Verse has a healing touch

Poetry is not mainstream literature, about that there is no question. Either it has been marginalised or it never really took off. Poetry does not even attract much public interest like other forms of literature.

Yet, some poets have indeed entered the mainstream and are almost treated like rock stars. One of them is the charismatic Wole Soyinka, who was in Dubai recently to attend the first international poetry festival, aimed at highlighting the genre as an integral element of the UAE's culture.

In an intimate setting of a Q&A session, Soyinka seemed more interested in connecting with journalists, sometimes teasing them and asking for their opinions on various topics.

It was obvious he had done this a thousand times over.
Soyinka was quick to recognise the shortcomings of poetry, and this is testimony to his great character.

He said: “We must not be too romantic and we must not exaggerate when it comes to the power of the word.

Poetry very often might not have an immediate impact; it is not political talk or propaganda.'' It is, however, “a small fuse''.

The idea of listening to poetry in another language is part of the attraction. It is a very private thing, said Soyinka, “99 per cent of poetry is written in isolation''.

As he is not fluent in the language, Soyinka's opinion on Arabic poetry is constrained: “Poetry is so embedded in language that I always hesitate to pass judgment on poetry.''

For many of us in the Middle East, it is very interesting to learn more about Soyinka's friendship with one of our own great poets, Mahmoud Darwish, who was his personal friend.

“Mahmoud is someone I believe managed to combine a seriousness of a cause with a love of life.''

Later, when I sat with Soyinka for a one-on-one interview, I asked him more about the late Palestinian poet, who had become a national hero for many Palestinians and Arabs.

Soyinka contended, “Mahmoud loved to make people comfortable around him; even though he was a man with a cause, he was rather reticent.

You saw the passion in him. He didn't try to impress you by showing you how committed he was, you sensed there was a commitment there.

When the opportunity came he articulated his cause very capably and very passionately.''

For Soyinka, Darwish was a man who was determined to follow his calling, which was to be a poet.

But does Soyinka know much about the Palestinian struggle? He says he has followed the Palestinian cause throughout the times, with the late Yasser Arafat, whom he met, and a number of Palestinian leaders, playwrights and film directors. So he is indeed “very familiar''.

Soyinka has always insisted and believed that the solution is an independent Palestinian state. He said, “An end of occupation. It's the basis of peaceful co-existence''.

When asked about African suffering, Soyinka refused to single it out, arguing there's suffering in the Arab world (Palestinians) and Eastern Europe (Georgia), thus making the point that he doesn't like to talk about Africa in generic terms.

Soyinka went on to say there are many cultures in Africa. “We talk of Europe but we recognise that there are many conflicting histories in Europe, history of unbelievable antagonism, hatred, going back centuries and still lingering on till today.''

Africa has similar problems, he said and the cultures there are wildly different. “Africa is not a homogeneous existence''.

Soyinka is quick to recount one extreme example of the “genius'' former US president George W. Bush, who used to say, “The African country'' to refer to a specific country.

But Soyinka is very concerned about the situation in Darfur. He blames the African Union and the Arab League for not having acted sooner to stop the killings and says both “have watched the abuse and massacres taking place against African Sudanese for years without doing anything''.

Indeed, one could sense Soyinka's anger as he got deeper into the conflict in Sudan.

He was particularly angry at both the AU and Arab League, saying only when the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir did they suddenly become concerned.

“Now, they are screaming about intervention, racism and colonialism. They didn't move to rescue 2.5 million refugees.

What is Omar Al Bashir compared to the raped women, those who lost their land, and those who were dehumanised?''

I reminded Soyinka that while Al Bashir is being held responsible for the turmoil in his country, other leaders, like Bush and former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon have had an easy ride.

However, his response was firm and direct: “Equality in international justice is an argument always used to obscure justice.'' He mentioned that former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic was removed as a result of international action.

He was adamant that there is inequality, as Africans are being treated as second-class citizens “who don't deserve intervention''.

Of course Soyinka is no stranger to political activism in his native Nigeria. He was arrested in 1967 for appealing for a ceasefire during his the Nigerian civil war. He was held as a political prisoner for 22 months.

Soyinka said there are organisations pressing for Bush to be indicted. He noted: “I believe, like other Nobel Laureates who gathered in Brussels some time back, that he should be tried in the International Court of Justice, just like the current president of Sudan.

He has perpetuated crimes against humanity and as such should be held accountable for them.''

Politics, compassion, knowledge, passion and, of course, poetry.

These are some of the things Soyinka could be identified with. Poetry, he says, is resurgent. “I received so many invitations (from West Africa, Columbia, Ecuador, Indonesia)'' which must mean poetry is undergoing a revival of some sort. Having said that, poetry remains a specific passion.

He is right, though, to point out that since the world is going through tough times, not just economically, many people are turning to things that can offer them solace. In that regard, poetry certainly is a suitable contender.