FROM SLAVES TO THEIR MASTERS
“From words come action. Let this letter be a reminder of what is due to happen.”
What on earth makes you so special,
to get an education while we work?
Is everything to you racial,
even our basic human rights?
While you move to higher levels,
we keep working like clockwork,
You are just little white devils,
always walking with smirks.
Kumfurahisha paulo,
mnatuacha na miayo,
Muwapo midahalo,
nini jema mfanyalo,
Nini jema msemalo?
Niyapi myafanyayo?
Je mwaweza kuja nayo,
au hatustahili hayo?
We hear that you call her bad names,
what did she do to deserve this?
You torture her with mind games,
and always take out her peace,
You use her to build your frames,
each day plucking from her a piece,
Not knowing you’re boosting her flames,
you probably each have a death wish.
Msemayo twayajua,
twawajibu kwenye dua,
Ipo siku mtajua,
kuwa sisi si vibua,
Mioyo mwaikwangua,
kichwani yanyesha mvua,
Njia zenu twaangua,
ili tuje waanua.
Our bones hurt from your fathers’ whips,
our pride cries for our manhoods,
The words that come from your mothers’ lips,
are the cause of our cursed foods,
We are just boys tired of hardships,
for once at least give us good food,
Nothing we say is far from your scripts,
always in fear of being called rude.
Sio leo wala kesho,
ipo siku mtajuta,
Tutawapa mrejesho,
panga litapo wakuta,
Itakua kichekesho,
kwa yatakayowakuta,
Wote wali’fanya dezo,
ni kilio na kujuta.
Very soon the end will be here,
you would do well to respect her,
You better be nowhere near,
if you had neglected her,
If we have not made it clear,
soon we begin our departure,
Whether by strength or just by fear,
we will make sure not to be captured.
“Kumbuka haya Mondala,
with a song from the cabin,
mateso ya fimbonyala, is more than you can imagine,
bila viatu au ndala, a towel or a napkin,
masaa matatu kulala, before the dogs start barking,
treated like a gorilla, what a life it has been,
Black Diamond you are and freedom is your calling.”
