We Are Still in the Fort: Poems

We Are Still in the Fort is a curated selection of about seventy poems by Muyaka bin Haji al-Ghassaniy divided into three sections spanning the quotidian, the amorous, and the political. The first part, "I Swipe Their String of Fish: Poems of Mombasan Society," features his often satirical commentary on daily life in Mombasa. The second part, "Take Your Misery With You: Poems of Love and Marriage," focuses on his psychologically sensitive observations on the volatility of love, marriage, and illicit affairs. The last part, "We Are Still in the Fort: Poems of War and State," includes epigrammatic critiques of local political leaders and a series of anti-imperialist poems defending Mombasa's independence against the invading Omani Empire. The volume also features contextual materials on Muyaka and the context of Swahili poetry, a translator's note, and introductions for each of the three sections.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Vanderbilt University Press
Published: 04/15/2026
ISBN: 9780826500007
Pages: 212
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 8.36h x 5.52w x 0.48d