Father Africa! At a token ignorance, <br />You have given your inheritance: <br />To strangers you gave so much. <br />White fellows who did not eat in our dish. <br />Behold, with some sham laughter, <br />They transacted for few daughter; <br />They brought clothes and rums and guns <br />To shackle away your sons. <br />Father Africa, foolish you! <br /> <br />Lo! See Mama Africa's cry <br />Her hapless tears can not dry <br />On her black beautiful - dark dimples. <br />Oh Africa, chaos ripples. <br />See your sons brutally unfair <br />Taking hostage His own kin at warfare, <br />Selling them at ludicrous token. <br />Oh Africa, your woes betoken! <br /> <br />The sun rose in great grief <br />And shambled to rest in dumb disbelief, <br />The rivers pensive in their banks. <br />Our follies deserve no thanks; <br />Africa sold her pride at Twenty Pounds, <br />Her offspring shackled to foreign grounds <br />On a fettered peregrination to the coasts, <br />Where they await shipment to wicked hosts. <br /> <br />Father Africa, foolish you! <br />Had those token Twenty Pounds <br />Suffice the pandemic poverty that pounds <br />You and your offspring on the head? <br />Those you sold - million tears shed <br />You caused them sorrowful spirituals to sing <br />They endlessly labour'd where trepidations ring, <br />They suffer'd severe discomfort - unfair! <br />They dwelt in dejected despise and despair.<br /><br />Joseph Oladehinde Ibikunle<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/father-africa/
