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'We,
Poor Africans
Are impressed with their charm
And are happy when they say
“We are doubling aid to Africa”
Applause
Women ululating
We wait for their benevolence
Which like Godot never arrives...'

They come with cheque books
$30million smiles
And impeccable suits

We,
Poor Africans
Are impressed with their charm
And are happy when they say
“We are doubling aid to Africa”
Applause
Women ululating
We wait for their benevolence
Which like Godot never arrives

They,
With a smug look on their face
Walk away
With lorries, cars, trains, ships and planes
Full of Africa’s resources

They ship them back to us
A few months later
A little value addition
They tell us its civilisation

We,
Poor Africans
Impressed with their charm
Care not to know
That they, our benefactors, have been reaping our harvest to feed us

(Written on 9 August 2009. Women’s day. I m so not pro-aid)

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