A new poem by Adjei Agyei-Baah concerning Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic. The city derives it’s name from the Ubangi River, Ubangi being the Bobangi word for the “rapids”, which mark the end of waters north of Brazzaville that are deep, wide and calm enough for boats to pass safely.
Since gaining independence in 1960, the country has seen a succession of rulers who have declared themselves President for life only to be overthrown in coup d’état’s (six in total so far) staged by leaders of the Central African Republic army.
The current President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, was elected in March 2016 and re-elected for a second term on 27 December 2020. However, the central government lacks control of much of the country. The past decade has seen alliances of rebel militia groups form, take over many towns and then splinter, often to reform in fresh alliances with rival militias that they were fighting against in the previous years.
You the navel of Africa
What stirs up your grove this time around
that guns roar to put your people on tour…
