Madiba: warrior son of Africa

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TRIBUTE TO NELSON MANDELA

For a man who gave away 27 years of his life

So that his people could be free

For the man who gave away 27 years of his life

So that his nation could be free

For the man who could have been a king

Ruling over an adoring and submissive subjects

For the man who could have been

Another brutal African dictator killing his people

For any or all reasons imaginable.

For the man who voluntarily gave up power

To become an elder statesman In the continent ruled by ruthless big men

Who rather stay and die in power

Such a man is a rare breed of leaders

On the continent that has seen the worst leaders.

As he came to the end of earthly journey,

There’s question in the air everywhere

Who to step in his big shoes

Who to become the next moral leader

Since the grand old man is no longer around?

They killed Patrice Lumumba

They killed the dream of Kwame Nkrumah

They killed Thomas Sankara and Steve Biko

They killed Modibo Keita, Ken Saro Wiwa

They killed Malcolm X, Martin Luther King

But they could not kill the people’s president

27 years of apartheid’s ruthlessness could not kill his spirit.

His spirit was too black, too strong and indomitable.

The apartheid regime could not withstand the pressure

It had to crumble just like the Berlin wall

The spirits and legends of Africa stood by

This great African warrior leader called Madiba

Who maintained great strength and courage to the very end.

For too long Africa has suffered defeat and humiliation

For too long Africa has known hunger and starvation

For far too long Africa wants to be free

Our desire to be free lives in our memory

Of the great Madiba, Nelson Mandela.

For too long they killed all our heroes

But they could not kill this one, this warrior son of Africa.

 

East Lansdowne, 12/11

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