I can hear the voices of our African freedom fighters!

Where are you, who I bore in pain?

Where are you, who I bore in distress?

Where are you, who for years I fought for?

Where are you, for whom I gave up my all to bring up?

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

For in true love for you I fought the war,

For in true love for you I shed my blood,

For in true love for you I was put into chains,

For in true love for you I was put to death,

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

I had an option to fear and give up,

I had a choice to have you a slave forever in support of the enemy,

I had an option to put on a blind eye to you and your future,

But I chose to suffer in chains that you would be free,

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

I gave my all and fought for you,

I gave my all and suffered for you,

I gave my all and died for you,

I gave my all to you and for you all I did it all,

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

Yet why do I still hear more cries my children?

What happened to the unity and peace I left with you?

What became of the blood earned wealth I left behind?

I loved you and your siblings equally?

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

I can still hear the cry of the oppressed children of mine,

I can still hear the cry of the poor among my children,

I can still hear the cry of the orphans and the widows,

I'm tired of seeing more blood spilled on the soil I left to you,

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

I know your first siblings ate a lot!

I know they overwhelmingly took the cake I left,

I know you cannot get it out of their stomachs and so couldn't I,

But I know there is enough dough to bake enough cake for everyone's need,

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

I have always and will always want the best for you all,

I have and will always be pained to see you fight one another,

I have always longed to see you united in heart, mind, soul and strength,

I have always hated seeing you divided as tribes rather than united as a nation,

Where are you my daughters and sons,

Will you defend me and your siblings?

Will you love and protect one another as a family?

Will you stand as one in good times and in stormy times?

Will you bear the pain of each other as children of one mother?

You are more to each other than what you have or hope to get.

You are all my daughters and sons,

You must defend me and your siblings.

Do not have it all and fight them all,

Do not have it all to the expense of love, unity and peace,

Be willing to give it all, and keep them all,

Better have nothing at all and have them all,

You are all my daughters and sons,

You must defend me and your siblings too.

by Newton JG.

07/02/2013.