I am what I am

I am big, big as the Himalayas where my fathers played seek and hide on;
I am big, big as the Kilimanjaro that my forefathers medidated on;
I am big, big as the fists of the freedom fighters that fought on;

I am beautiful, beautiful as the sun kissed dunes of the Kalahari;
I am beautiful, beautiful as the moon whose light caress the valleys of St. Lucia;
I am pretty, pretty as the lillies that drape the curves of Tanzania;

I am, I am what I am because Africa is big, beautiful and pretty;
I am, I am what I am because Africa is big, beautiful and lovely;
I am, I am what I am, because I am lucky to be born in the midst of Africa, earths own beauty;

I am strong, strong like the baobab tree whose roots drink in the womb of the earth;
I am strong, strong like the continent's elephant whose footsteps shake the world from South to North;
I am tough, tough like the jaw of the Hyena, whose mysterious force crafted the only face-like continent with its teeth;

I am creative, creative like the meander of the Nile whose motion intrigues minds;
I am creative, creative like the African stars whose twinkle hypnotyzes the gods;
I am smart, smart like the San hunter whose sharpness and speed bedazzles the tigers;

Oh I am good, so good I know the colorful fabrics of Nigeria and Venda celebrate my heritage;
Oh I am worthy, so worthy I know the rain drops of Queen Modjadji celebrate my care for the soil of our climate change age;
Oh my, I am damned great, so great like the water-smoke of the Victoria Falls waters the lillies that beautify heaven's own Main Avenue;

I am, I am what I am because Africa is strong, tough but smart;
I am, I am what I am because Africa is good, worthy but damned great;
I am, I am what I am, because I am lucky to be born in the midst of Africa, earth's own strength;

I am, I am what I am; I am an African;
Like Mbeki sang, sang, sang, and sang again an eternal echo of hope that I am an African;
So I am, I am what I am, because my Africa is beautiful.


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