ICORN Guest Writer Philo Ikonya published in Germany

Judging by the catalogs from travel agents, Kenya is a safe destination that offers great holiday adventures. Philo Ikonya's latest collection of poetry, Aus dem Gefängnis - Liebesgesänge (Out of prison - Lovesongs) points out that this image is not the whole truth.

Ikonya raises several critical questions in Out of Prison - Love Songs. Why are those who criticize corruption locked up instead of those who pay and receive bribes? And why do women, who provide such creativity and hard labor to their country, not take part in socio-political decisions?

Many of Philo Ikonya's poems were written while she was held in police cells, arrested for organizing peaceful demonstrations in the aftermath of the post-election violence of 2007. The poems were not born out of anger toward her country, but out of love for her home - for people who wish to live in dignity and freedom, people who do not need handcuffs, but love.

The poems in Aus dem Gefängnis have been translated to German by Helmuth A. Niederle, and the book can be bought here.