Tep Ra · Tep Ra July 2022
SURVIVING AS AN AFRICAN
Har yanzu babu shi a Harshen Hausa. Ana nuna asalin English.
Africa, you’re my continent,
Why is poverty prominent?
Like pigs you give birth in poor health,
Natural resources should lead to wealth.
Why is poverty prominent?
Like pigs you give birth in poor health,
Natural resources should lead to wealth.
You’re suffering within abundance,
Your children live in annoyance,
The way out? Mother of mankind,
Your children are rendered behind.
Harsh economy, austere,
Like tardigrades, persevere,
Tough skin, be resilient,
Way out in my continent.
You’re our home, the nativity,
We cope with creativity,
We’re ants, no room for laziness,
As busy as bees, doggedness.
‘Friqi’ ‘pharika’, corn and fruit,
No other home, this is our root,
With ruggedness we will survive,
We strive to make our hope alive.
© Oluniyi Osunlolu (2022)