River flows an artstc approach towards community resilience, partcipaton
and social learning in natural resource management
Wilfred Apiung Akan, Leonoor Akkermans, Eleanor Anabire, Loes ten Anscher, Kate Opoku Boateng, Jacomien den Boer, Mary Chulu, Desta Dekebo, Aliyi Abdulah Deressa, Assefa Addis Habtamu, Nayel Sayed Hasibullah, Mohamed Jalloh, Juliana Alphonce Kabaitlaki, Lufumu Fikiri katko, Jonas Samuel Laryea, Susan Kosgei Lebuluz, Elizabeth Mutumi Mailu, Alick Sylvester Mbewe, Adélphine Muhirwa, Emerence Mukangabo, Mwale Ernest Mupemo, Kojo Tawiah Baah Nuakoh, Jeroen Rijke, Ali Makame Said, Brinah Mandisa Senzere, Samuel Smith, Yewbdar Tadesse, Sulemana Wahab, Loes Witeveen, Simon Satunmia Yambor
The beau ful oppenwaard
Soaked in the oy of rain I chanced upon a strange sight.
lady lying in the mud
the rain pel ng her naked, bloodied body her arms lay helpless by her side her face contorted in agony.
y feet rooted
I stood forty paces away I gathered courage and swept fear away I took of my rain soaked acket and placed it on her.
s I carried her to safety she whispered S ll I breathe .
She was once loved but now she s loathed. She built them homes but now she s all alone
Her beau ful name is known but it was long ago.
I promised to tell her story I promised to share her pain
So I write her tale s ll she breathes.
Sense of a river
We are here!
The river, a gif of God… The river passes, spreads the lights, the sky in the river, as blue as my eyes. Its music makes me feel blessed.
Blessed with its music, with its perfume that scaters along. Please be kind, let me touch you, let me feel in heaven, if I touch you, if I taste you, but Ramadan and a thirsty man.
Nayel Sayed Hasibullah
The forgoten factory the noise and vibratons missing as my e istental purpose ended was once a place of wealth they needed me in hard tmes now they forget to remember me who is at work in silence who cares for the vegetaton, green and covering me will be there despite their shame in me are monuments of history clean sorrows in their hearts they shall never leave my premises unhappy
Wilfred Apiung Akan
Gate to nature
it says verboden toegang locked with triple padlocks for how long can we hold breath for how long can we stay without water
someone let me see the inside the trees moving aside to welcome the air moving east to west
so why are we here is because to destroy the nature if we are not inspired by nature there will be end of land.
what comes out of that place
let me see inside open it but there is no one there, no one only beauty of nature
ewbdar es n Tadesse
The Flood River, powerful beauty of nature. The people living on riparian land, praise the river as a fair neighbour, cherish her with their heart.
The river travels like a snake. Makes no noise, but foolish to cry.
Rushing waters
ood over dykes and bridges.
Over land turned the river. Tears are shed in the ood. How to be friends, and live happily ever afer
Wahab Sulemana
River ows
I am a cathedral
I am a sanctuary here men come to wash o hollows and sorrows
I am that provides res ul tran uil here lullabies are sang for loved ones
If only one man knew my worth and value If only he cherished the food I bring to tables The oy I bring to him and his family If only he knows the beauty, I create around him nd ever herald me to his genera ons unborn ohamed alloh
A lock but not locked
An area rich with nature but locked. pportuni es locked keys thrown away. Its river ows with sadness.
I am going there!
Its trees greet me with love. Its fresh air comforts my soul. Its waters ow with happiness. The sounds of its birds inspire. It s a place that brings delight.
I am going there, will you?
lick Sylvester bewe
My new friend
From the summer dykes, I watch the buter ies.
The melodies of birds, from tree to tree, they dance.
I walked along the silent paths.
To feel a cooling breeze, and hear a noisy boat.
Walking down the stream, At last, the doors were opened, y dream of river I ssel.
Susan Lebuluz
It all comes together the whisper of the wind blankets of meadows green sometmes a gloomy grey sky because the sun is just shy It all comes together cascading rivers of life bringing much more each tme happiness and splendour food and favour It all comes together be reckless and we will all get less nurture it and we will gain from it as it all comes together
Brinah Senzere
The lonely
river
am all the tme available I am always present crops need me all the tme I am important for employment I am generous to everyone
I own these surroundings every creature depends on me every day by me the area is quiet and cool yet people try to move away from me all the tme am lonely even when the wind blows and trees are singing the quietness is scaring though birds try to warm me sometmes e pand and spill over searching comfort from afar stll am a lonely river
Elizabeth Mailu
Apology to nature
Here I am, in the elds along the silent owing river lost in thoughts, and miracle of sight. I have loved colours, not owers, wasted more than half my me neglec ng friendship of nature.
How is it, now, that I see, with love, wonder and delight the gifs of nature in diversity.
mid day summit for buter ies, a twilight mee ng place for all creatures
Suddenly this eld becomes a part of me I cannot but dance along.
inda gbotah