Were You There?

When they came across the streets of Soweto
Did you join them?
Did you join their struggle?
Did you see their commitment?

When the police drove through the township
looking for them,
Were you there?

Those were the students in 1976
Fighting for our Education,
but what are we doing now?

Many died, others in exile
But we were left with freedom of Education -
and actually,
we are not using it fruitfully.

Can you absorb their thoughts of revolution,
though life is good for you?
Can you defend their plans of armed struggle,
though you are a pacifist?

Can you pray for them,
though you are a Communist?
When armies opened fire across the streets of Soweto
Were you there?

They fought hard for this Education,
but now they are not here to inherit it.
We were supposed to inherit this Education,
but now, what do we get?

Many drop-outs,
young girls falling pregnant
before age ...
Is there any future in that?

I am a young woman
who has come to tell you about Education.
I have come to show you the bigger picture.
I have not seen a school like LEAP before.

Once, I was in public schools.
Now, LEAP is my school.
They have shown me care,
shown me what to be grateful for.

Open your eyes!
Wise up!
Here is the change.
Grab it, and let no one take it away from you.

Be a LEAP student,
and seize the opportunities.
Take the excellence with you.

-Asithandile Ngebulana

Gossip

Low voices,
whispering,
hissing and
murmuring,
in an encircled crowd

Always weaving
and gesturing
in wide,
joyful cheering
expression

Either they overhear,
if not a rumour,
or they wonder,
maybe imagine

Though they can
chime in
They'll have
their suggestions

And knowingly
you'll be hooked up!

-Asithandile Ngebulana

Long Walk to Freedom

Long walk to freedom,
barefoot, walking around the streets
Not just walking, but running at times,
Not just running only, but
hiding also

Was it running,
running for not being caught?
Was it hiding out of fear?
Running for your life?

Swollen, painful lines of sjambok
in your back,
front
of your body

I'm talking about your flesh here -
never mind your skin.
Horror, suffering, and cries
were the greetings of day to day

Children, wives
crying for their husbands
who had been are are arrested

Long walk to freedom,
people dying day by day
Fighting for democracy

Years and years in prison
There was a person
who willingly spent
27 years in jail

FOR WHAT GOOD REASON?

It was all about being
FREE AT LAST

Now, freedom of speech
is the playing ground of
South African opportunities
Every one scores a goal in them

And free education
I bet no one gets a red card
for that

This all happened after
long walk to freedom
Maqhawe nani maqhawekazi
I salute you!

Nabangama Delakufa
nabangama Gorha nama Gorhakazi,
Kwenjenjwalo ke Ma Afrika Amahle
Makube chosi kubehele!

And God let peace be among South Africans
Heroes,
heroines,
warriors

I salute you
I salute you
I salute you

Really, it was a long walk
to the freedom we have today

-Asithandile Ngebulana