Jasper Sembie - What Makes You An African? | Development By Africans (Spoken Word) lyrics

As I stand here restless, wishing my eyes could shut I'm breathless, yet wishing my lungs would stop And life would cut, for six feet below is preferred to the world on top For this world has flopped with hearts, hands and minds corrupt ‘EruptHead' is a smoke of lies But my focal lies at the same level to vocalize what these local guys suffer as a result of broken ties The chest conceals the same evil the skull presents as wise (Hmm!) To be a voice for the least of these, a desire my tongue has a need to please So I bend my knees and plead for a door with keys that reads 'Exit for corruption, war and greed' From this corner, I see the flaws of capitalism, Whoa! Blunder! As almost all per cent wealth sits at the top per cent welcome to the 8th wonder Where inequality is right but it's equally alright to just lay and ponder In silence, trusting He who never sleeps nor slumber But if He really cared would Africa still be the dog under? Would He not put the wicked in perpetual comma? We are gods! So let's rise to the honour This simple question to ask, I wanna What makes you an African? Exactly! I predicted it, ‘cuz you were born there? Or your parents were, so you claim your lineage is from there? Or...or your pa**port bears a certain quote of arms clearly on there? Well, that's all fair but I didn't ask 'how are you?' I said 'what makes you?', so welcome here To my world of critical reasoning, let's weigh in our actions against our pledge of patriotism For nation building is the reason we should uphold unity over schism But we give lip service; we sing national anthems without practicing their meanings Though the practice in the meaning points to humble beginnings Ours was written by Clifford Fyle, composed by John Akar A pledge of allegiance we've failed by far They upheld our culture, but now our heritage, we neglect Cabalslot, Kotoku and Agbada, we reject, but suits and ties we accept? FGM we X but man upon man...we correct? Double standards! Let's reflect, culture clash The theme of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart Evident in the legacy of colonialism, let's face the fact We were made to act in subservience to our will, I hate the fact, that To the white man's whims we are made to bow There was colonialism then, there's neocolonialism now! First it was the Transatlantic Slave Trade now it's Chinese trade foul! Africa you're sleeping wake up nowwwww! Build alliances - regional integration We need an African Union for Trade Corporation Focus on agriculture and poverty alleviation And stop the war, it takes love to build a nation!!! You should know, your rights, they prevent you from alienation And have your say - political participation Yet, give to Caesar what is Caesar's - taxation Which should be used for growth in infrastructure, education Social security, Healthcare, medication But the corruption is the cause of my frustration! Plus the West supplies the weapons and incite insurrection Reminds me of Bob Marley's Redemption Song - emancipation They're k**ing our prophets, rest in peace Bai Bureh too Pour more liquor for Thomas Sankara not Sese Seko Mobutu We need a progressive mind-set and a change of attitude W.A.R is Waste of All Resources, brings damage of high magnitude We must care for public facilities, treat them like our own Maintain state property, treat them like our homes Show concern for the poor they too got flesh and bone But politicians lick the ice cream and leave them the cone? I'm not a minister but I administer truth The real thieves are in suits not Timberland boots Africa needs conscious capitalism for the good of all Foreign aid is disguised debt burden, we don't need at all Let's grow what we eat and eat what we grow So, subsistence farming, yet circular cash flow Democracy is good but capitalism failed us Globalization is good but the cost is great loss Trade imbalance is alarming, we're now a dumping ground Africa rise! Knowledge is found On the grounds of personal responsibility, don't you have a clue? It's about the change you make not what your nation does for you Self-awareness and; patriotism, yeh that's the plan Now think of answer What makes you an African?