Oh world, oh world look on “we”

Shola Walker

Oh world, oh world look at me and smile I am the youngest of Mother’s children A beautiful African child

We shout we dance to rhythms That pulsate in our bones We children laugh and beat our drums In many different tones

Oh world, oh world we love our home Full of life, love and riches On which we’ve grown

Cassava fills Mother’s belly With more bursting from her sack Plantains, papayas and pineapples roll From her head across her back

Oh world, oh world Mother treats us just fine Washes us with sweet rains Kisses us with sunshine

She watches us in the daytime She whistles while we rest Takes pride in all our strength and work So each day she gives back her best

Oh world, oh world come abide with us There’s room in our land And goods in surplus

It’s very nice to greet you You’re welcome in our home Our mountains, rivers, deserts, and bush Are free for you to roam

Oh world, oh world you want us to leave? Our dear sacred Mother In whom we were conceived?

In our land you joined us; in yours we have no choice With lash, or rape, and English verse We slowly lose our voice

Oh world, oh world don wan cause we no pain We wan you hear us see us and know Our heart still beat da same

We tink you tink we chupit We gramma you call broken Yet before we crossed dem far far shore You language we not spoken

Oh world, oh world don hush our cry Pickni mus return to Momma Fah des where dem mus diee

We Momma holla plenty She no longer protected Not only fah she pain but She pickni feelin’ rejected

Oh world, oh world lashin’ stop? Wha next? Why not tink of ways to love we Instead of ways to keep we vex?

We pretend to speak your language With a culture not our own Now we strive for things we know not While our heart awaits our home

Oh world, oh world we’ve stayed too long We’re searching for our drum Quick! So we don’t forget our song

Now when we visit Mother We barely know her face We’ve come to know another land To which we return with haste

Oh world, oh world Mother says “There’s a chance” When we cook and sing And show you our dance

Our purpose is not trouble Yet we might make some fuss We’re black forever, it will not change So be is what we must

Oh world, oh world we were upset We must forgive But never forget

We know it’s not you all But the few did spoil the lot We have faith & love to guide us ‘Till we carry out our plot

Oh world, oh world be filled not with fear Our choice is not vengeance So let us be clear

We’ve been talking to Mother And she gives us good advice She says “Lay down your burden child Because wrath still bears a price”

Oh world, oh world Mother loves us still She did at our birth And forever she will

She’s teaching us our language Because this “English” makes her laugh She turns the sun to warm us And draws new water for our bath

Oh world, oh world you ask me why we smile? Because Mother reminds us We are her precious child

Sorry to be in such a hurry But now we have to pack Our beautiful Mother has given plenty Now it’s time that we give back

Oh world, oh world while our time wasn’t splendid We have learned life’s lessons And our tenure here has ended

Want to know what we will do there? I’ll be quick, I have to run First I’ll tell my siblings “I love you” So we all return as one

Then I’ll tear down makeshifts of shanty town Build houses of wood and clay Sing a sweet song for the people ‘round That we are all here to stay

Plant trees for Mother’s backyard Harvest gardens below the sky Reconciling may be quite hard Yet our heart bears reasons to try

Give the Queen a new education Clothe the poor within the States Spread the Mission of our Salvation Officiate Love, not greed and hate

See our Mother shared a secret Whispered from our Father above

For those years we must not regret But now gird ourselves with Love

So world, so world want to abide with us? Then let’s build a relationship One of Love and Trust

Oh world, oh world look on we and smile We are the elders of Mother’s children Teaching Love to the African child.