Nationalism and Exile as Self-Inscription in Micere Mugo's My Mother's Poem and Other Songs.

This essay reads Micere Mugo's collection My Mother's Poem and Other Songs (1994) as an illustration of self-inscription in nationalism and exile. It argues that beyond the sundry concerns articulated in the collection, an understanding of her work must begin with an acknowledgment of her place among second generation Anglophone African poets. By paying particular attention to the work's investment in orature and performance, the paper contests the reductionist critique that ascribes little poetic significance to the collection. The essay concludes that her reflection on nationalism and exile destabilizes the hegemonic construction of home as a stable category, but nevertheless projects hope for Africa as homeland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]