Drums of Liberation

About the Book

This book is about an individual whose soul searches life and finds treasures of human nature within and all around. Or it is about a particular race and their common threads that make them one. Or still, it is, on global level, integrating the nature of humans into a common Soul, a common bond, and a common heritage. It captures the paradox of reality and justice, as seen through images of those courageous enough to have dreams. The poet shares his photographs of everyday life and his real characters that, believe it or not, are our neighbors...yet the impact of his art transforms these fresh images into a moral consciousness that needs to be awakened if our needy Soul is to integrate globally. Kisubi’s poetry mirrors the disruptions of the last two decades in vivid, economic language. His lines are frequently short and explosive.” Steve Paul (A - rts Editor, Kansas City Star), Kansas City, Missouri: There is a seriousness about Alfred’s poems which reflects their mood. There is disillusion, distress at the divisive nature of our society, awareness of individual isolation.” Alfred seems particularly concerned to step back out of the stream of action to evaluate what life means to him so far and how his personal experience has led him, like Hamlet, to a vision of general truths, or perhaps more often to the asking of those questions which we need to ask if we are to escape from wasteland.” - Margaret McPherson, Former Professor of Literature Makerere University, Uganda

About the Author

Alfred Kisubi takes the reader on a global, kaleidoscopic exploration of modern history, politics, and the human experience. He celebrates Obama’s victory; pays homage to inspirational African leaders, past and present; evokes historical and continuing struggles against bigotry and hatred; and laments war-mongering and a too-ready recourse to violence. He doesn’t shrink from naming names – “The old world order is dead/ Bush, Blair, and Sharon killed it” – and he is appalled by and fears “the self-willed New World Whirled Order” that seems ultimately to overwhelm his more hopeful vision. Despair follows hope all too closely, and the Drums of Liberation are struggling to be heard. These are emotionally-packed and well-observed poems. There is celebration here, but there is more pain, emerging sometimes from a generalized evocation of the awfulness of war and injustice, and sometimes from particular and personal outrage and suffering. This is an important collection from a poet who has seen horror but has also seen human courage and striving. Sometimes we seem helpless (“Flies/Wanton boys/Destroy!) and sometimes we are just hoping for “ten acres and a mule.” Highly recommended! - Andrew Robson, (Professor of English and Director of the Earth Charter, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh