Beating the Graves

by Tsitsi Jaji

The poems in Tsitsi Ella Jaji’s Beating the Graves meditate on the meaning of living in diaspora, an experience increasingly common among contemporary Zimbabweans. Vivid evocations of the landscape of Zimbabwe filter critiques of contemporary political conditions and ecological challenges, veiled in the multiple meanings of poetic metaphor. Many poems explore the genre of praise poetry, which in Shona culture is a form of social currency for greeting elders and peers with a recitation of the characteristics of one’s clan. Others reflect on how diasporic life shapes family relations.

The praise songs in this volume pay particular homage to the powerful women and gender-queer ancestors of the poet’s lineage and thought. Honoring influences ranging from Caribbean literature to classical music and engaging metaphors from rural Zimbabwe to the post-steel economy of Youngstown, Ohio, Jaji articulates her own ars poetica . These words revel in the utter ordinariness of living globally, of writing in the presence of all the languages of the world, at home everywhere, and never at rest.

Genres: Poetry

114 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2017

Reviews

[Bobbieshiann · Rating 2 out of 5]

be patient when reading this book.
it jumped from on thing to a next but it did lose me a bit. i had to reread certain parts a few times to really grasp it.

[Beverley Sylvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book demands work (translating from many languages, looking up references, etc) and as such will not be enjoyed if approached passively. The work is interesting and worth it. Some of the poetry was a little too obscure for my taste, but in general it is a rich and interesting book. I recommend reading it in only a few sittings, as this definitely is a book meant to be consumed as such and not just a collection of unrelated poems.