Across from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda sits the Arusha Masai Cafe. This small arts hub is home to a monthly poets gathering called Arusha Poetry Club. Co-founder George Kyomushula is an Arusha-based Tanzanian poet who shares his love for poetry by bringing together locals and ex-pats to enjoy a night of Africa’s best poetic justice.

Kyomushula acknowledges the inspiration he found volunteering at United African Alliance Community Center, where he learned how to turn his thoughts into poetry from Mama C and Pete O’Neal, two former members of the U.S. Black Panther Party continuing their community development work in Tanzania since the 1970s.