Simon Mol

Obituary: DJ Daniel Feist

News of Daniel’s Death robbed me of strength. A dear Friend, seasoned journalist, collector of African music and artifacts, DJ Daniel Feist retired last February 11 in his native city of Montreal of cancer. The sad news reached me only today. I met Daniel 2 years ago at the South African Ambassador’s residence in Warsaw during a reception. Though we were introduced to each, nothing immediately clicked. Just as we were about to part he asked ‘Are you Simon Mol?’ I replied yes.

D’s DAY (Remembering DJ Daniel Feist)

Moleke-mix; your choice for me
in ‘God’s playground’ will play on—
for you, me and all touched by your risen sun
You saw it all under the Sun, D…
things that totaled to mark your Day
Plus twenty-five cigarette sticks a day before the final dawn
You held on—true son of the pillaged-Land
molding hope when pain paved its way to rule

Press Release: Racial Attack at the KFC Rotunda

Sunday May 22 at 7.30 p.m. A Cameroonian refugee Emmanuel Bianda was rushed to the hospital in Lindleya Street for an urgent x-ray of his head after being attacked by a racist in KFC Rotunda (Warsaw) as he was about to order food. Bianda was swimming in a sea of his own blood flowing from his nose after a lethal punch from the attacker.

KFC Attack Aftermath: A Diplomatic Apology

An article titled "How Foreigners Are Doing in the Mazowiecki Province" appeared in Gazeta Wyborcza last Wednesday May 25. The article opened with the following sentence:

A Cameroonian, Emmanuel Bianda has opened a telecommunication firm in partnership with three other refugees. The Firm, LOCO international, has employed three Poles. Emmanuel spend over three years in the UK working for Amnesty International as a fundraiser and decided to return to Poland to start a business.

V’WAKO AMA TATA VWE (Mount Fako Is Angry Again)

…Communing with the Gods

Penda Ndale was already in town for a grand performance. He had mounted his gears and was fondly putting together his trumpet as he prepared himself for a short rehearsal before his performance which was due in a few hours. It was a Friday. I regretted one thing—the show should’ve been slated on a Sunday, as it would have attracted more people.

HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE WRITER ("Mission to Venice")

By Simon Mol (Venice, Italy; May 4, 2005)

REFUGE IN A SHADOW
Do you see the Ant in the City’s heart?
Perhaps it is perching on the Palace’s hat?
It was well when last seen; crawling, searching by the market gate.
Is it singing still? –
as much as tortured voices taking muffled messages
to distant onlookers.
The ant, the Ant!; on the toe of fate,
soon to be crushed by restless feet
soon to become dust.
The ant!— locate the Ant… by the Palace whose dark corners shelter them.