This Is Gomora
written by: Somelele Ntamo
@HashtagDSK
This is Alexandra
This is Gomora
Some say it is a decrepit and depreciated
Overrun by vermin and pests
A horrid stench emerging from puddles of murky waters
A ghetto where heaven and hell converge
Others say it is a criminal haven
A gangster’s paradise giving birth to young gunslingers
Where owning a Baby Brown gives you safety or authority
A place where women are hunted by sex predators
Where a crime scene tape and a body bag are an everyday norm
Where a single bullet can be the full stop in the sentence of your final chapter
This is a place where destiny doesn’t play by your rules
Where life is as unpredictable as a game of dice
A friend here can be an enemy overnight
This is what people see…
I say they’re only seeing what’s on the surface
I say, there’s more to this township
I see hustlers dominate the odds
Working hard to put food on the table
Amajita bayarhereza bayaphanda Pushing day and night to fulfill their dreams
A dark city where stars shine brighter than the lights
This is where abantwana badlala ngama koti koti in the streets
This is where a young diski lover dreams to be the next Thembinkosi Lorch
This is where umajaivane vibes to amapiano and makes everyone emcibini go wild
A place where kings are born, bred and made
If you can survive here, then you can make it anywhere
This is more than just a township
It is a place I call home
This is Alexandra
This is Gomora
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Some of the words used are of the township language spoken in Alexandra. This is a translation of the phrases used:
Amajita bayarhereza bayaphanda – Guys work hard/look for a job
Abantwana badlala ngama koti koti – Children play with tin cans
Diski – Association football (soccer)
Amapiano – A popular genre of music
Emcibini – In a party or an event
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