MADIBA, TUTU, ANNAN - A DYING BREED OF AFRICAN VISIONARIES

Pictures Courtesy: nobelprize.org, Africanbeats106.com



Their very names inspire pride
They are testament to the fact that
Africa breeds more than just poverty, disease and war
There’s intellect in the bosom of Africa.


They light up stages wherever they go,
They embody a rare form of African
Success in our world today.


But they’re old,
Gradually embracing greying hairs,
Bald patches,
Frail limbs and
Declining health.


Madiba, a people’s rallying cry,
A unifying force,
He stood tall in the face of segregation.
Now, age slowly takes Madiba away,
Africa!! Point out to us
Tomorrow’s Madiba today.


The Archbishop Tutu retires from public life,
With it his welcoming smile,
Infectious laughter
Wit and perfect humour
On that chair sits the Archbishop's cap
Waiting to sit atop a worthy head.


Kofi Annan sat atop the U.N throne
Like an African witch doctor,
He wowed the world,
Casting a spell over an entire world.
Come the end of his tenure,
The world asked for a second helping,
They just couldn’t get enough of this true son of Africa,
The loudest encore went to Africa’s Kofi Annan.
In the corn fields sits Kofi’s shoes,
Which son of Africa shall soon walk in Annan’s shoes?


These wise ones slowly leave the stage
Applause and whistles at a crescendo,
Their light shines bright even in old age
Overworked, tired and begging reprieve,
Crying out for worthy successors.


As they depart,
The African stage sits empty,
Not a single heir worthy of their thrones,
Just thrill seekers
And tainted lads
Parading around with shifty eyes
Toothy smiles
Salty tongues
Filled with greed and selfish thoughts.


Africa!!!
Your tomorrow looks bleak
Your tomorrow is blighted today
The true sons of Africa no longer exist today.


I cry for Africa’s tomorrow today,
I see you gradually lose your way day by day,
Corruption and greed has become your mainstay,
Herald the dawn of the greedy weeds.
They paint the continent in selfish needs,
Swaying the gullible to their heart’s content.


As clock winds down on these true sons of Africa,
The talking drums await a new age,
The new generation of visionaries to bear the load,
The new ones who will whip the talking
Drums of Africa into frenzy again.


Africa lies bleeding in the wilderness,
Vultures circling
Lapping at their crooked beaks
Waiting patiently for Africa’s demise.


But even in slavery,
Africa arose,
In hunger and poverty
Africa!!! Does slowly rise
Cumbered by the greedy weeds.
In adversity, Africa always did arise,
Like Madiba did on Robin Island,
Like the Archbishop in the era of apartheid,
Like Kofi Annan at in times of war, hunger, poverty and disease.

Arise Africa!!!
Call forth Tomorrow’s Madiba’s today,
Give us the Tutu’s of tomorrow’s day,
Point out Kofi’s successors today,
For come the morning of tomorrow’s day,
Termites and bickering weeds would have overrun your stage.