I encounter Africa

I encounter an Africa

Ripe with resources

Not of gold and diamonds

Not of ore and bauxite

Not of oil and fertile lands

Not of cattle and livestock

Not of a beautiful landscape

Not of unimaginable wealth-of flora and fauna

Not of beautiful beaches

Not of an eerie landscape

I encounter an Africa

I speak of my Africa

Of strong men and wise men

Of Nkrumah and Nyerere

Of Sekou Toure and Lumumba

Of Haile Selasie and William V.S. Tubman

I encounter an Africa with towering figures

Like Nelson Mandela and Steven The Biko

Like Sedar Seghor and  Thomas Sankara

Like Desmond Tutu and the rest of the folks

I encounter an Africa

So rich is its resource

History called it civilization’s cradle