– Star Okpeh Nigerian Writer and Poet
Between Time and the many folktales of our fathers I have been wondering unending what has become of Africa. Our Land. Inheritance of our existence. All of a sudden the Jungle has turned against the ones for which it stands. Africa is a Socialized Jungle. Densed and unfit for settlement. I believe that it is time our identity finds a new path.
I want to tell of a Continent chewing it’s greenland into tares. A continent where you see dreams hanged on trees. Hope buried alive. Unbelievable fireworks of injustice and national abuse holding us spell bounded in wonder. It is like dark clouds over us.
This is a continent. Africa. A shrine in the midst of men.
Where we tread slowly. Fearfully. It is in Africa that you understand what is means to be a Slave. Not Citizens but Masses like Captives that are free. Africa was and will always be our pride. To some it is even our religion. We defend her even when she denies us the rights of our fellowship and communal reign of brotherhood.
You walk the streets and all your nose receive are the decaying bones of Enthusiasm and Passion for a land that we are yet still struggling to let go of. We keep hoping. Keep painting flowers upon the graves she has dug for us.
Then this brings me to a Question.
One that the elders whisper in gatherings. Heads glued together in secrecy.
One that our mothers will scold the young men for.
“ The Walls have ears”.
But who is Africa?
Africa is Us.
Africa is the image of the Cowards that we have become. Your sons and daughters cheering corruption like they are ignorant of your sufferings. Africa is the day you refused to stand up to the truth you know. Africa is your silence. Your incompetence.