Shadows In An African Jungle.
You say I walk faster than my shadow
And why not
There are too many shadows in Africa
Gloom, defeat, despair
All are in me
But I must transcend them
I must be what I must.
To the African jungle
White enslavers came with gun powder
To shoot me down if I ran
Like a monkey.
I was to go with them in chains
To the Americas.
I was to work their farms
I was to die if I fell sick.
The row-row water turned my belly
In big ocean-going vessels.
I was told to hush hush
Even when I would cry aloud.
When I got to America
They changed my name
Onyenachia is too long
You must bear Samuel.
No problem.
They give me a spade and
I begin to swot
Dig in
Dig out
Oops - are you tired already?
You black man silly -
Crack of the whip
And I begin to swot again
Dig in
Dig out
Work till dusk.
I pray
God I am sick of this
I need you to save me.
And he does.
The white man does no work
But soon he is tired of keeping me
Working for him
So he orders me to leave.
I rejoice
And return to the dark jungle.
To my chagrin
The shadows are still there
Gloom, defeat, despair
All are still in me
But the faces of my brothers are changed
They do not recall me.
Hello?
Even my language is strange
I plead
Shriek
Persuade
Coax
They cannot understand me
I am sick again
Not with row-row water
But with aloneness
I am sick sick sick of it
I pray
God help me
And he does.
Soon I must return to America
But not as a slave
Not as Samuel
But as Onyenachia again
A free man
Onyenachia Munachim.
poem by Samuel Nze
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Related quotes
I Am An African
I am an African
I was born in Africa
Suckled mother Africa breast
I am beauty Africa
I stand under blue skies
Over drastic mountains
To behold vibrant countries
And feel at home
I bow down to salute heroes
Died on struggle
Striving Africa liberation
Development and capacity
Hail Africa
You are our mother
Feeding us with prosperity
Anointing us with acceptance
Africa is my mother
She will never fade
Gloom or cease
I am an African
poem by Poppie Mira
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My African Land
Forgotten trodden past
Hopeful saintful future
I walk in my African land
Africa bears its fruits on crushed branches
Its children bear hope to a tortured yesterday
I walk in my African land
With its tormented heart it loves
With is abused state it sees happiness
With its crushed psyche it looks on caringly
I walk in my African land
I embrace the streets of struggle
Covered by the sands of war from a grieved soul
My African people stride in colourful clothes
As a rainbow ending stormy rage of corrupted seas
I walk in my African land
Tall buildings escalated egos
Fancy cars, classy hearts
Large salaries, tiny compassions
My Africa forgets the hardships endured
My brother forgets Ubuntu
My Africa loses sight
Still,
I walk in my African land
My Africa shines with the sun
That burns dry the tears of his people
I walk in my African land
My Africa rises to a new world of liberty
Freedom from chained minds
Freedom from captured dreams
Freedom from limited abilities
I walk in my African land
My Africa bids welcome
As I enter with pride
Knowing that the war has been won
And success awaits
I walk in my African land
poem by Gabi Ngubeni
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The Pride To Be An African
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of which everybody imitates
My Africa of which culture exceed the Greek
My Africa of which everyone is jealous of
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of enormous natural endowment
My Africa of Non-Violence
My Africa of Amorous populates
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of patriot men and women
My Africa of shelter and vintage hospitality
My Africa of great ancestral mythology
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa that bore fruits of black diamonds
My Africa which is a gift to the whole world
My Africa of great leadership
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of learned youths
My Africa of a bright generation
My Africa true tradition
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of black pageant women
My Africa of strong men
My Africa from who we all hail from
For every African deserves a Nobel Prize in
Existence.
poem by Fasan paul
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Africa and Africa’s
Have seen little of history unfold
I know that one thing will always be
Africa will be,
But what is Africa’s may never be
White man came
Green lands began to dry
So did rivers and streams
Even oceans and seas
Whatever the white man sees
Seems to vanish from Africa
Like dews do in his singeing summers
When he sees peace… there! Gone
The white man said he’d in Africa invested
In actual sense he had Africa infested
Looting without shame
Claiming England is Object; Africa its subject
There was gold, grandpa says
We fight over our own
Lacerate throats and disembowel ours
Man in white fuels it dressed in black
We choose our way
Dos, don’ts, and embargoes stay
When we invent, they endear us
Purporting supervision, yet looting
What is Africa’s one day will be
And shall remain African and Africa’s
What should unite Africa is Africa’s
It will never split Africa into Africas
poem by David Munene wa Kimberly
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The White African
The White African
By
Ross Dix-Peek
Over the great ocean seas
My ancestors did choose to flee,
Europe’s rumblings and poverty,
And to “Darkest Africa” did journey
It was many, many years past,
When Queen Vic’ was still at the mast,
When my forebears resolute did come,
To live beneath the great African sun
Since has Mother Africa suckled our young
To us her lullabies and sweet songs sung,
And all this time ‘neath her fiery mantle
Did my people in Africa live, toil and battle
Africa is not for the mild and the meek,
It's no place at all for the feeble and the weak,
And the days oft be savage and so very long,
Yes, it's only for the brave and the very strong
Many generations did pass, and many years shorn,
Before I too upon African soil was born,
Like my fathers’ before, a White African,
Created and cast beneath her scorching sun
And although I have since her rugged shores left,
My soul to Mother Africa’s bosom will forever be cleft,
And though I may miss the tight embrace of an African sun,
It matters not, for I will forever be a White African!
poem by Ross DixPeek
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African Boy
I am a young African boy
A unique individual with my own personal inspiration
Which is the golden key to build my future.
With a mind confused
I can still reach politely to others.
With a heart that's has been destroyed
I can still feel and care for others.
With pain that has cut deep down in my heart
I can still fell sympathy for others. with all that is in me I can still overcome those situations.
I can be a person I am
The one whose heart is filled with joy and passion.
I am a young African boy.
I'm proud of my black badged African skin.
I am an African
Not because I was born here
But because my heart beats with Africa.
Not because my skin is black
But because my mind is engaged by Africa.
I am an African
Not because I live on its soil
But because my soul is at home in Africa.
When Africa weeps for her children
My chicks are stained with tears.
When Africa honor her elders
My head is bowed with respect.
When Africa mourns for her victims
My hands are joined in prayer.
Africa my home
Africa my land
Land of peace
Land of my forefathers
Land of my birth
When Africa celebrates her triumphs
My feet are alive with dancing.
poem by Elvis Fout
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African Spirit
Unfortunately, I will not stop,
Across Africa, I will travel with this African face,
My African pride,
And my African story.
I saw your face in Zimbabwe;
Then I saw it again in South Africa.
You smiled at me in Malawi,
Why were you surprise to see me again in Angola?
I carry the African song,
Listen to soulful rhythems from within.
I have an African heart,
With lots of love and pain, it won't part.
Your African face smiles at me with inspiration,
Across Africa and the world, give me an ear;
I speak an African language.
Someday you will know my love,
Someday you will sing my song,
Someday you will hold my heart;
Someday you will cry the same tears in my eyes.
Someday you will relieve my pain,
One day you will understand me.
Someday you will join my fight an we'll make Africa our pride.
poem by Peter Phiri
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Night Watch
Written by bob welch.
Go on, you know youre only one
Set me free
You take me up and turn around
But let me in
Take this shadow from my eyes
And tell me everything
Take the desert from my soul
And lift me up from down below
Let me take some pride in your creation
Cause I have lived alone in castles that were lonely
And I have cursed the dawn and wondered why I do
Well I have wondered why I live
Now I know you must forgive
Let me stand inside your magic shadow
The night is coming faster
And youre feeling all unchained
In the north there is a jungle
Where rockets are aflame
And I hope that in the desert
There are ships and there is noise
And above the greatest city
There will shine a magic shadow
And a voice
Its taking long but Im getting strong as I grow old
Please believe me let the magic reach me and I will unfold
Ill step aboard with you onday
And see my dust just melt away
And then Ill step inside your magic shadow
Dreamers...
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhh
Magic shadows
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows...
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh
Ooooh...ooooooh...ooooooohhhhhhhh...
song performed by by Fleetwood Mac
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I am an African
Not because im black.
But because my heart warms
And tears run down my face
When i think about AFRICA.
I am an African,
Not because i live here,
But because the African
Sun lit my paths.
Because the air that i breath
Is from these majestic mountains.
That air nurtured me
Growing up.
I am an African,
Not because i can speak
Swahili, Shona, Zulu or Xhosa.
But because my heart is
Shaped like a question mark,
Just like AFRICA.
I am an African,
Not because i am black,
But because my umbilical cord
Is burried under the majestic
Mountains of AFRICA.
poem by Siyabonga A nxumalo
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Son Of Africa
Listen Africa listen!
Listen to the words of a stallion
Listen as I speak of a giant,
An African giant
A giant entangled by his own hand made snares
Yes! Indodana ya se Africa
Un-wax your ears and Listen
Great warrior of the chimurenga,
Phela you stood against white powers
And liberated black wishes
Against the Blairs and Bushes you stood.
Courageous, you battled the spite of the Smith.
Now listen Ndodana ya se Africa
Hear this young stallion galloping towards the truth.
In Limbo you stand snared by your own snares
In Limbo, you warrior remain just a memory
Hau lalela son of the soil,
It’s your people who go under the soil
Their calabashes are dry, they go under the soil.
Under the soil their bellies lie empty
Hau lalela Ndodana ya se Africa
Listen son of Africa
Do not stand as proud as death
Do not let its sting be your companion
An African warrior you must once more become
Adorn the spirit of Madiba, No easy walk to freedom
Remember...Listen...Remember.
T he Ndukus and the rocks, Africa’s weapons of old
Now Son of the Soil’s desires battle against Africa
Hau listen son of Africa
Lalela...listen...lalela
poem by David Lekoba
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50 Years on This Physical Earth
50 years on this physical earth,
But husting and busting to make my name known t the world!!
Because, i have a message at hand;
And, it is not easy being born in Africa and being raised in Africa from a very poor family!
For, i can't stop the rain from falling on my head when,
I have no roof!!!
And like what is going on today in East Africa!
With the reflections of one of my Art Works called: 'We don't have aids but hunger'! !
Yes, from the very acts of my mind;
Because i am an African,
And i do know what it means to be in Africa.
Today, i am to thank Father Yahweh for all of His mercy and kindness towards me;
For He had really guided my steps from thr rough paths of an African's own story,
And, let His Mercy endures forever!!
For Africa is for the Africans and we have to know what goes on around us everyday;
And, in the land of Africa i was born,
But, have you to say?!!
Because, i am very proud to be an African!
And like the muse of your love in the land of many waters that satisfies us all.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Africa My Africa
In Africa the lion is no more
The jungle not his home
For he now opens a door
The corridors of power he is seen to roam
In Africa the monkey has left his tree
In Africa the snake no longer hides in the grass
In Africa bird and beast are all but gone
in africa all the peoples mizz there queen cause they queen have go american and the queen is me
poem by Kemi Moshood
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The Lion II
I am the lion of Africa!
But, living in the jungle of peace;
I do spring out with my tail for many to follow,
However, i do speak tendering words with my lover.
The lion!
Life is guided by the muse of love;
And like where peace, unity and joy do live.
Sow on my land and enjoy the fruits of your labour! !
For, i am living in the jungle of love;
And, i want to care for you.
I am living in the jungle of peace with lot of visions,
In the very place of mystery!
But, with a secret journey to reach out to your heart;
For, i am the lion of Africa and,
I am ready to share my jungle with you.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Cant Run But
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
A cooling system
Burns out in the ukraine
Trees and umbrellas
Protect us from the new rain
Armies of engineers
To analyze the soil
The food we contemplate
The water that we boil
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
Oo-we oo-we
I had a dream about us
In the bottles and the bones of the night
I felt a pain in my shoulder blade
Like a pencil point? a love bite?
A couple was rubbing against us
Rubbing and doing that new dance
The man was wearing a jacket and jeans
The woman was laughing in advance
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
A winding river
Gets wound around a heart. pull it
Tighter and tighter
Until the muddy waters part
Down by the river bank
A blues band arrives
The music suffers
The music business thrives
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
I cant run but
I can walk much faster than this
Cant run but
Oo-we oo-we
song performed by by Paul Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hello Shadows
Shadows imitate every thing in life
But it does not argue, fuss, or fight
And can be changed by the reflection of light
Your shadow will imitate everything that you do
For that shadow belongs to you.
The shadow of an object can
hide you from the sun
Not just you but every one.
Shadows have but one color (black)
And it is not belittled or put down
But accepted by all you see
Which makes it one of gods mysteries.
It can be seen in the sunlight
But not in the dark
It can even be seen with artificial light
And the kids have fun with it
Man! What a sight.
It has no face to show emotions
And it will always be by your side
Although at times it must hide.
The sun can not touch it, as it stares up at you
This is something the sun can not do.
The shadow will walk in front of you
Or in back, or walk on your sides
But will always be there wherever you go
For it is something that we all know
And to my shadow I say “hello”.
poem by Louis Rams
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Africa Hosts to Win
Good luck to all the African teams
I can already feel as Africa beams
my wish that an African team wins
Is not like searching in a bag of pins
but as a just reward for Africa’s toil
First ever world cup on African soil
Yes, the trophy goes to the very best
yet the race not to be for the swiftest
who may scorn to underrate the rest
but defeat with gusts is the sweetest
Lift high the flag of Africa’s new hope
with resolve to win enter the contest
calm waters make no sailors to cope
but dexterity comes from its conquest
Juggle balls with selfless team spirit
Have no fear! Within you lie so deep
a fountain of inbuilt courage, inspirit
the trophy is home so yours to keep
Let the drums of festivity roll again
in truth and indeed of a giant whole
new victories on ancient ruins regain
Go! Win! Let us make it…A GOAL!
There is another hosting that is real
its originality is from a divine source
that Africa is the true nurturing meal
that would sustain the earth as a force.
If life started from Africa but now in ruins
then its offspring sitting on lofty heights
to look down on its molehills as ill reins
are the fetters that can loosen its bights.
© Dela Bobobee
June 2010
poem by Dela Bobobee
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Africa
Black skins immaculate souls
we are Africans, the pride
of the creator, from kilimanjaro
he veiw the world, that makes
Africa the continent of God.
we are Gold mix with diamond
the wind from the west ship us
out now we are sky, never
desolated we are African.
The ego of mama africa possess
our blood so our tails are far
from dust. Beauty is black so
we are the face of the earth the
home of the seven rivers, the
voices of fascinating creatures
pin the jungle made us believe
that black is the is the race and
Africa the root, in unison we beat
our chest to that.We are Africans.
poem by Enyinwa Okechukwu Enyinwa
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Justice unjust
Africa why so much crying?
Africa why so many people dying?
Justice in Africa has prevailed over traitors
While gloomed and doomed with conspirators,
These are the fundamental African ethic morality
We ought to face, as lions in the caves of our ancestors
Africa why so much crying?
Africa why so many people dying?
Tears flowing in our noble land as river Nile;
I witness widows cracked cheeks by tears all mile
This has tore our hearts and cultures to be blamed,
Africa why many castration set in action,
Our brothers fighting while sisters have a bad profile
Moreover, prompt to fatality in the wagons of prostitution.
Africa why so much crying?
Africa why so much people dying?
Where has all the love vanished?
Where has the entire unit gone my motherland?
Africa cushion our hearts in pain as a fragile treasure!
Africa grow with confident, walk with your crooked smile
If there were sorrow set your way; let be things unimagined,
Undreamed, unrealized, unattained and unutilized.
Mayibuyi Africa mayibuye!
poem by Phinda Mkhonta
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The Oracles
Invaders, invaders! The oracles must be consulted;
From the North to the South and,
From the East to the West are the African Oracles.
The oracles of my ancestors are,
The trademarks of my African identity to a call;
We have to consult the oracles in times of need.
Who said it is not rue?
Who said it is not powerful?
Visit the Oracles of Africa and know the truth.
The African Oracles,
Do ask Mr. Okonkwo about it;
He will tell you why,
The Whiteman's 'iron Horse' was hanged on a tree.
Oh! The oracles of my ancestors;
Out of their mystic myths,
So lay their powers.
Of their creative arts and acts,
Of their spell which makes me think otherwise;
Yet still, the African lacks behind in many things.
If onne could fly in the thin air and able to vanish,
Why can't they form a Universal Soldier in Africa? !
Those are they who are bullet-proof too;
Are these Oracles also working for them?
The oracles,
The Oracles of Africa!
With respective rites for a passer-by who,
Wants to know more about the African;
Oh, the oracles of my forefathers.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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I Cry & Smile Mother Africa
I'm glad, an African,
My heart beats with African rhythms,
Dance with my feet on African beats,
The essence of culture, and everything.
Very happy with my colour of chocolate,
Uniquely gifted with talents,
Black and shinning like a star,
Not because born on African soil,
But proudly meant to be.
I cry 'cuz of what's happening
To me and my mother Africa,
Whilst those I consider as my brothers
And sisters are in laughters and cheers.
Strangers come and take our livelihood,
But the world regards them as heroes,
When it comes to morning I'm alive,
I don't know whether the sun will set.
Mother Africa dry eyes and
Reverse the joy that I had,
Everybody admires you,
You are adorable Mother Africa,
Land of heroic and valiant people.
Essence of love, nature,
Enormous mountains, beautiful rivers,
This day you embrace the entire world
But I still hold a gigantic cry
And smile Mother Africa.
poem by Kiyaga Lyttle Cephas
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