O! Africa, how long will thou wallow in pity and degradation?
How long will the bane of tradition hold back the thoughts of change?
And change a dreaded image of westernisation.
How long will colour be a reminder of self-worth?
And your mind-set a victim of colour.
How long will poverty shine bright with pride?
And opportunity lay waste like desolate lands.
How long will underdevelopment be a characteristic of the African State?
And leaders pride themselves in ineptitude.
How long will leadership be an opportunity to consume?
And men grow fat in the coffers of governance.
How long will men speak lies as truth?
And paint truth as ignorance and the naïve.
How long will hope wane and persist without substance?
And men drench their souls in mindless hopelessness
With meaning, a shallow image of reality.
How long will human lives be absent value?
And value a question of social standing and wealth accumulation.
How long will decay plague the judgment of men?
And morality is but a question of survival.
How long?
It is time to rise
Not to war
Not to sentiments
Not to the ethnic identities that divide
Not to greed and the vain desires of the heart
But to stand a united front for CHANGE
For PEACE
To birth newness
Defined by the will of men
To build today for tomorrow.
We are Africans!
Not by colour but by will
It is time to birth our existence with purpose
Our purpose with passion
Our passion with fire
And fire with meaning.
Possibility lies on the horizon
And
TRULY WE CAN!
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