My Message to Mama Africa

From Coach Tarie (Tariro Mukunga)
Mummy I am hungry, mummy I need a new dress, mummy I'm cold, mummy come help me I am in trouble, all these words have come to Mama Africa and Mama has been there for us and for everyone out there.

We have succeeded, we shine, we are clothed, we are fed, we are adorned, we are making a difference but what about Mama Africa. Who have you not served and ministered to Mama.

Back in history, I see Europe and America, they are were they are because of you Mama when they made you their slave.
My Message to Mama Africa
Every great revolution of the past could not have been great without you Mama. One of the greatest revolution that civilised the whole world came from the smelting of iron that you invented from your first skin hide furnaces, I can't believe you introduced iron to the world.

Mama, even your children are ashamed to be identified with you. They do not know that none of the major plantation crops in the Americas and only a few of the foodstuffs consumed by people in the Americas came from western Europe, virtually almost all with the exception of a few of all of the newly introduced crops originally came from you Mama. Your contribution to the feeding of the world is priceless.

The slaves from the West and Central parts of you Mama Africa not only were behind the building of the now amazing America but imparted the knowledge of growing rice, which grew well in their land, to South Carolina and Georgia. The slaves taught the slave owners how to cultivate this crop. Rice did not grow in Great Britain. Other foods that came from you Mama were watermelon, black-eyed peas, sorghum, millet to mention just but a few.

We now know that indigenous knowledge of botany and zoology was crucial in the evolution of modern science. Similarly, the application of technology to develop such commercial products as Coca Cola, Worcestershire Sauce, and palm-oil based soap rely on African plants that first came to the notice of Europe and the Americas through the activities of slave ships.

Your influence Mama, is found in African American music, which uses repetition as a part of their song. This is found in many of the Old Negro Spirituals. As it was done in Africa many of the slaves sang songs while they worked in the fields on the plantations. ―In the arts, jazz, blues, and rock-and-roll are stamped with African influences as is bluegrass music with its signature instrument the banjo, being of African origin‖ (Joyner 2).

Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1781: “The instrument proper to them [African American] is the Banjar, brought from Mama Africa, and which is the [form] of the guitar, its chords being precisely the four lower chords of the guitar.”

Mama you are so caring and you never tire in doing good. We cannot talk of all your contributions in establishment of one of the oldest Universities, Alexandra in Egypt, and the origins of Arithmetic in Congo, Writing in Egypt, great Architectury from the Pyramids only to mention a few.

Mama even in bible times you were the one who started kingdom and empire building in the time of Nimrod, the Saviour Himself found a place of refuge in you, you took the risk when Herod was raging to kill The Lord. When no one wanted to be associated with the suffering Saviour, on your back, in the same way you carry your children you bore the cross to Golgotha.

Now coming to today, time will not permit me to talk about how you have been the biggest trade partner to the fastest growing economies like China, your platinum, gold, diamonds just to mention a few adorning the whole world. Your warm and homely weather patterns and natural beauty has made you a wonder and a tourist destination of choice. Your contribution to make sport exciting and stylish cannot be overlooked Mama when I think of boxing, athletics, basketball, football to mention just but a few.

When I think of you and your sacrifice Mama and how everyone has failed to acknowledge your priceless sacrifice, to me echo the words of another parent who wrote in the midst of such plight...

For who makes you to differ from another ? And what do you have that you did not receive?And if you did receive it , why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Already you are full! Already you are rich! You have reigned as kings without us! And oh that indeed you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

For I think that God has set forth us last, ......, as it were appointed to death; for we have become a spectacle to the world......

We are fools ....but you are wise..... We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised.

Even until this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place.

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it ;

being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you ... (1 Corinthians 4: 7-14)

Mama it's so sad, so disheartening.... you took care of strangers and they have plundered you and now you have become a laughing stock. They neither turn a finger to help you but Mama we are your children we will be there for you. We have been enlightened by your Creator who is also our Creator and we have made a decision to take you to your place with the kings. It's your time Mama to arise, old as you are you might no longer have the strength but your maker promised and said "the last shall be first and the first shall be last", with his strength we will join hands and take you back to be celebrated.

Your maker has spoken, he is not coming back until you are as industrialised as the West if not more, he has spoken, he will not do it through those who plundered you, who boast of the civilisation you gave them, but through your own sons and daughters. For his final exploits in these last days before His coming, He will use His wisdom that is contrary to the world that after all no one should boast.

Do not worry Mama or think that your children will not be able to do it,

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, in order to bring to nothing things that are; so that no flesh should glory in His presence.

(1 Corinthians 1: 27-29)

Mama they may despise you and some of your sons may not believe in you but we are there for you Mama. We love you Mama, we love you more. You are the best Mama. Happy Birthday MAMA AFRICA. Happy Africa Day.

Coach Tarie: Founder of the Arise Africa Cause.
The Arise Africa Cause is an initiative aimed at bringing together Churches, Corporates, The Government, Policy Makers, NGOs and other stakeholders to devise homegrown solutions for Africa to unearth the potential buried in Africa.