This, one of my most poluplar pieces, was written for a choir festival in 2003. Since then been performed all over the world at my own performances, including a turn at the Royal Albert Hall. Receives great applause without fail, often standing ovations. I have been urged by many, of all colours and persuasions, here and abroad, to promote it for the 2010 Soccer World Cup openeing in South Africa, which it did not make in the final round of decisions. It was also touted as an anthem for the Pan African Parliament, although that is not realized yet. It basically says that Africa’s time has come to be recognized as humanity’s birthplace, and therefore a place that can bring us all together. It calls for care and appreciation of the continent as the “mother of us all.” Partly spiritual, partly anthemic, partly joyous celebration, it is not a typical commercial song. It blends emotive western music with an African harmonic and rhythmic heart.
It is also designed as a sing-along. Audiences easily pick up the chorus line and improvise into the climactic ending.
I
believe the song might just be that element that takes Africa further into
the hearts of those visiting her, cementing a deeper relationship that will
help to change perceptions and keep them coming back.
Africa, by virtue
of being the richest in life and the birth ground of humanity, is the mother
continent. Her time has come to be recognized as such. It is easy to shift
it aside on superficial economic performance criteria, or to point a blind
finger at its political ineptness. It is easy to forget how the continent
was and still is trampled upon and exploited to uphold the rich life-styles
of the West (and growingly, the East too). Yet that obscures the deeper indebtness
we all have towards Africa: it is our natural habitat. We are all Africans.
We all need to take care of our home ground. Indeed, if we choose to cut away
our roots, we will be deprived of its warmth, of its connecting gravity, and
we will blindly pursue our unsustainable adolescent ways. We owe a new respect
and allegiance to Africa, not just to heal the continent, but even more so
to heal ourselves. This song was composed in 2003 for a choir festival and
has since been sung in many places in the world, as people opened their hearts
to a common meeting place we can recall as our our own.
VERSE 1A
in this place
we have suffered
in this place we have been blessed
in this place we have struggled
in this place we found our destiny
VERSE 1B
she gave birth
to all the peoples of the world
and her name is Africa
without her warmth and nourishment our souls would die
her time has come
her time has come
her time has come
her time has come
CHORUS 1A
we shall take
care of Africa
we shall take care of Africa
we shall take care of Africa
you are the mother of us all
CHORUS 1B
we will take
hands with Africa
we will take hands with Africa
we will take hands with Africa
you are the mother of us all
you are the mother of us all
VERSE 2A
in this place
we are challenged
in this place we are being healed
in this place we will labour
we'll accomplish all the tasks ahead
VERSE 2B
she gave birth
to all the peoples of the world
and her name is Africa
without her warmth and nourishment our souls will die
her time has come
her time has come
her time has come
her time has come
CHORUS 2A
we shall take
care of Africa
we shall take care of Africa
we shall take care of Africa
you are the mother of us all
CHORUS 2B
we will take
hands with Africa
we will take hands with Africa
we will take hands with Africa
you are the mother of us all
CHORUS 2C
we'll sing our
songs for Africa
we'll sing our songs for Africa
we'll sing our songs for Africa
you are the mother of us all
CHORUS 2D
we'll sing our
songs for Africa
we'll sing our songs for Africa
we'll sing our songs for Africa
you are the mother of us all
CHORUS 2E
we shall take
care of Africa
we will take hands with Africa
we'll sing our songs for Africa
we give our hearts to Africa
CHORUS 2F
we give our hearts
to Africa
we give our hearts to Africa
we give our hearts to Africa
you are the mother of us all
you are the mother of us all
you are the mother.. mother of us all!
her time has come
her time has come
her time has come!