Africa Songtext

von Habib Koité

The sons of Africa wanted to walk…
An adventure that took them far away
From the frontiers of the continent
An adventure that taught them
How things work elsewhere.
Before, we welcomed the whole world with our
Innate sense of hospitality, in dignity and nobility.
We walked but when we wanted to enter their door,
Those in Ceuta told us:
"We don't have your innate sense of hospitality"
The sons of Africa returned home, saying:
Better an ugly woman than an empty room
Because they'd heard that invaluable help
Had been offered to them there
But they've had enough of empty promises
Poverty will be Africa's destiny,
Corruption will be Africa's destiny
Governments will always get stuck in the sand
Africa is destined for war, for genocide
Until the United Nations
In their development programmes,
Decide to help Africa to:
Reduce its poverty, Reduce its AIDS pandemic
Reduce the death of its children
Reduce what Mother Africa owes to others
Broken promises, of equity, solidarity.
The illusion is false, even if the dream is allowed
Africa will make its own way, after a fashion, because
My Negro pride will always be called Mambo
And we are all in the same boat
Help! Enough helped Africa
Africa will make its own way, in its own way!