MASTA BLASTA BAND
PRESENTS
REBIRTH 2012
THEME:
CELEBRATING A NEW DAWN
REBIRTH
INTRODUCTION
The strides
of the past
Do not
compare to the vision I see.
I stood tall
When men from
afar
Paddled
ashore
With words of
spirituality,
Truth and
trade,
Defying the
thick gigantic forest
Of Atamkpa,
Etung, Ikom and Boki.
When that
structure was erected,
A haven for
our children
Instructed in
numbering and a new tongue.
I saw forests
give way to roads
And the
wicker lamp,
To bulbs of
illumination
When speed
was broken
At every mile
And bridges
connected communities.
But even all
of these
Do not
measure
To this
foresight.
Behold,
I present to
you
The dawn of a new age.
Our eyes do
not blink
For we know
no darkness
I present to
you an era of diversity
Where our
treasures
Extend beyond
the black gold.
Our land,
A cascade of
fruitfulness,
The romance
of milk and honey.
See,
A new breed
of rulers
Selfless and
sacrificing
And a people,
Who fear not
the cover of dusk
Nor hide at the
sound of a bang,
‘Cause all of
these
Are but
phantom,
Unimaginable,
unfathomable.
GENESIS
Some have told great tales
Of my native tongue
Pointing to the Bantus.
But I say that I am distinct,
Like the rare species
Of the tropical rain forest,
Plants and animals
Lost to the rest of the world.
My tongue is my mother’s
I speak the truth
‘Cause when we gather
To celebrate the harvest of yams,
Whether Leboku or Ibibum,
We are but one.
Our differences are yesterday,
It’s a new day.
Adorned with the traditional regalia
Of the Ukwa warriors
Regardless,
Our bout is not of war
But sportsmanship.
Men of bare torso
Competition is our strength
Hear our neighbours cheer
And strangers nod
To the sound of Ekombi
Clothed with beautiful attires
And lovely head gears,
Beads and anklets
Let your dance steps
Bedazzle onlookers
You will be named
With the likes of Ekeledi,
Obim and Giza
Our calabash overflow
With oil from kernels
The green of the land
Like carpet atop grass
The drought of yesterday
Lost in time
Observe the vista
Of a new morning.
EVOLUTION
Again,
my eyes behold
intricate designs
Dating back
Patterns perplexing
Like Victorian structures
Of the towns of Henshaw and Duke
I gaze upon
Glistening faces
A parade of peacocks
The colourful display
Of petals
Like the flowers
Of a garden
I’m awe struck
By the movement of feet
In sync
Like the ripples
Of a calm sea
I forget the desertness
Of these roads
For my mind
Is enraptured
By the great
Ensemble of people
Far and wide
Each one
With the white man’s box
That captures reality
With a flash of its light
Oblivious to the past
Having killed the nymph
Of yesterday
And evolved into
A dragonfly,
A sight for sore eyes
Espy the painting
Of a new morning.
DAWN
And though we’re tanned
By the heat of the sun,
We are wise
As the sages of ages.
Our brains, big
For we are aliens
Of higher education
Our minds picture procreation
Labour without pain
Or scars.
These clouds darkened
By flying saucers,
Hovering,
Ready for touchdown
Technology’s arm
Outstretched,
Beyond human conception
Wireless phones,
Giving way to
Cable-less transformers
And bulbs without switches
Who says the blast
Of the past
Are the best of our efforts?
Spring-up funk, pop,
Metallic-rock
On the high lapels
Of big names
Dressed fancy
With all the glitz,
Glamour and razzmatazz
Of the famous
Our music,
Sung in the farthest of lands
Envision the break
Of a new dawn.
co-written by: Jerry Emegbo and Lenora moné Thomas
content piece for masta blasta band, Calabar festival 2012.
