: Mangroves
  4. Belize: When a fish…
  5. British Virgin Islands: Crescendo
  6. Colombia: The House
  7. Dominica: In The Woods
  8. Dominican Republic: Find Work
  9. Ecuador: The Weathercock of the Cathedral at Quito
  10. Jamaica: A Song For My Father

The poems selected are often not by the most notable poet a country has produced. Some of them are funny or light-hearted. Often they are snapshots of lives rather than grand narratives. And some of the choices may be controversial. However, they all give a glimpse of lives in countries spanning the globe. Together these poems depict a world united not only by sport, but by emotions that are universal and need no translator other than the heart.

To honour the spirit of the Olympics 2012, 204 poems from around the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, have been collected from each of the 204 participating countries by the Scottish Poetry LibraryOlympic Poems

Here are the first nine from Australia and Oceania. Enjoy!

  1. AustraliaThe Mitchells
  2. Cook IslandsTurakina Street
  3. Fiji: Tern
  4. Kirbati: Bonefish
  5. Micronesia: I follow her
  6. Nauru: Rains of Nauru
  7. New Zealand: Nowhere
  8. Papua New Guinea: Tuna
  9. Samoa: Flying-fox

The poems selected are often not by the most notable poet a country has produced. Some of them are funny or light-hearted. Often they are snapshots of lives rather than grand narratives. And some of the choices may be controversial. However, they all give a glimpse of lives in countries spanning the globe. Together these poems depict a world united not only by sport, but by emotions that are universal and need no translator other than the heart.

Taking place during the Hindu month of Sravana (13th August 2011),Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is a very beautiful and important festival. It celebrates brotherhood and love, promoting harmonious coexistence between all. It is mainly celebrated in Northern India. Raksha Bandhan is a significant event in the Hindu Calendar and the importance of the brother-sister relationship is emphasised throughout.

To honour the spirit of the Olympics 204 poems from aroundAsia Poems
the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, have been collected from each of the 204 participating countries by the Scottish Poetry Library.

Here are the first ten from Asia. Enjoy

  1. AfghanistanThe story of my country
  2. AzerbaijanThe poet’s voice
  3. BahrainAll of them
  4. BangladeshMon-doria
  5. BhutanA lesson in light
  6. Brunei DarussalamBrothers, your cries…
  7. GeorgiaCircle and rectangle
  8. Hong KongFloral Apron
  9. IndiaHomecoming
  10. Iran: An Iranian Professor I know asked me…

The poems selected are often not by the most notable poet a country has produced. Some of them are funny or light-hearted. Often they are snapshots of lives rather than grand narratives. And some of the choices may be controversial. However, they all give a glimpse of lives in countries spanning the globe. Together these poems depict a world united not only by sport, but by emotions that are universal and need no translator other than the heart.

To honour the spirit of the Olympics 204 poems from aroundAfrica poems
the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, have been collected from each of the 204 participating countries by the Scottish Poetry Library.

Here are the first ten from Africa. Enjoy!

  1. AlgeriaAt the water’s edge
  2. AngolaBuild my house…
  3. Burkina FasoCattle Count
  4. BurundiCome and live with me
  5. Cape VerdePrelude
  6. Chadfrom Yet the Infanta of Salamanca
  7. ComorosMy high powered sailing boat
  8. CongoThe Village
  9. Democratic Republic of CongoA year of Grace
  10. DjiboutiDesire

The poems selected are often not by the most notable poet a country has produced. Some of them are funny or light-hearted. Often they are snapshots of lives rather than grand narratives. And some of the choices may be controversial. However, they all give a glimpse of lives in countries spanning the globe. Together these poems depict a world united not only by sport, but by emotions that are universal and need no translator other than the heart. Enjoy!

The BBC and the Scottish Poetry Library have collaborated to world poems
broadcast a poem on the radio every day during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games. To honour the spirit of the Olympics 204 poems from around the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, have been collected from each of the 204 participating countries.

The poems selected are often not by the most notable poet a country has produced. Some of them are funny or light-hearted. Often they are snapshots of lives rather than grand narratives. And some of the choices may be controversial. However, they all give a glimpse of lives in countries spanning the globe. Together these poems depict a world united not only by sport, but by emotions that are universal and need no translator other than the heart.

Enjoy!

For the full listing visit the Scottish Poetry Library site