History Is the Home Address

by Mongane Wally Serote

Summary

Told in the form of a single epic poem, this dialogue between two lovers investigates the impact of some of the most tragic events in African history on modern African consciousness. Colonialization, slavery, oppression, apartheid, racism, and the AIDS epidemic are all addressed by the poem's intertwining voices that draw fascinating conclusions. Making powerful statements both politically and personally, this is an important contribution to African poetry, conveyed in a remarkably unconventional manner.