The heartbeat of Africa’s rhythm, clear and strong,
Echoing through the African land.
For centuries they’ve been played along,
A symbol of power and demand.
Brought from the homelands far,
But in Africa they took their true place,
As they pulsed and they throbbed to the sound of the stars,
Bringing energy to every race.
They spoke of unspoken joy and pain,
Of battles lost and battles won,
Their vibrations wash away all disdain,
Sending messages to every son.
For rituals and celebrations, they are used,
For worship, dance, and everything in between,
A constant source of rhythmic sensations,
The heartbeat of the African scene.
Speaking to us from beyond the veil,
Linked to a past that we can’t erase,
They drive out any sense of frail,
Their rhythms unify a people and their race.
Always more than just an instrument,
Having connected lives and hearts like never before,
A symbol of cultural achievement,
As their messages spread from shore to shore.
This poem was published in the 11th Issue of PoeticAfrica magazine.
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More Poems:
Long Live the Beat – Shahid Juma (Kenya)
Ayan – Abdulrasak Muhammad (Nigeria)
Echoes of Rhythm – William Khalipwina Mpina (Malawi)
