port of harlem magazine
 
port of harlem gambian education partnership
 
Africa Rising, Afrika Yainuka, Afrique Eveillée:
English, Ki-Swahili, French (Text and Video)
 
August 27 – September 09, 2020
 
meredith beal



Africa Rising -English

Pulsing with the vibrance of original human life
A nurturing mother to all
Sleeping giant awakening in the dawn
Oh, Africa rising

Brewing in the depths of ancient human experience
A reservoir of wisdom for all
An ailing planet awaits your merciful morn
Oh, Africa rising

Rising, rising, rising
Africa rising
Rising to give new life to the world

Simmering with hope for a brighter future to see
Tomorrow becomes today
Sleeping giant awake at Millennium Dawn
Oh, Africa rising

Blossoming flowers … children of the land
Spreading seeds of the dreams of life
Infinite potential … unlimited creativity
Oh, Africa rising

Rising, rising, rising
Africa rising
Rising to give new life to the world

Afrika Yainuka - Ki-Swahili

Ikidundadunda kwa mtikisiko wa
Asili ya binadamu
Mama mlezi kwa wote
Jitu lililolala lazinduka alfajiri
Oh, Afrika Yainuka

Ikijiandaa katika kina
Cha binadamu mkongwe
Hazina ya hekima kwa wote
Ulimwengu uliokumbwa na changamoto tele
Wangojea kilio chako cha huruma
Oh, Afrika Yainuka

Yainuka, Yainuka, Yainuka
Afrika Yainuka
Yainuka kutoa uhai mpya kwa ulimwengu

Yatokota taratibu kwa matumaini
Kwa ajili ya maisha ya usoni yang’aayo kuona
Ndoto zake zatimia
Jitu lililolala limezinduka
Alfajiri ya milenia
Oh, Afrika Yainuka

Yainuka, Yainuka, Yainuka
Afrika Yainuka
Yainuka kutoa uhai mpya kwa ulimwengu

- Kutoka katika ketabu “Ushinda Kila Siku”  Ilita fsiriwa kutoka Kiingereza na Oloo Ochieng
- From the booklet "Victory Every Day" Translated from English by Oloo Ochieng

Afrique Eveillée - French

Palpitant de l’énergie de la vie humaine originelle
Pour tous mère nourricière
Le géant endormi s’éveille à l’aube
Oh jaillissante Afrique

Brassant dans les profondeurs
De l’ancestrale expérience humaine
Pour tous réservoir de sagesse
Une planète souffrante espère
Ton aurore miséricordieuse
Oh jaillissante Afrique

Eveil, éveil, éveil
Afrique éveillée
Eveillée offrant vie nouvelle
Au monde

rémissante de l’espoir
D’un lumineux  futur à venir
Demain est  aujourd’hui
Géant endormi éveillée à l’aube du Millénaire
Oh jaillissante Afrique
Eveil, éveil, éveil
Afrique éveillée
Eveillée  offrant vie nouvelle

- Du livre “Victoire Tous les Jours” Traduit de l'Anglais par Claire Malbos & Justus Machio
- From the book “Victory Every Day” Translated from the English by Claire Malbos & Justus Machio

More on the Poet PLUS Video Versions

When preparing to move to Africa in 2011, I ran across a poem I wrote in 2000, at the turn of the millennium, called “Africa Rising.” I found it just in time to take it with me.

The first big conference I attended was during this new journey was Highway Africa, the largest annual gathering of journalists in Africa, held in South Africa. The theme that year was “Africa Rising,” highlighting the contrast between the cover of the Economist magazine in 2000, which read “Africa -The Hopeless Continent” and the Economist cover in 2012 which read “Africa Rising.”

Eventually, I had my poem translated into Ki-Swahili. And one of the benefits of being on COVID-19 lockdown in Kenya, is having the time to record the poem in Ki-Swahili. The French video is coming soon.

-Meredith Beal

Meredith Clayton Beal recites African Rising – Ki-Swahili

Meredith Clayton Beal recites Africa Rising - English

Meredith Beal – From Our Archives
Maritime Arctic Peace Sanctuary Discussed in Nairobi

African Realities and the Corona Virus

 
 
Return to this issue's Main Page
 
 
sign up
 
follow us on
facebook  instagram twitter  youtube
 
Advertisers | Contact Us | Events | Links | Media Kit | Our Company | Payments Pier
 
Press Room | Print Cover Stories Archives | Electronic Issues and Talk Radio Archives | Writer's Guidelines