The Land That Is Still Virgin And Beautiful: A Poet’s Experience In Africa That Will Linger Forever

By Rosemarie Wilson, Contributor, Heartmenders Magazine, USA –

My name is Rosemarie Wilson, aka One Single Rose. I am a singer, poet, spoken word artist, actress, and playwright born and raised in the United States on the east side of Detroit, Michigan. A product of the public school system, I follow my poetic passion, and I wholeheartedly embrace mentoring students whenever these opportunities present themselves. Since my poetic journey began, I have had the distinct honor of performing in various cities in the United States and four countries.

Rosemarie Wilson in Kenya, professing her “love at first sight” while visiting Africa for the first time. All photo credits are to Rosemarie Wilson.

In August 2015, I was one of several poets from multiple countries selected to travel with the Kistrech Poetry Festival to Kenya to mentor students from elementary school through university. The youngsters I met during my 10-day trip to Kenya were terrific.

Our first stop was Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. I learned that we had just missed President Obama, who had visited the university the week before we arrived. The students were engaging, talented, and hungry for the word. After I performed, a group of students rushed onstage to take pictures. I felt like a rock star. I got to embrace every student who listened to my performance. The students and I were our own paparazzi, taking tons of selfies. At that moment, I gained a large group of new friends.

Our second stop was at Nairobi University. We were ushered into a room full of talented poets and wordsmiths who wowed the crowd with poetry and the spoken word.

My trip to Kenya had so many highlights that this article would be several pages long if I wrote down everything. However, I must mention a few that occurred when I arrived in Kisii, Kenya. I’d be remiss not to mention the beautiful ride from Nairobi to Kisii. The Rift Valley views were stunning. There were animals on the road, as well as Masai villagers. We had three days of performances planned, with visits to several Nyanza and Kisii villages. The first village we visited was unlike any other. The villagers greeted us in true Kisii style. We met them on the road with singing, embracing, and holding hands before walking together to a beautiful clearing outside our host’s home, where we set up for performances.

I played the musical instrument, the Obokano, for a few minutes as if I had known how to play all my life. The young children were precious and attentive, as you can see from the photos. The older men offered us freshly brewed beer they shared through bamboo straws after the performance, but I wasn’t brave enough to partake in the special brew.

The next village we visited in Nyanza was filled with talented, bright youngsters, where we enjoyed another afternoon of performances and performed ourselves. Their outfits and budding personalities made my day.

I began chanting a rap with them after trying to join a game of catch, which I failed miserably at, but we still had fun chasing the football that seemed to escape my hands. During one of the lectures at Kisii University, the lecturer asked us to write about someone who inspires us. I was humbled when Dr. Joseph Muleka from Nairobi University took five minutes to write about me.

Our trip to Kisumu and Lake Victoria was an exciting afternoon. We stopped in a village to purchase souvenirs. Watching the elders sawing sandstone and talking with shop owners was a distinct pleasure. There were so many beautiful items to choose from. I remembered I could only take a few souvenirs back to the United States.

When we arrived at a restaurant on Lake Victoria, a server brought a giant freshly caught fish to the table. The “fresh catch” was slightly too “fresh” for me. I was taken aback by the fish’s eyes staring at me, so I opted to have the chicken.

Since this was my first visit to the Motherland, and I had seen the country firsthand, I returned to Detroit with increased respect for African culture and my African brothers and sisters.

I did not miss the amenities we take for granted in the United States that weren’t present in Kenya because I was too busy learning from and enjoying my people. Africa felt like home. Until I see you again, Africa, I’ll be loving you from afar with fond memories of the first time I saw your face.

This submission was first published on Heartmenders Magazine Media Blog on 10/06/2015, updated, re-edited, and republished on 12/07/2022. © 2026 Heartmenders Magazine Media Inc., New York. All rights reserved

Rosemarie Wilson, aka One Single Rose, is a guest editor for Heartmenders Magazine and can be reached via email at onesinglrose313@yahoo.com or her website www.onesinglerose.com.

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The Land That Is Still Virgin And Beautiful: A Poet’s Experience In Africa That Will Linger Forever

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