The Vim Views & Versions - Blogs of a MIghTy African

Originally posted on GhanaConscious ...Sounds on da ground and seens on the see-ins I was at the recent Harvard African Business Conference. Why did I go? I went just because it was an African business conference and I had been attending as long as I knew it existed. I went because credit is crunching and it would be nice to pay some more attention to what I could do back home and it became absolutely necessary (to go back home). I went to network and identify partners for various undertakings in the future. I went to identify the leaders of the future as well. As you know, most of our African presidents are not the best people to write home about, especially with Barack Obama front and center in leadership chatter. A-Plus chastised a whole lot of African presidents in his 'A Letter to the West' song, likening their reigns to horror movies. One president who is turning his own horror movie story into a feel-good one is Rwanda’s Paul Kagame. In fact, this last weekend has made...

I am pulling out the poems one by one. There goes the anthology idea. Am I ever going to be able to write enough great poems to publish one? Time will tell. This poem is written for war torn countries when they are 'actually war torn'. I wrote this in March 2006 to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. We thank God that human spirit triumphed over selfishness and Rwanda is moving on. Rwanda is slowly becoming 'krabɛhwɛ' (a place to watch) these days with the great work Paul Kagame is doing. It was specifically for the UCONN Africa Night, and it was recited by two lovely Ghanaian ladies who were at UCONN at the time. The poem was also inspired by the song, Rwanda, by Wyclef Jean, which was on the Hotel Rwanda soundtrack. Here goes the poem Rwanda, Rwanda We wonder, we wonder And leave others to ponder Why they wander, they wander Seeking red from black Staining their own back Blood is thicker than water Family is thicker than enemy We wonder who is fa...

More blog downtime, so here is another poem. Yes, Obama won the election and I am very very very happy. I walk around with my shoulders up these days and that sense that I 'own' the world is even more prominent within me now. I do want to take a moment to thank God for what I have and how He has blessed me. I thank Him for people like Barack Obama who can inspire us. I hope he ends these 'two wars' America is fighting soon and amicably. I am also praying for peace, let's believe that we will have that all around the world sooner than later. Here's another 'war-child' poem I wrote on the same day I wrote this one . Enjoy. Life has laid its burden on thee! Oh, innocent son of Junta, Longing to see a Santa What has thou to live for? Bread or blood For the love of life, And the death of hate, Thou have to fight. Clear your sore eyes, Thy strength shows in your tears. Wash your filthy hands, Thy blood is no different. Blow your hollow cheeks, Thou have never ...

I am praying for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo now and for peace before, during and after the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana. Below is a poem I wrote with a cousin about peace in 2004. It's been a while, I have to write something new. He came mild Into the wild To be trained to be wild Oh, poor child Trekked here via Freetown and Monrovia But he ain’t free, you see Found and bound by refugee A child grows To star in fiery shows No room for a doze or pose As death comes as close The future has arrived It arrived too early The mantle is here alright To fight already Taken as freedom’s hire Shaken by gunfire Overtaken by rebels’ ire Making justice the desire Strong child of Adam The hurt hurts some And comes home to Buduburam Together with the same some We watch but we do not see We look but we do not see We stare as we drink tea While bread is not free He won it with a fight This song would not last long The child is at war with wrong And we fail to see...