Swahili Spice by Wayne Visser (Video)

Poetry by Wayne Visser, Paul Cheneour on Flutes, Lennie Charles on Percussion, Photography by Bob Webzell and Wayne Visser, Video edited by Andi Beqiri. Music recorded during a live performance on 16 November 2013 in London. The poem, Swahili Spice, is published in "I Am an African: Favourite Africa Poems". Copyright 2014 Wayne Visser

Shapeshifting by Wayne Visser (Video)

Poetry by Wayne Visser, Paul Cheneour on Flutes, Lennie Charles on Percussion, Photography by Bob Webzell, Video edited by Andi Beqiri. Music recorded during a live performance on 16 November 2013 in London. The poem, Shapeshifting, is published in "I Am an African: Favourite Africa Poems". Copyright 2014 Wayne Visser

Sahara by Wayne Visser (Video)

Poetry by Wayne Visser, Paul Cheneour on Flutes, Lennie Charles on Percussion, Photography by Bob Webzell, Video edited by Andi Beqiri. Music recorded during a live performance on 16 November 2013 in London. The poem, Sahara, is published in "I Am an African: Favourite Africa Poems". Copyright 2014 Wayne Visser

Women of Africa by Wayne Visser (Video)

Poetry by Wayne Visser, Paul Cheneour on Flutes, Lennie Charles on Percussion, Photography by Bob Webzell, Video edited by Andi Beqiri. Music recorded during a live performance on 16 November 2013 in London. The poem, Women of Africa, is published in "I Am an African: Favourite Africa Poems". Copyright 2014 Wayne Visser

African Time by Wayne Visser (Video)

Poetry by Wayne Visser, Paul Cheneour on Flutes, Lennie Charles on Percussion, Photography by Bob Webzell, Video edited by Andi Beqiri. Music recorded during a live performance on 16 November 2013 in London. The poem, African Time, is published in "I Am an African: Favourite Africa Poems". Copyright 2014 Wayne Visser

Child of Africa by Wayne Visser

Child of Africa

By Wayne Visser

I am a child of Africa –

Young and wild and free

I play on streets of sunny hope

And feed on dusty dreams

I am a child of Africa –

Young and bold and bright

I think a million sparkling thoughts

And wish on shooting stars

I do not want your pity –

For I am not a helpless pup

I do not want your charity –

For I will thrive at first chance

I do not want your mistrust –

For being young is not a crime

I do no want your prejudice –

For that is your prison not mine

You will know me

Not by the colour of my skin

But by the spectrum of my ideas

For I am Africa’s child

You will know me

Not by the name of my tribe

But by the poetry of my ideals

For I am Africa’s child

I may look young

But I am older than you

For I was born at the beginning of time

I may look weak

But I am stronger than you

For I was weaned on the milk of the sun

I may look simple

But I am smarter than you

For I was schooled at the knee of wise elders

You will know me

Not by the poverty of my means

But by the wealth of my ends

For I am Africa’s child

You will know me

Not by the shadows of my past

But by the brilliance of my future

For I am Africa’s child

I do not want your visions –

For I have dreams of my own

I do not want your fears –

For I have monsters enough

I do not want your leftovers –

For I have freshly baked needs

I do not want your playthings –

For I have imagination aplenty

I am a child of Africa

Young and shy and sweet

I smile to hide my nervous pride

And laugh with crystal joy

I am a child of Africa

Young and hip and cool

I dance my way to destiny

And rise on wings of change

Wayne Visser (C) 2014