Mama Africa
2016-03-06
Literature | opinion

From childhood, you were betrothed To a fate unknown and mysterious, From adolescent, you faced it The cruelty of poverty, From sisterhood, you saw it The fierceness of competition, From spinsterhood, you endured it The harshness of being female, From motherhood, you tasted it The real texture of lack and want, From womanhood, you suffered it The archaic nature of culture, From widowhood, you swallowed it The bitterness of death, I love you Mama Africa. Trekked to Nkwo and Eke Orie, Afor, every market day Sold for food, clothes, school fees Climbed mountains to fetch water Climbed trees for firewood, Dared darkness and loneliness A warrior, queen, an Amazon. You gave birth in the farm Market square and roadside, Fought and won death severally Conquered crudity and nudity. Young, strong, rich and well Healthy, wealthy, great and green Tall, holy, beautiful and educated Short, unholy, ugly and illiterate Witch, wizard, sick and weak Bedridden, forbidden, banished, ostracized Old, raggy, shabby and haggard Memory loss, irritating smell Shapeless, senseless, sagged breasts Gray hairs, wrinkles, shrinking Anyhow, I love you Mama Africa HAPPY MOTHERING SUNDAY DEAR MAMA
Author - Ngozi Olivia Osuoha