'Father Africa' by Joseph Oladehinde Ibikunle

Father Africa! At a token ignorance, You have given your inheritance: To strangers you gave so much.White fellows who did not eat in our dish.Behold, with some sham laughter, They transacted for few daughters; They brought clothes and rums and gunsTo shackle away your sons.Father Africa, foolish you! Lo! See Mama Africa's cryHer hapless tears can not dryOn her beautiful black dimples.Oh Africa, chaos ripples.See your sons brutally unfairTaking hostage His own kin at warfare, Selling them at ludicrous token.Oh Africa, your woes betoken! The sun rose in great griefAnd shambled to rest in dumb disbelief, The rivers - pensive in their banks.Our follies deserve no thanks; Africa sold her pride at Twenty Pounds, Her offspring shackled to foreign groundsOn a fettered peregrination to the coasts, Where they await shipment to wicked hosts.Father Africa, foolish you! Had those tokens of Twenty PoundsSufficed the pandemic poverty that poundsYou and your offspring on the head? Those you sold - million tears shedYou caused them sorrowful spirituals to singThey endlessly labour'd where trepidations ring, They suffer'd severe discomfort - unfair! They dwelt in dejected despise and despair.