Welcome to the Federal Republic of Africa
A small country whose capital city is Wakanda
We all live in the spirit of Ubuntu
It’s Wakanda forever!
Africans are one people, one culture, and one spirit
We all know each other
So yes, I know the Kenyan you went to school with
Oh, the African friend of your cousin’s daughter's friend?
I know him too.
Welcome to the Federal Republic of Africa
When you talk about us, make sure to mention hunger and poverty
Our national symbols are the
Big bellies and piercing eyes of children
Longing for freedom from themselves
Begging for food
Their big bellies full of not food
But dreams snatched from them at an early age
Their eyes carrying the stories of a thousand generations of traumatized people
Abused, dehumanized, and discriminated against
Okay, no, I mean, say they are all sick and carry diseases
Sicknesses such as exploitation, sorry, exploration and colorism
Eating the insides of their bellies
Maybe civilization?
Cos, I mean, we are all savages, right?
When your friend says I’m visiting Africa
Respond and tell them
“Do not touch them; else you’ll get malaria or Ebola
Don’t forget to mention the corrupt governments
Nasty politics or lack of clean water
Even though Africa has some of the world’s largest rivers and lakes
And a climate that favors her,
Tell them to take water with them
Else they’ll die of thirst
Welcome to the Federal Republic of Africa
We wake up to the sounds of nature
Calling us to another day
Where the sun rises in the east and sets in the west
But tell people there is constant darkness
It’s called the Dark Continent for a reason
Dark, darker, darkest, darkness
Hovering over the heads of its citizens
Reaching down the throats
Snatching every piece of life within their bodies
Make sure to hear their gasps for air when you say this
Feel the pain
Connect with them
Welcome to the Federal Republic of Africa
Where men and wild animals live together
So don’t be surprised when I show you my pet lion
Or, as my name dictates, pet elephant
We speak African
We are all going to die if you don’t send aid
Every African is dark-skinned
Say it, write it, show it to people
Tell them about a small country called Africa.
Right? No
Welcome to the continent of Africa
Mama Africa she’s called
An old lady reaped and exploited by the rest of the world
Look carefully, and you’ll see the blood of her children
Lying still and breathless as she mourns their death
Murdered and brutally killed in the land of their mother
For the land of their mother
Africa has 54 children
Smart ones like Congo-Kinshasa, who invented human-like robots to regulate traffic
Or Nigeria, who created an aerial vehicle that can fly nonstop
Carrying the news of a new dawn to its brothers and sisters
Each of Africa’s children is beautiful, resilient, unique
Some of the world’s happiest people
Welcoming and accepting
Which you should know as you were accepted too
Fighting against a world that seems not to tolerate them
But still, smiling and welcoming
Like her daughter Kenya, my aunty
Known to accept about 2 million people into her home yearly
Africa’s grandchildren are some of the youngest people in the world’s population
Young people breaking barriers and working against all odds
Her children speak about 25% of the world’s languages spoken only there
30% of the world’s remaining resources
A land of unhatched potential
Welcome to Mama Africa
My grandmother
My mother
SHE IS HOME.