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Nikita Tshawe Apr 2021
Azania, malibuye izwe lwethu.
Mayibuye iAfrika, izwe lwethu

Africa, where have you gone?
Africa, what happened to you?

We breathe poverty.
27 years into liberty.
Yet, not much has changed.
The black man remains estranged.
No land, no wealth.
No access to health.
The black man is educated and unemployed.
His voice is meaningless and void.
The black man is a criminal.
Not a trustworthy individual.

Azania. Libuya nini izwe lwethu?
Ibuya nini iAfrika yethu?

Africa, where have you gone?
Africa, what happened to you?

Where is the black child's fortune?
When does he get to sing a happy tune?
When does he move out of the small shack?
When does he get his ancestors' land back?
No one will hire him, he doesn't own a car.
He lives too far.
He's below the par.
Where he's from, there's no tar.
His shoes pick up clouds of dust.
Victim to a system so unjust.

Azania. Libuya nini izwe lwethu?
Ibuya nini iAfrika yethu?

Africa, where have you gone?
Africa, what happened to you?

Our mothers know nothing but pain.
They wipe kitchens spotless, all in vain.
Our fathers toil in the gardens.
Prayers have become burdens.
Government officials care for nothing but their pockets.
While we cry tears filling buckets.
Is this the Africa we fought for?
Is this the freedom we fought for?
Africa is singing a burning weep.
Her sorrows run deep.

She is asking, "what about my children?"
"What will become of them?"
She can't bear to see it.
Unite Africa with her children.
She longs to see them prosper.
Africa loves her children.
They don't deserve to suffer any longer.
From the hands of the ruthless ruler.
They are her pride and joy.
She wants to see them enjoy,
Her rich soil.
Profit from her natural oil.
Her pure silver.
Her dazzling diamonds.
Her excellent copper.
Her soft gold.

Abantwana base Afrika mabaphile.
Inhlupheko yase Afrika mayiphele.

iAfrika mayibuye.
Mayibuye iAfrika.
Ungangicingi kude ngimningi njengendlala yomuntu omnyama.
ngisabalele, ngibanzi ngijulile. Ungazibuzi ngami ngiyintandane
enomama no baba. Ungangabazi
yiqiniso uma uthi angisiyena umuntu.
Ungaxakwa ukubola kwami
ngikufunde kulabo esabapha
amandla okusipatha ngo nyaka ka 94
ngebhandi safunda imikhuba ngemikhuba kubo. Buka manje
sesi nje sesi nje.
Uthi ziyoqodiswa ubani lezigwegwe.
Ngithi akekho ngaphandle kwezi nsizwa, aboMnumzane bemizi (hhayi amasoka) kanye nama
Khehla wesemaZansi, sibambhisene noMveliqanga nezithunywa zakhe
zokukhanya. Khumbhula amagama
kaphuzi khemisi "Niyababona sebehlangane ngathi lababantu"
Isikhathi sokutshakadula siphelile
liyafa izwe, alingafi sibhekile silibele
amapiano nobufebe, nobuvila, nokubalisa.
Amen.

— The End —