001
Africa during our forefathers’ time,
002
We lived in peace and harmony,
003
Before the coming of the colonialists,
004
With a long snake that emitted fire.
005
Through divide and rule,
006
Arabs brought trade… ages in Fort Jesus,
007
It reminds me of slavery era,
008
The pool of Mtwana, where slaves were washed
ref: Fort Jesus + Mtwana — Mombasa slave-trade route, 16th–19th c.
010
God forbid those who’ve forgotten
011
The old-time chronicles and neglected
012
The Old Testament and forsaken Deuteronomy.
013
That was peace… the fruits of justice.
014
Patronism was our foundation,
015
Love became our teachings,
016
Humanity… human rights
017
Were there to guide us.
018
There was no religion — faith was there.
019
We worshipped the gods under Migumo trees
020
And libated to our forefathers.
021
I’m proud of my black colour.
022
I recognize my roots, my culture, my shield.
023
I long for revelation,
024
The arrow of righteousness will never be broken.
025
Politics like heavy floods in Africa,
027
They rule with iron hand, with Pharaoh hearts,
028
Masked in sheep wool — symbol of patriotism.
029
They have forgotten — they are still under colonialist boots,
030
Dictatorships in third world countries.
FIELD NOTE: cross-ref. ‘third world’ dictatorships, post-1960 archive
031
Leaders unskin, leave leadership,
032
When poverty is all over.
033
Our torchbearers are trading no more,
034
Their qualities of good leadership.
035
They give bribes to buy votes,
037
No one cares for the common man,
038
Taxes are burning ordinary people,
040
They use religious weapons of the West
041
To benefit from our mineral resources and oil.
042
It’s grief beyond healing, and no one remembers
043
The hardships of slavery times.
044
As we ploughed for cotton in colonialist farms,
045
We sung songs of revolution,
046
Our dreams to eat fruits of freedom — all in vain
047
Under new colonialist era.
048
Philosophy… the way of a true warrior,
049
African kingsman born under Africa’s hot sun.
050
It opens his eyes to breathe
051
The breath of life’s freedom.
052
I am the spinal cord of the holy nation,
053
A captain whose boat has left
055
To emancipate my people’s thoughts
“spinal cord of the holy nation” — self as witness, not bystander
057
The spear of the nation
058
In era of the new world order,
059
Ready to plunder the economy of the world
060
With the so-called constitution
061
That protects and bites at the same time.
062
A time when tribalism and corruption
063
Has spread like the weed of the sea.
RECURRING STATEMENT · EXHIBIT A
“I recognize my roots, my culture, my shield.”
END OF EXHIBIT A