I am An African Too by Sukoluhle Joy Chilongo

When the world sees me,

 When the world hears me

When the world thinks me- 

It is the bulging stomach, 

It is the hopelessness in big brown eyes –

 And long thin arms 

Holding up a large begging bowl.

 I am an African too 

So please PLEASE! 

Leave me in this muck of degradation, shame

 For I have reason – 

Good reason to be in this mud!

Globalisation, Colonisation, Mcdonaldisation, Apartheid, Humiliation,

Good reason – see! (...besides, it is too familiar a friend to leave now... and kinda warm)

I am an African too – 

So I dance 

And dance 

While the world, ululates, claps gaps – 

Because the jingle to which I dance

 Is of the chains around my wrists

 So I cannot take back what

 The world owes me. ..

it is the jingle of the chains

 Around around my ankles

 So I cannot go to where my mind has been

 – So I dance –

 and I teach

 My daughters And My sons too –

THE DANCE!!

For we all have the chains,

 After all, we are 

ALL AFRICANS!!