My Hand - Grand Master Masese

My hand,

My bread winner

I deeply feel your pain

Now that they catch you at night

In Mukuru

Seeking to get what you harvested

My hand take courage

You will heal

My hand, my bread winner

Without you

I shall not eat

Without you there is no caress

My hand

You, who caresses the obokano strings

with zeal

Giving out rhythms to the world

The rhythms from you, my hand

Off the obokano

Gives hope

Gives pleasure and happiness

They write and speak to the masses

They speak to the ancestors

My Hand,

You compliment my tongue

If they cut you off, my hand

Then, they must cut off my tongue

As well.

My hand, you take me places

Because of you

I have seen the Atlantic

And the tropical forests of Africa

I have seen the mountains of Wales

And the eye of Europe

The bridges of Europe

The Thames

I have met people and cultures

Because of you my hand.

My hand

You weakly gripped my mother’s

Breast when I breastfed

Remember,

You caressed her bosom

Giving warmth and affection

My hand,

I deeply feel your pain

I wish you heal quickly

To serve your people

Give them melodies and rhythms

Meet the muses

Compliment my songs

My hand, heal so we seal

The deal, to hold the pen and not the gun

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Grand Master Masese (20th century) Kenya

Source: Grandmaster Masese's Musings and Obokano

obokano - The obokano is a large bass bowl lyre from Kenya. It is used by the Gusii ethnic group. (Wikipedia)