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