Emi Mahmoud - Mama

[@penversity]

"Being from Africa means waking up an afterthought in this country." She's able to articulate her struggle with so much force, in both delivery and words.

[@shahrikat5435]

"i am a daughter of adam, i am a woman, who are u" yessssss queeeeeeeeen

[@sainaboujallow3762]

“The woman who raised me said..... Don’t be Scared I’m your mother I’m here I won’t let them through MY Momma gave me conviction” I FELT THAT....

[@diamondbackqueen]

Oh yes I did too, tonight I was chatting with the daughter of my best friend who died a few years ago, and I was telling her daughter, "I am here for you, anything you need, you call, I will be there for you" I am not a mother but I love and worry about this young woman as if she is mine.

[@313_truthseeker]

"I am a daughter of Adam, i am a woman who the hell are you!" AHHHH THIS IS EPIC! MASHA ALLAH TABARAK ALLAH ON SUCH A POEM!

[@sarahkarimi129]

Transcript: Mama Emi Mahmoud I was walking down the street when a man stopped me and said, Hey yo sistah, you from the motherland? Because my skin is a shade too deep not to have come from foreign soil Because this garment on my head screams Africa Because my body is a beacon calling everybody to come flock to the motherland I said, I’m Sudanese, why? He says, ‘cause you got a little bit of flavor in you, I’m just admiring what your mama gave you Let me tell you something about my mama She can reduce a man to tattered flesh without so much as blinking Her words fester beneath your skin and the whole time, You won’t be able to stop cradling her eyes. My mama is a woman, flawless and formidable in the same step. Woman walks into a warzone and has warriors cowering at her feet My mama carries all of us in her body, on her face, in her blood and Blood is no good once you let it loose So she always holds us close. When I was 7, she cradled bullets in the billows of her robes. That same night, she taught me how to get gunpowder out of cotton with a bar of soap. Years later when the soldiers held her at gunpoint and asked her who she was She said, I am a daughter of Adam, I am a woman, who the hell are you? The last time we went home, we watched our village burn, Soldiers pouring blood from civilian skulls As if they too could turn water into wine. They stole the ground beneath our feet. The woman who raised me turned and said, don’t be scared I’m your mother, I’m here, I won’t let them through. My mama gave me conviction. Women like her Inherit tired eyes, Bruised wrists and titanium plated spines. The daughters of widows wearing the wings of amputees Carry countries between their shoulder blades. I’m not saying dating is a first world problem, but these trifling moterfuckers seem to be. The kind who’ll quote Rumi, but not know what he sacrificed for war. Who’ll fawn over Lupita, but turn their racial filters on. Who’ll take their politics with a latte when I take mine with tear gas. Every guy I meet wants to be my introduction to the dark side, Wants me to open up this obsidian skin and let them read every tearful page, Because what survivor hasn’t had her struggle made spectacle? Don’t talk about the motherland unless you know that being from Africa means waking up an afterthought in this country. Don’t talk about my flavor unless you know that My flavor is insurrection, it is rebellion, resistance my flavor is mutiny It is burden, it is grit and it is compromise And you don’t know compromise until you’ve rebuilt your home for the third time Without bricks, without mortar, without any other option I turned to the man and said, My mother and I can’t walk the streets alone back home anymore. Back home, there are no streets to walk anymore.

[@ohwow9124]

this woman’s energy is amazing, the way she reads her words so eloquently

[@akonadoka5201]

I am proud to have u as African sister and simultaneously from same country Sudan 🇸🇩 from same region Darfur

[@delwen.b]

I wish you'd add subtitles to the videos, I miss a lot of things. I'm deaf myself and poetry/poetry slams are my life.

[@jessyhayward9544]

I’ve added closed captions! It’ll take some time because they have to be reviewed by someone else, but hopefully they’re up soon!

[@delwen.b]

Jessy Hayward Thank you ❤️❤️

[@jessyhayward9544]

Delwen Bothma No problem, I hope they publish them ASAP!

[@sonyjedi1672]

I'm a simple woman. I see Emi in my inbox, I jump for joy, and get chills everytime.

[@AnythingWithAbeat]

Emi 💚 İ love the topics you choose to speak about and the style of your delivery. Excellently written, from your mouth straight to the listeners hearts.

[@victorialouise1320]

hey, I'm not a fluent in English, but I love every single poem from this channel and sometimes I can't get everything they say in the videos. I wish you/someone could put subtitles or just write down this poem for me/other people in the same situation to understand every word that she says....

[@unpleasedwitch2235]

Victória Louise you can turn on the captions of the video. The subtitles are there

[@victorialouise1320]

Julie Alcin yes, but the automatic subtitles are not good. you can see by yourself: not all words are there, not all words are ~right~ there....

[@bunny-blues]

Victória Louise hey! i did my best to write the poem out for you. i’m sorry if there are any typos. So, I’m walking down the street when a man stops me and says, “Ayo, sister. You from the mother land?” Because my skin is a shade too dark not to have come from foreign soil. Because my body is a beacon calling everyone to come flock to the mother land. Because this garment on my head screams “Africa”, I’m like, “Yeah I’m from Sudan, why?” He says, “Mmm, yes you is ‘cause you got a little bit of flavor in you. Don’t get me wrong I’m just admiring what your mama gave you.” Let me tell you something about my mama. She can reduce a man to tattered flesh without so much as blinking. Her words fester beneath your skin, her words fester beneath your skin and the whole time you won’t be able to stop cradling her eyes. ‘Cause my mama is a woman. Flawless and formidable in the same step. A woman walks into a war zone and has warriors cowering at her feet. My mama holds all of us. In her face, in her body, in her blood. And blood is no good once you let it loose so she always holds us close. Keeping us safe from caving in. When I was seven my mama cradled bullets in the billows of her robes. That same night she came home and taught me how to get gun powder out of cotton with a bar of soap. Years later, when the soldiers held her at gun point and asked her who she was, she said, “I am a daughter of Adam. I am a woman. Who the hell are you?” And the last time, and the last time we went home, we watched our village burn. Soldiers pouring blood from civilians skulls as if they too could turn water into wine. The woman who raised me turned and said, “Don’t be scared. I’m your mother. I’m here. I won’t let them through.” My mama gave me conviction. Women like her inherit bruised wrists, tired eyes, and a titanium plated spine. The daughters of widows wearing the wings of amputees. They carry countries between their shoulder blades. Now I’m not saying that dating is a first world problem but these trifling motherf**kers seem to be. The ki- sorry, the kind, the kind who quote Rumi but not know what he sacrificed for war. Who fawn over Lupida but turn the racial filters on. Who take their politics with a latte, when I take mine with tear gas. Every guy I meet wants to turn my introduction to the dark side, wants me to open up his obsidian skin and let him read every tearful page. Because what survivor hasn’t had her struggle made spectacle. Don’t talk about the mother land unless you know that being from Africa means waking up an afterthought in this country. Don’t talk about my flavor unless you know that my flavor is insurrection. It is rebellion, it is resistance. My flavor is burden, it is grit, and it is compromise. And you don’t know compromise until you’ve rebuilt your home for the third time. Without bricks, without mortar, without any other option. I turned to the man and said, “My mother and I don’t walk the streets alone back home anymore. Back home, there are no streets to walk anymore.”

[@victorialouise1320]

lili dallman oh my God I'm so damn happy THANK YOU VERY VERY VERY MUCH you're an angel

[@bunny-blues]

Victória Louise of course!!

[@thabanimadlala3578]

Her poems are always profound

[@pineapplesarefineiguess300]

Who could dislike this? This is amazing.

[@janicel847]

im ugandan and i relate to emi so so much.

[@carslcmbcl6616]

This piece ended all yo mama jokes

[@afromatriarche]

Best poetry ever!!!

[@mialiljana]

Dang this is.... I’m speechless, no words! 😶

[@roisinshaw1517]

Emi is such a force

[@evahdeyzzie976]

I need more like Emi

[@Mistersocksssssss]

Back home there are no streets to walk anymore

[@jennahackeman6643]

We love ourselves a QUEEN

[@bonnieblabs614]

what survivor hasn’t had her struggle made spectacle

[@leolucky7570]

Eye opening

[@robertsdestiny6567]

This is amazing , so proud to be black . I love u EMI

[@leenahaider8191]

SUDANESE are the best anywhere.. Salam from Sudan 🇸🇩

[@mikeydred9]

Very powerful words wonderfully delivered

[@ButtonPoetry]

Thanks Mike! Love to hear that Emi's work is connecting!

[@زينب-ش1ن6ل]

I am Sudanese I am proud of u Emi

[@alextouzet]

THIS IS AMAZING

[@bleech-itedits1786]

Woooooooow you've got talent. Like period

[@kilimanjaro5537]

She’s beautiful.

[@kalaguur]

I love love sudanese people . I am somali

[@Halifaxgal4real2]

WOW, Beautifully Sad, and Strong, and Love, and, and, Pain, Us! Thank You!

[@shannadene9654]

Whoever disliked this need to walk away...

[@conciliampofu8938]

Girl ooh girl ❤️❤️

[@johnkeithrobinson7399]

good job keep up the good work

[@deraam14]

You are beautiful in your character and the way you speak. I love you

[@theprinceroyalpoetry]

I felt it

[@gulabjamman4302]

Boss!!

[@ZZRose-xk9ss]

PREACH IT EMI

[@anna-gg9kg]

This is so good! 💕

[@noorein1946]

Is she talking saying poeming. I have no idea but I like watching her

[@petitendu8488]

she is it son

[@miltonmuthoka2297]

You take the politics with latte but I take mine with teargas✊🏿✊🏿🔥...this is a sad but funny reality...if you are Kenyan you get it on a different level😂😂

[@ratnababaria5027]

She sounds like she is the sister of Rudy Francisco!!💗 loved d poem!

[@An_droo]

Powerfull

[@ZeikweBarashango-qr9of]

♥️ 🖤 💚

[@IsabelGarcia-ii6ut]

Por favor, es maravilloso verla y escucharla, pero, podría alguien traducirme la letra a castellano?

[@kaitlynjohnson274]

God I love her

[@stacykirui9713]

Does anyone know Emi's twitter? I always want to cite her directly when I share her work. Leads would be much appreciated. (if she consents to having her social media details shared only, of course)

[@rassot3678]

Stacy Kirui search her on instagram

[@doglover299]

Check out Emi Mahmoud (@EmiThePoet): twitter.com/EmiThePoet?s=09 ♡

[@miltonmuthoka2297]

✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️

[@nadineabdelaziz1599]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@KEL7000]

👏👏👏👏👏👏😊

[@rutendomukapa2917]

Admiring what your mama gave you ☺️😁

[@krystalharris1259]

Who fawn over lupita...racial filters on.. Too true. Now although i havent experienced it like that, this is one of the main problens i have with IR dating

[@allowitfam7649]

but can u beat goku tho?

[@sid-xf2pm]

nah never, widdhant can tho

[@sid-xf2pm]

bro thinks hes widdhant wanjay

[@fwanderlust7875]

I prefer to say I am a free born than a daughter of "Adam"....