Daughters of Africa

By Anna S. Manyanza (@annasamwel7)

1

How often have you been condemned?
How often have you been humiliated?
How often have you been despised of?
How often have you suffered?
Daughters of Africa

2

History tortured you
History forgot you
History erased you
History infringed you
Daughters of Africa

3

Politics has cursed you
Politics has defied you
Politics has humiliated you
Politics has desecrated you
Daughters of Africa

4

In the 15^th century, history enslaved you
In the 17^th century, history colonised you
In the 19^th century, history reproached you
In the 20^th century, history dropped you
Daughters of Africa

5

Slave trade scattered you in the East
Slave trade scattered you in the West
Colonialism scattered you in the North
Colonialism scattered you in the South
Daughters of Africa

6

In the sisal plantations you laboured
In the sugarcane plantations you laboured
In the cotton plantations you laboured
In the cloves plantations you laboured
Daughters of Africa

7

Burned by the sun
Doused by the rain
Debilitated by hunger
Dehydrated by thirst
Daughters of Africa

8

Heart of blood
Body of blood
Sex of blood
Genitals of blood
Daughters of Africa

9

Knife in the heart
Knife on the body
Knife on the vagina
Knife of mutilation
Daughters of Africa

10

Heart of despair
Heart of grief
Heart of regret
Heart of fear
Daughters of Africa

11
Soul of lament
Soul of servitude
Soul of worries
Soul of shock
Daughters of Africa 

12

Refugee daughter
Barefooted daughter
Hard-working daughter
Worn-out daughter
Daughters of Africa

13

You bore children
You reared children
You buried children
You mourned your children
Daughters of Africa

14

You have known wars
You have known massacres
You have known diseases
You have known poverty
Daughters of Africa

15

Raped and impregnated
Raped and infected
Raped and humiliated
Raped and hurt
Daughters of Africa

16

Yet, you won’t complain as nobody believes you
Yet, you won’t argue as nobody trusts you
Yet, you won’t sue anybody as nobody supports you
Yet, you won’t hope for justice as nobody stands by you
Daughters of Africa

17

Denied education
Denied peace
Denied love
Denied rights
Daughters of Africa

18

Tribalism infringed you
Rituals imprisoned you
Customs crippled you
Traditions doomed you
Daughters of Africa

19

Any wrong, you are the cause
Any wrong, you are to accuse
Any wrong, you are to blame
Any wrong, you are to shame
Daughters of Africa

20

Despite all, you are courageous
Despite all, you are content
Despite all, you are in good spirits
Despite all, you are full of hope
Daughters of Africa

21

A well of sorrow and joy, African daughter
A river of sorrow and joy, African daughter
A lake of sorrow and joy, African daughter
An ocean of sorrow, African daughter
Daughters of Africa

22

Desert rose, African daughter
Garden rose, African daughter
Savanna rose, African daughter
Mountain rose, African daughter
Daughters of Africa

23

Queens like Miriam Makeba
Angels like Waris Dirie
Tough like Michelle Obama
Heroine like Wangari Maathai
Daughters of Africa

24

Like a Baobab, strong you stand
Like Ebony, black you stand
Like a Mango tree, free you stand
Like a Palm tree, tall you stand
Daughters of Africa

25

You came a long way
You’re still travelling
Never lose hope
You will arrive
Daughters of Africa

26

Being an African daughter is no longer being enslaved
Being an African daughter is no longer being colonised
Being an African daughter is no longer being raped
Being an African daughter is no longer being infected
Daughters of Africa

27

Being an African daughter is no more genital mutilation
Being an African daughter is no more dying of hunger
Being an African daughter is no more living with fear
Being an African daughter is no more early dying
Daughters of Africa

28

Being an African daughter is no longer a curse
Being an African daughter is no longer a fault
Being an African daughter is no longer a blame
Being an African daughter is no longer a shame
Daughters of Africa

29

African daughter deserves respect
African daughter deserves love
African daughter deserves peace
African daughter deserves life
Daughters of Africa

30

Right of happiness is your right
Right of education is your right
Right of medical treatment is your right
Right of employment is your right
Daughters of Africa

31

Have as many children as you want
Raise your children in your own terms
Educate your children in your own ways
Fight for the rights of your children
Daughters of Africa

32

Teach your children love
Teach your children justice
Teach your children wisdom
Teach your children loyalty
Daughters of Africa

33

Feel free to say yes
Feel free to say no
Feel free to rebuke
Feel free to resist
Daughters of Africa

34

It’s your right to love
It’s your right to marry
It’s your right to divorce
It’s your right to walk away
Daughters of Africa

35

Say no to famine
Say no to AIDS
Say no to poverty
Say no to destitution
Daughters of Africa

36

Fight against racism
Fight against sexism
Fight against ageism
Fight against child abuse
Daughters of Africa

37

Raise your voice
Raise your heart
Raise your soul
Raise your spirit
Daughters of Africa

38

Re-present thy self
Re-present thy wisdom
Re-present thy feeling
Re-present thy experience
Daughters of Africa

39

You make an effort
You give a try
You toil
You never give up
Daughters of Africa

40

Cross mountains, convey love
Cross oceans, spread braveness
Cross lakes, spread peace
Cross hills, spread joy
Daughters of Africa