Festival of Drums || Star Zahra

The masqueraders
They are—
Many things like stones frozen before us.

They run wild like loosed balls on a deck
Possessed, they say, of gods who never spoke a word.

These men are men only
Women are not fit for the mask that paints
only the magnificent splendor of exotic horror.

The masqueraders
If you look close enough are hallways of walls between two worlds.
And when we falter, they fall
Not to the earth but on us
They are the dictators.

Star Okpeh is a Nigerian Writer and Poet, Miombio’s Review Princess of African Poetry 2019 and author of The Dance of Dawn. Her works have appeared on journals, magazines and over twenty five anthologies.
Star is also a columnist with Konya Shamsrumi Press, former guest columnist with The Sun Newspaper, Cameroon and presently studies English Language at The University of Abuja. She is interested in Arabic, Textile Designing and Pan-Africanism.

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Star Zahra, a Nigerian poet and traditional textile artist, blends poetry and textiles to explore diverse themes through her concept of 'poetic patterning'. With a passion for cultural preservation and sustainability, she holds certifications in Media Communications and Art Strategy. She is a 2023 Doha Debate Ambassador.

Her first poetry collection, The Dance of Dawn, was published at age 17. Her sophomore, Girls and the Silhoutte of Form, was published by Masobe Books in 2024.

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Latest posts by Star Zahra (see all)

On Peace and the Essence of Chaos || Star Zahra - January 29, 2025
Festival of Drums || Star Zahra - May 11, 2021
Merging Words and Faith | Star Zahra - February 7, 2021

Tags: Festival of Drums Star Okpeh

Star Zahra May 11, 2021

Star Zahra

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Star Zahra, a Nigerian poet and traditional textile artist, blends poetry and textiles to explore diverse themes through her concept of 'poetic patterning'. With a passion for cultural preservation and sustainability, she holds certifications in Media Communications and Art Strategy. She is a 2023 Doha Debate Ambassador. Her first poetry collection, The Dance of Dawn, was published at age 17. Her sophomore, Girls and the Silhoutte of Form, was published by Masobe Books in 2024.

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