On the International Day of the African Child I curated some poems dedicated to today’s gift. The African child. The future of Africa.

 

I am an African Child by Eku McGred (2010)

I am an African child
Born with a skin the colour of chocolate
Bright, brilliant and articulate
Strong and bold; I’m gifted
Talented enough to be the best
I am an African child

Often the target of pity
My future is not confined to charity
Give me the gift of a lifetime;
Give me a dream, a door of opportunity;
I will thrive
I am an African child

Do not hide my fault
show me my wrong
I am like any other;
Teach me to dream
And I will become
I am an African child

I am the son, daughter of the soil
Rich in texture and content
Full of potential for a better tomorrow
Teach me discipline, teach me character, teach me hard work
Teach me to think like the star within me
I am an African child

I can be extra-ordinary
call me William Kamkwamba the Inventor;
Give me a library with books
Give me a scrap yard and discarded electronics
Give me a broken bicycle;
Plus the freedom to be me
And I will build you a wind mill
I am an African child

We are the new generation
Not afraid to be us
Uniquely gifted, black and talented
Shining like the stars we are
We are the children of Africa
Making the best of us
Yes! I am an African child

 

Eku McGred is a gifted musician, poet and songwriter with over 12years of service in the music ministry.    Born in Freetown Sierra Leone, multi-talented creative young man with a heart for entrepreneurship and a passion for converting people’s potential into productive skills for wealth creation and the fulfilment of purpose. 

 

 

We The Brave – “Dark Phrases” from For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange (1975)

somebody/ anybody
sing a black girl’s song
bring her out
to know herself
to know you
but sing her rhythms
carin/ struggle/ hard times
sing her song of life
she’s been dead so long
closed in silence so long
she doesn’t know the sound
of her own voice
her infinite beauty
she’s half-notes scattered
without rhythm/ no tune
sing her sighs
sing the song of her possibilities
sing a righteous gospel
let her be born
let her be born
& handled warmly.”

Ntozake Shange (born October 18, 1948) is an American feminist, playwright and poet. 

 

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