Bamako! - António Agostinho Neto

Bamako
               Where the truth dropping on the leaf’s sheen
                  unites with the freshness of men
                     like strong roots under the warm surface of the soil
                        and where grow love and future
                           fertilised in the generosity of the Niger
                              shaded by the immensity of the Congo
                                 to the shim of the African breeze of hearts

Bamako!
               there life is born
                  and grows
                     and develops in us important fires of goodness

Bamako!
               there are our arms
                  there sound our voices
                     there the shining hope in our eyes
                        transformed into an irreproachable force
                           of friendship
                              dry the tears shed over the centuries
                                 in the slave Africa of other days
                                    vivified the nourishing juice of fruit
                                       the aroma of the earth
                                          of which the sun discovers gigantic kilimanjaros
                                             under the blue sky of peace.

Bamako!
               living fruit of the Africa
                  of the future germinating in the living arteries of Africa
                     There hope has become tree
                        and river and beast and land
                           there hope wins friendship
                              in the elegance of the palm and the black skin of men

Bamalko! there we vanquish death
               and the future grows – grows in us
                  in the irresistible force of nature and life
                     with us alive in Bamako.

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António Agostinho Neto (1922 - 1979) Angola
Translator not stated
Source: thegatvolblogger
Note: Bamako is the capital city of Mali