VOA慢速英语2020--乌干达诗人以诗从政

Ugandan poet Stella Nyanzi was released in February after spending more than a year in prison for some words she wrote on Facebook. Uganda's government says those words insulted President Yoweri Museveni.

While in prison, Nyanzi wrote a book of poems, called "No Roses from My Mouth." Her writings have influenced other people to use poetry to express their political opinions.

Now, Uganda's government plans to appeal her recent acquittal.

Before her release in February, Stella Nyanzi was serving 18 months in prison for cyber-harassing the Ugandan president.

She was jailed last year for writing on Facebook in 2018 that she wished Museveni had died as a fetus¹. She blamed him for her country's many problems.

"I sit on the...prison beddings spread on the floor, lean against the wall...and write whatever I please...what freedom to write," Nyanzi said. She added that her writings were often taken by prison guards during body searches, but she continued to write as a form of resistance. 

After her sentencing, some Ugandan writers were afraid to criticize the government. Free speech was quieted.

Nyanzi supporters were pleased by her decision to use her poetry to take on politics. But others are still too frightened to publish.

Danson Kahyana works for the Department of Literature at Makerere University. He says he wrote a book that he decided² not to publish because he does not have the courage of Nyanzi.

"She's our hero. I think we shall celebrate her. One day, there will come a time when we shall say Stella, you are the reason we are better governed because your fighting has given us all these beautiful fruits," he said.

Ugandan officials repeatedly have detained Nyanzi for criticizing Museveni, who has served as president for 34 years. 

Although a high court canceled the cyber-harassment charge against her, Uganda's public prosecutor³ continues to say that Nyanzi's Facebook post was illegal. 

Jacquelyn Okui is spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office. She said the government is appealing the high court's ruling and will continue bringing legal action against Nyanzi.

Other poets like Daphine Arinda are learning what it means to try to speak freely in Museveni's Uganda. 

"So, I am terrified, I can't lie, but I also have the confidence and also the inner will to know that if I'm strong about something, then I can pursue it to its end," she said.

Arinda has written poetry about Nyanzi.

"Nails darkened from a walk amongst trees, that's her, that's her, ask no more who she is, who, who, who she is," she wrote.

For now, Nyanzi lives at her home, waiting for her next court appearance. No one is sure when that will be.

Words in This Story

acquittal – n. the decision that someone is not guilty

cyber-harass – v. to use online resources to annoy or bully⁴ someone

fetus – n. a human being just before it is born

lean – v. to arch one's body against something

courage – n. bravery

prosecutor – n. one who represents the state or the court in a criminal case

confidence – n. the belief that one can succeed

pursue – v. to chase, or to try to achieve

1 fetus   

n.胎，胎儿

参考例句：

• In the fetus,blood cells are formed in different sites at different ages.胎儿的血细胞在不同时期生成在不同的部位。
• No one knows why a fetus is not automatically rejected by the mother's immune system. 没有人知道为什么母亲的免疫系统不会自动排斥胎儿。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

4 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。