Under the Baobao Tree

by Archie bonka

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

thinking my own thoughts,

suddenly there come this stranger

along this dull water logged plains.

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

i offer him my last kola nut

we hold each other looking and staring

smiles on our faces

Villagers rush to see the new stranger

they stare at him, smiles fall on their faces.

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

weighing the level of our hospitality

our dear stranger introduce his religion
with curiosity to learn, we embrace it.

losing touch with our own religion,

then comes destruction

of our civic society.

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

the stranger does not stop there

he starts to divide my people

by inciting hatreds among us

he creates wars

which lead to our enslavement

oh, he shackles us, takes us
to unknown foreign lands.

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

we are sad but life must go on
so we must fight for our freedom.

After this shameful act of slavery

he does not stop there

for he brings another agenda.

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

this stranger divides our families, our nations,

creating misery among us - again.

we have come a long way:

cold war, dictatorship, military coups,

democrazy and globalization a new order
we have come a long way.

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree

bit by bit the house fly eat dog wounds

once again sitting under the baobao tree

reflecting upon my thoughts

about my first encounter with this stranger

this alien who has come to stay

Under the baobao tree, this huge tree....