BY SHARON SIBINDI Upcoming author Romeo Zulu has released his debut book titled The Watchman of Africa, which ponders into the inability of African leadership to develop the continent and the external forces that push back progress.
Zulu, a first-year Social Innovation and Community Development student at the University of Zimbabwe, told Standard Style that he believes his book will change people’s mind-set.
The book was published by Ubuntu Afro Publishers.
“It also explores questions of social injustices, gives Africans a wakeup call from the somnambulism of distorted history while interrogating the role Africans have to play to improve the future of the continent,” said Zulu.
Zulu said his inspiration is drawn from Pan-Africans like PLO Lumumba.
“The watchman is someone who guards or watches over something to protect it,” he said.
“In this case, I’m the watchman because I have learnt a lot about African things, including African history which is not taught in our schools.
“I have learnt about dirty works of foreign powers in keeping Africa in debt traps etc.
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“So, I felt like I am the watchman of Africa who has to alert Africa of such issues.”
He said most poems in the book were giving Africans a wakeup call in different areas such as politics, economics and religion, among others.
“I was inspired by Pan-Africans like PLO Lumumba and Arikana Chihombori Quao who are giving Africans a wakeup call,” Zulu said.
“I was also inspired by revolutionaries like Malcom X, Fred Hampton and other black conscious people of our time like Umar Johnson and others.
“Their messages inspired me to write a book.
“It inspired me to preach Black consciousness using a pen and paper.”
Zulu said he was cocooned in fear of criticism, which kept him from writing the book, but later decided to break the silence.
“At first I was afraid of writing poems thinking that I will put my life at risk,” he said.
“I was afraid of critics, but after listening to rhythm and poetry (Rap music) like 2pac [Tupac Amaru Shakur], Dax, Tom MacDonald and Joyner Lucas, among others, I was convinienced to write.”
Zulu said the book was important because it could change people’s mindset.
“They will start to build their economy by supporting local business, buy local brands, be proud of ourselves as Africans and to question everything before nodding our heads,” he said.
