Tampered Press


IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE

Poetry by Nenyi Ato Bentum Skits of souls surround a fetish hut Each scene tells the depth of the cut This was not a green Greek TRAGEDY Those who came here never returned Those who returned never came here Ferried fathers, aborted abductors; Sinful sorcerers, paid pawns, Wayside wanderers, jilted...

TEACH THIS TO OUR CHILDREN

Poetry by Favour Orlando When the umbilical cords that attached us to our mothers were excised, The crafted words of our people, of our land, defined us, Not the high-pitched voice of colonialism, Or its firm iron fist pressed on our rigid backs While we laboured under the vibrant sun....

THE GREY AREAS

Fiction by Ufuoma Bakporhe           There were many things I knew about being a biracial woman living in Nigeria. Growing up, I heard many things about how I was prone to better opportunities, or how I was more special than ‘regular’ Nigerian kids who did not have a foreign parent, but...

HEAD OF A KING (OBA)

Poetry by Chukwuebuka Osondu-Imafidon The ‘Oba’ that I am referring to is the statue that was once in the RISD Museum, but has now been returned to its rightful owners. The points of view are in the following order: the colonizer who stole it, the mask itself, and the museum...

MAWULI

Poetry by Kordjo Zankeli ever since Nananom mustered Dutch couragefrom the libation we offer with J.H. Henkes schnapps, distilled to taste like Genever, the Gods have forever taken a French leave; present everywhere, but here. 777 perfect full moons ago, the God of Adenta fled to Atlanta; the God of...

4 PASSAGE BLUES

Poetry by Gabriel Awuah Mainoo                                                                                            first blizzard…                                                                                           heaves the refugee girl’s                                                                                           teddy bear nowhere & back                                                               exodus─ a cartel of                                                             pharaoh ants smuggling cannabis leaf                                                             over the border bar                                 airport                               all the lukewarm hugs                               we do not press with iron   migration blues a foreigner’s footsteps settles in...

BLACK STAR RISING

Fiction by Araba Ofori-Acquah 22nd February 2023 “The only famous Africans are either political leaders or political rebels.” I can’t even count how many times mama has said this to me. But I really thought today would be different. I should have known anyway. Since she’s become so into this...

BLACK AND WHITE!

Poetry by Reekelitsoe Rapoeea Bojack wise men, Bojack white men, Bojack white men brought their Gospel. Bojack horse men of our apocalypse.   The Golden rule, whoever has the gold makes the rules. An old move, gold-dig only to give an oppressor to rule. A bold move, gold-dig to inspire...

SELF-PORTRAIT AS A RESTITUTION

Poetry by Frank Njugi / Senegal - May 17, 2022 ; Three arrests after alleged homophobic attack on foreigner ( africanews.com ) /                                                               So it is better to speak remembering                                                                       we were never meant to survive                                                                            - A litany for survival , Audre Lorde   I take a photograph...