History Repeats Itself 

It is said history repeats itself 

But you must not have heard this when you came exploring 

Spurred by your curiosity for how can a whole people, a whole continent survive without paying you no attention 

No attention at all

Yet you considered yourself as the greatest, the mightiest that all must pay homage to 

In this way

This people, this continent is dark 

For there must be something so grand hidden within 

But too too grand that they can afford to be oblivious of your existence and your worth 

So you went, to seek and see what must be hidden 

And you saw 

You saw strength in men and women like no other 

And wealth, oh what wealth 

From the land, under it and above it 

And the sea, in it and round it 

But you also saw intelligence the use of appropriate technology in everything 

Everything, even things you are yet to discover 

So again you label the people, the continent as dark for it is yet to make sense 

And even when it began to make sense you still label it as less than and unfit for purpose 

Yet you replicate and enhance making it look a less like what it was and call it white 

For white is light you say 

But you took this dark people and forcibly too

To what should have been a light country all bright 

Ooh but what blight it was for these dark people 

For you saw in them free labour to build your nations 

Their strength now their curse 

And those not strong enough were left to die or thrown over board 

Others will be the ones to throw themselves because they preferred death to leaving their homes and going asunder 

The ones that finally make it to yours 

Will build your nations, with their blood, sweat and tears 

In their every waking moment and in their nightly terrors 

Once you felt their work was done 

You left them for death and closed your doors 

Doors barricaded up high with sharp broken glasses, razor wired and electric fences guarded by bull dogs with fangs like the reaper

Your homes are now too bright for the dark people 

Hmmm History Repeats itself, they say 

So now they come 

Asking for a piece 

But unlike you, they come in peace 

So don’t be scared 

They only come because you have left their homes barren 

And the grounds need to be watered and the gods appeased for their sons and daughters taken 

Some like the Kuntas with no permission and given a mission of misery, a life sentence of misery 

Do not be scared

They come in peace

Ready to work at will for every piece 

Just give them their dues and they will pay theirs too 

So even if now you hear history repeats itself 

It now provides opportunity to make right the wrong 

Some wrong too grave to mend 

But acknowledgement of wrong and remorse goes a long way in the hearts of those wronged

And yonder might hearts soften to forgive even if minds might never forget 

But alliances can be forged for a greater tomorrow for all 

For with all together as one the world is a better place for it 

For the generations after us and 

The ones yet unborn

To be better and do better 

For history repeats itself

and to live in peace Is to let live!

©️NjaayMbogeyourStoryTellingPoet

13/04/22