Cue the scenes of sorrow
War, famine and disease
Dying, poor, and dirt
Dilapidated shacks, burden
Cue the “African” music
The sunshine and singing
Children with big smiles
Mixed with sad eyed faces
Clapping and dancing
Cue the plea for money
Any amount will help
Five dollars goes far
Please, send something
Staring eyes fill the screen
CAN WE CELEBRATE AFRICA’S HAPPINESS?
Nigeria’s literary and music masters
Achebe, Soyinka, Okri and Adichie
Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade
Afro-beat and ju-ju
Advanced civilizations
And influential empires
Lalibela, Gondar and Axum
The Great Zimbabwe
*******
When we see all of Africa
We will see ourselves
More completely and
Not see victims but
Human beings, living
Bonnie, this is so true! When I went to Mozambique, Africa a year ago I was simply captivated by the way they cook. They would first place stones down for the large pots of rice and beans. Next, they placed long pieces of wood in a circle with ends pointing to the middle of where the fire would be. (like spokes going to the middle of a wheel) From some place unknown, live coals were brought and placed in the middle for the fire. Large pots filled to the brim were placed on top. A perfect boil was kept by temperature adjustments of pushing wood in or pulling it out as was needed. There was certainly no need for an oven or microwave there! They were just living life and it worked. Thank you, Bonnie, for giving another needed angle of Africa.
Jimmy – I love the poem. Perfect, actually.