Keeping The Faith

They say I seek after an Africa that may never be found, but I seek it nonetheless. And though the finish line may seem beyond sight, I will run the run towards a better Africa. With the spirit of a Zulu, the grit of an Olulumo and the resolve of a Maasai, I run the race towards the unity faith, peace and progress that has eluded the land and the people of Africa since the birth of slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism.

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Friday 29 May 2009

Juju-Man needed

Was hope here only when the Amazon queen Nzhinga
and Nehanda, the Mbuya, of Zimbabwe fought to shield us from slave ships?

Was pride gone after Yaa Asantewa addressed the chiefs
in that secret meeting in Kumasi?

Did the warmth of home die with Queen Kahina, when she wrestled
into the swords of the camel riding men?

Was leadership only when Shaka ruled over Zulu?
When Mansa Mussa ruled over Mali? Or when Askia ruled over Songhay?

As dark as the ages were, King Khufu built the pyramids
As dark as the ages were, a University stood in Timbuktu
As dark as the ages were, Imhotep out shone the moon with wisdom

Today shines like it was twin with the sun
yet we cannot see our way to a better tomorrow.
How heavy was the blow of slavery and colonialism
that we still stagger and collapse, many years after?


Kwame Nkrumah chanted his incantations
Sacrifices were offered by Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Jullius Nyrere performed his rituals,
Patrice Lumumba cooked his concoctions:
These native Juju-men have tried their muscles
but the land is too sick for a few of them to heal,
who will complement their works?

Will South Africans let 27 years of Madiba Mandela’s
life wash down the Orange River like an orange peel?

Will the naked witty words that land on the Afro-beats of
Abami-Eda Fela be left to inspire the hills to a dance of truth?

Will Bishop Tutu’s white dove be chased from the olive tree with sticks and stones?
And will the greens of Wangari Mathaai be left to rust?

Will the writings of Achebe, Soyinka, Sehene, Kofi and
other minds of Iroko be left to the forests to read?

Will the tears and blood of Rwandans, Sudanese, Congolese
and Somalia’s be washed with more?

When elephants have lost weight from worrying about our tomorrow-
What is left of the antelope?

When you see crocodiles cry at the state of Africa, you wonder what tears are left in the eyes of the praying mantis.

Even eagles cannot see why
a new leaf in our rough African book cannot be turned.

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