Posted in Cologne News, News, Publications on Oct 23, 2026.
We are pleased to highlight a recent publication edited by Nsah Mala, our Cologne Hub for Planetary Wellbeing Co-ordinator—Congo Basin Poetry Anthology / Anthologie poétique du Bassin du Congo.
Contributors: Features 32 emerging and established African poets from six countries as well as the diaspora.
Central Focus: Dedicated to the tropical rainforest ecosystem of the Congo Basin—frequently referred to as "the second lung of our shared Earth."
Themes: Poems range across celebration of nature, meditation on the forest's ecological fate, and strong denunciation of neocolonial and green-colonial resource exploitation (such as the scramble for oil, coltan, cobalt, and gold).
"This is a rare poetic offering straddling ecology, history, and culture in the fecund but repeatedly violated Congo Basin. This is an anthology of dreams, resilience, and defiance. This is an awesome achievement of decolonial pulses anchored in nature, history, hopes, and protest." — Nnimmo Bassey, environmental activist and author of I See the Invisible
Nsah Mala is an award-winning poet, writer, and scholar from Mbesa, Cameroon. He writes in Iteanghe-a-Mbesa, English, and French, and holds a PhD from Aarhus University. He is the author of five poetry collections (including Chaining Freedom and Les Pleurs du Mal) as well as several acclaimed children's picture books.
You can view or order the book directly on the publisher's site: Spears Books — Congo Basin Poetry Anthology
Editor: Nsah Mala
Publisher: Spears Books (Spears Media Press)
Publication Date: October 19, 2026
Language: Bilingual (English & French)
Paperback ISBN: 9781957296968
eBook ISBN: 9781957297975 / 9781957296975
