Artsy Expressions
5th IQBC: Buddhism – Human Rights – Queer Rights vs. Abuse
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Poems by Mercy Muthoni Ndung’u.
Mercy Muthoni Ndung'u.
My name is Mercy Muthoni Ndung’u. I am a Black queer woman, a fierce feminist, and a believer in the sacred power of truth-telling.
As a poet and activist, I navigate the world through layered stories, mine and those of others whose voices have been stifled or erased. My poetry is deeply rooted in lived experience and spiritual reflection, shaped by resilience, anger, joy, and hope.
I am writing to share a few of these poems with you. They are expressions that hold both raw vulnerability and deliberate thoughtfulness. I take full authorship of the work, even as I sometimes lean on tools that help shape form, voice, and clarity in the creative process. Each piece is crafted with intention, and speaks from the core of who I am and what I stand for.
It would mean a great deal to me to have this work simply be witnessed within this spiritual and activist space of IQBC.
Feel free to send dana or donation to
M-Pesa: +254114508793
Art by Dr. Jampa Wurst
Dr. Jampa Wurst
Jampa (they, them) is a learning coach, rapper, and artist or painter with more than 100 paintings in their digital atelier.
Realizing the need for a safe space for queer Buddhists, having been bullied in their Buddhist communities worldwide, they founded the International Queer Buddhist Conferences shortly before the pandemic. Since 2021 the IQBCs have become an annual event.
ONE PLANET, ONE HUMAN SPECIES, UNDIVISIBLE HUMAN RIGHTS
The world is colorful. The world is diverse. This planet would not exist without diversity. And regardless of whether we are talking about the environment, nature, plants, fungi, animals or humans, we are not clones. We are diverse, but equal.
No matter where we come from, what skin color we have, what sexuality, or what gender, we are colorful. And all people deserve the same human rights.
The picture was first created as a play with geometric shapes, spheres, with complementary colors, almost like a big bang. And just as a world without this big bang, without this firework of energy, of diversity, would only be grey and boring without all the colors of the rainbow, a world without diversity is not worth striving for, as we can only develop further if we remain open and curious in our lives, our life plans and our thinking.
That’s why all the faces of people in different facets were added. We are all human beings. That is why human rights are indivisible.
2025, acrylic on canvas, 70 x 50 cm
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Originally, the Underground Railroad was a secret network of slaves in the southern states of the USA. They used it and the network of people, paths and safe spaces to flee to the northern states or Canada.
In the meantime, queer people are organizing an Underground Railroad for LGBTQIA+ or queer people who have to flee from today’s USA due to politics. This is a tribute to a person working with others on such an Underground Railroad.
2025, acrylic on canvas, 70 x 50 cm