I heard these words as a kid, the song PAPA STOP THE WAR by CHICCO, was just another song that I could dance to, try my latest break dance moves. It was during the the show MUSIC TIME that was hosted by Fred O. Machoka on sunday night when we all would gather round the television and enjoy the best mix of music from Africa and the world. Those were good and simple times.
Now as I watch the video and listen to the lyrics, I am touched by what the South African people used to face in the evil system of apartheid. What moves me more is that, though the song was in the 80s the words, especially by the poet in the song, ring true even to this day.
I think of my country Kenya and what we have gone through as a country, and as we approach the election period, where violence, death and destruction seem to be the norm, the words of this poet HOLD TRUE.
KENYANS, WE MUST STOP THE WAR
Here are the lyrics….read the poem and watch the video
PAPA STOP THE WAR
LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF REASON
WORDS OF WISDOM HAVE TO BE USHERED
A BETTER WORLD HAS TO BE BUILT
LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF REASON
NOW IS THE TIME
TO UNCHAIN THE MINDS
NOW IS THE TIME
TO UNCHAIN THE HEARTS
IMAGES OF A NEW DREAM
IMAGES OF A NEW SOCIETY
SHOULD EMERGE
HEARKEN THE VOICE OF REASON
RACIAL VENOM IS LIKE SOCIAL DYNAMITE
IT IS LIKE A REVIVAL OF A PERILOUS SYNDROME
A SYNDROME OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
THIS IS THE VOICE OF CONCERN
A VOICE OF SOCIAL REDEMPTION
AN EYE FOR AN EYE MAKES THE WORLD BLINDED
RECONCILIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION
IS LIKE A DARK CLOUD
GIVING WAY TO THE BLUE SKY
HUMAN KIND MUST PUT AN END TO WAR
OR WAR WILL PUT AN END TO HUMAN KIND
AFRICA AND THE WORLD
CANNOT AFFORD SELF PITY
IF SOMETHING IS NOT WORTH LIVING FOR
IT IS NOT WORTH DYING FOR
YES THIS IS THE VOICE OF REASON
IN SEARCH OF LIBERTY
ETERNAL
HUMAN KIND THINK POSITIVE
CHOOSE LIFE NOT DEATH
THIS IS THE VOICE OF REASON
THAT SHAKES THE CONSCIENCE OF HUMAN KIND
THAT WAS THE VOICE OF REASON
– written by Bwana Morioz
APPLYING “Papa Stop the War by CHICCO” TO THE KENYAN SITUATION
bwanamorioz.com 