Breath of Africa
By: Lekpele Nyamalon, [email protected]
Hold on child, this race is long
Not one mile or one day’s streak
You’ve got curves longer than circles
And valleys steeper than Gbakor’s hill
With mountains taller than Everest
Run too soon and lose your steam
You’ll watch your future torn to shreds
With your feet shaking with fear
And hands too tired to move
This race is far from over
Keep your strength you hope of Africa
Lest you lose it and Africa faints
Tomorrow, those hands are needed
To give to a tired continent
Those legs could run and win the promise
Keep your vibe you strength of the future
We need your arms to climb those mountains
And shoulder to carry those tools of change
Hang on, you face of tomorrow
You Africa’s last breath
A Liberian, not Ebola
(Inspired by the campaign against stigmatization)
By: Lekpele Nyamalon
I am a Liberian, not some virus
I got blood flowing through my veins
My heart beats like hydro, pumping through those arteries
I got brains, not dumb
I am human, not a parasite
I live on rice, fish and meat, not on blood and carcass
I am innocent, chirping on trees like birds enjoying nature
Not a serial killer, a vampire or leech
Do you know from whence comes that name Ebola?
Not a place in my country
Not the name of the St. John River, or Cavalla
Or St. Paul or the Belleh forest, nor the Bea mountains
It’s nowhere here, child
How on planet do I own this virus?
Do I have a lab that makes malaria?
How could I pass for Ebola?
Come on guys, I am a Liberian
From the land of the free
A home of the men with skin pitch like the earth
A proud, dark son of the soil
I am a Liberian, a warm-blooded mammal
My country is rich with green rainforests
A wonderful climate and beautiful history
Amazing culture and Africa’s first child
A human, an African – a Homo Sapiens, not a virus!
