First published in When Women Waken, Winter-Spring 2014 – Issue 4
Blood of my ancestors speak,
that I am wisdom within.
History from Olduvai Gorge,
that I am knowledge of evolution.
Unbroken caldera Ngorongoro,
that I am the wonder within.
Our elephant is largest on land,
that I have power to leap forward.
Great lakes of East Africa,
that I am source of greatness.
Mighty height of Kilimanjaro,
that I am tall as I want to be.
Cave paintings of Kondoa Irangi,
that I am a timeless artist.
Maasai, Makonde or Ndengereko,
that I am a vision of unique beauty.
Crowned with mixed tribal wealth,
that I am rich of diverse cultures.
The spicy fragrances from Zanzibar,
that I am an essence for tolerance.
The Hehe and Ngoni warriors,
that I am a brave and strong soul.
Ghosts of long gone slavery,
that I am free of imposed limitations.
Tales depicted in Swahili fables,
that I am a lexicon of many lessons.
Like Jumbe, Karume or Nyerere,
that I am spirit of sacred change.
Born and raised in homeland,
that I am a child of Tanzania.
©Gloria D. Gonsalves