February 25, 2026

by HADIJJAH SEBUNYA

Along, Long Roads

Tweyagala feka feka atayagala agende[1] 

I like; 

Fly girls, 

Shy girls, 

Get out of my way girls 

I’m taking over the world, girls. 

Fat girls, fast girls, 

“She is never gonna make it outta here” girls 

Nowhere-bound 

Heaven-bound 

“This world is gonna show you” girls 

Skinny girls, 

Head in the cloud girls 

“One day, you are gonna float away” girl 

I like you; 

Most 

When we are driving in cars 

Singing along 

To the radio that’s too loud 

Along, long roads 

And I’m hoping we never reach 

We’ve heard it enough, 

There are no quotas on happy endings 

      Can we expect to rot?

Don’t keep a black girl out too long 

She spoils under the sun. 

But look at us God, we are beautiful 

Bitter bitches can still brew after all. 

Please, don’t stop the music. 

I like you; 

Most. 

When we are driving in cars, 

Singing along to the radio that’s too loud

Along, long roads 

And I am hoping, we never reach 

We’ve heard it enough, 

Fast girls become sad women 

Fearless girls become borderless wombs 

Except. 

I like you; 

Most. 

When we are driving in cars, 

Along, long roads 

And I am hoping we never reach 

                                                                                I accept, that; 

I like you at 3 pm 

You are beautiful to look at 

I like you at 4 pm 

You are so, so beautiful to look at 

I love you 

It’s 6 pm 

The sun is down, 

The music’s stopped 

I guess we are here 

You ask if I am coming out 

You know, I can’t come inside 

Without taking off outside 

And I can’t take off outside 

                                                                                                      Without coming undone.

Ekyuma kyo muzungu kyetolola bwetolozi[2] -bitter bitches brew. 

Brew 

Synonyms: Develop, gather force, loom, be close, be

ominously close, be on the way, be on the horizon, be

in the offing, be in the wings, be imminent, be

threatening, be impending, impend, be just around 

the corner, 

“there’s trouble brewing.”

[1] Direct translation: We like ourselves alone, whoever doesn’t like us can go. From a Luganda nursery rhyme. [2] The machine of the white man just goes around and around. A Luganda childhood song about a young woman who escapes from home to see a windmill. (personal interpretation)