This collection of poems, written by children between the ages of five and seventeen, is a vibrant celebration of identity, heritage, and becoming. It brings together young voices, alongside a few guiding adult reflections, into an intimate and expansive cocktail.
The foreword by Wanjiru Waugh poses a guiding question: "How can the wisdom from the past enrich our values and choices, so we can live in harmony with nature, with life?" The poems that follow can be read as responses to this question – small hopeful attempts to locate oneself within a larger continuum of history and culture.
At its heart, the collection is about children shaping their identities and grounding themselves in self-esteem. The poems act as mirrors through which the writers see themselves while also acting as bridges that connect them to their families, communities and ancestral roots. In this way, the act of writing becomes both personal and communal.
Some of the poems take the form of affirmations. Lines such as "I am brave and strong," from Avery Musembi, are simple yet powerful. They are statements that do more than affirm. They suggest that identity is not only inherited but also spoken into being, and that it can be practised.
Through the use of local languages, references to food, land and clan, the poems preserve cultural memory while making it accessible to a young generation. Yet, it is not a preservation that curtails exploration. The young poets also write about the modern world – the books they read, the television shows they watch, and the everyday activities of contemporary life. The result is a seamless blending of past and present, tradition and modernity.
"I am from the land of sweet juicy mangoes and oranges
— Koki Musembi, age 8
I am from the land of goats, muthokoi and nzûû
I am from the Atangwa clan
I am from the land of the Akamba people."
Imani Odhiambo, also eight, offers a strikingly layered sense of self: "I am from many books… I am from watching TV on weekends… I am from lots of laughter and lots of food… I am from Siaya, Kisumu, Kitui, Shimba Hills and Kinangop." This poem moves fluidly between the physical and emotional, the geographical and the imaginative. It suggests that identity is not a singular "thing" but a collection of different experiences, places, and feelings.
"I am Munzauni, Kamba, Kenyan, African.
— Jan Kitavi, age 10
From the hunters and gatherers,
Long distance traders, best known for carving…"
Here, identity stretches across time, linking the present self to history. It reminds young readers that everyone carries a piece of their ancestors' spirit and skill.
Kai Muriithi reflects, "I am usually as calm and gentle as the ocean / But can be fierce as a stormy sea." This duality acknowledges emotional depth even in children. It resists the rather simplistic notion that children are simply "innocent" rather than complex beings.
There is also a disarming purity in the way the youngest voices speak. Seven-year-old Elle's declaration, "I am from happiness," asserts that even a feeling can be a place of origin.
"I am my niece and nephew
— Eleanor Delano Smith, age 12
I am my eldest brother Zeb
I am my older sister Niva
I am my mom
I am my dad
I am my friends
I am everyone I have met along the way
Because in the end we are all just walking each other home."
This poem explores one's identity as interconnected to those around us. While shaping ourselves, we equally shape those around us and vice versa.
Importantly, the collection does not end with the poems themselves. It invites participation. Blank pages are provided for readers to write their own "My name is…" and "I am from…" poems, alongside a family tree template to trace their lineage. This collaborative element makes the book a living project, one that continues to grow with each new reader.
The inclusion of the family tree exercise also connects to broader environmental and cultural initiatives, such as Grow Trees – #JazaMiti. This exercise invites learners to not only map their ancestry but also engage with the natural world by learning the names of trees in their environment. It invites the thought that identity is not solely tied to people, but to the environment as well.
What I enjoyed most about this collection is how children write with a glorious, unfiltered pride. The poems are deeply engaging, positive, and profound, even in their simplicity. They validate the children's lives and daily experiences, affirming that their stories – however ordinary they may seem – are worthy of being told and heard. In this sense, the collection becomes a reflection of beauty brewed in a pot of diversity.
Do grab a copy and write your own "I am From" poem.