The Footfalls of My Heart

The Footfalls of My Heart is a long narrative poem that draws from the culture, traditions, and philosophy of the AbaGusii community of Kenya through the lens of a young woman as she moves toward marriage. In this community, marriage is a complex, long-drawn, and tedious process involving many parties, including the bride and groom. At its core lies the concept of the ideal, desirable partner. The poem captures the bride’s perspective of the groom, Rimura, and the life they will share as husband and wife. Nyamwange’s The Footfalls of My Heart is a bride’s response to his earlier publication, The Girl of Red Beauty, which presented the groom’s dreams of an ideal wife. It follows the tradition set by Okot p’Bitek’s twin publications, Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol.