From the very core of my being,
to the very last strand of my mane
I am African

Yes, from Africa
Not the Africa of starving children
Certainly not the Africa of women deprived of voting rights
nor the adoption hub of the rich and famous
that is your Africa, not ours.

Our Africa
yes, our Africa
Is a developing child, constantly, incessantly ridiculed,
reminded of its inability to walk,
but see how it crawls towards the mark,
feel the steady beat of its hurting heart,
Isn't that a sign of vitality?
Isn't that the very beat that keeps mother earth alive?

Yes I am African from Africa
The Africa the world wont tell you about
The Africa that sheds a tear everyday and says;
" dear  world, see  me  for  who  i  am,
no,  not  through  t­he  lens  of  a  misguided  camera,
see  me  through  the  lens..
of  a  telescope"